Maroon MEMO: Employee News (Mississippi State University)

John Grisham Master Teachers receive medallions designed by Alex Bostic, associate professor of art at Mississippi State. The design was generated from master teachers' input, and the figure represents a student becoming part of the tree of knowledge. Applications for the Grisham and Alumni Association teaching awards are now being accepted, and additional information is online at www.msstate.edu/web/media/announcement.php?id=1845. PHOTO: Beth Wynn | Public Affairs

University honors veterans this week
Beginning Monday on Veterans Day and concluding the following Saturday during the home football game, Mississippi State will recognize former and current service members' numerous contributions, said Ken McRae, director of MSU's G.V. "Sonny" Montgomery Center for America's Veterans. The Veterans Day honors and recognition ceremony begins at 1 p.m. on the MSU Drill Field with a Student Veterans Association observance of the national moment of silence.

CISE launches iPad learning lab
Donations to the Department of Curriculum, Instruction and Special Education at Mississippi State University recently helped the department purchase an iPad learning lab. The lab consists of a 15 iPads and a cart for storing, locking, charging and syncing the devices. A variety of apps for teaching content in many different subject areas has been installed in the iPads.

Maroon Edition author visits campus Thursday
Richard Muller, author of this year's Maroon Edition selection at Mississippi State University, "Physics for Future Presidents," will be on campus this Thursday, and will be making two presentations that are open to all students, faculty, staff and the general public.

November employee assistance newsletter online
Mississippi State University's employee assistance program (EAP) includes a free monthly newsletter for faculty and staff, and the latest edition is now available. This month's feature is about winning the battle between good habits and bad habits: how our brains affect our habits, how to develop new and better habits, and how to retain a new habit.

SEC introduces student-focused collaboration grant
The Southeastern Conference has introduced a new SECU program intended to encourage teamwork between SEC universities. The SEC Academic Collaboration Grant will be awarded annually to one SEC institution to support joint activities involving all other SEC schools. The goal of this program is to expand student-focused collaboration within the conference.

Be thankful for volunteering this time of year
The Maroon Volunteer Center at Mississippi State details a number of volunteer opportunities for the campus community in its current newsletter, including Revolution Tutoring, Palmer Home Giving Tree Prep, Statewide School Volunteer Orientation, MSU Rec Sports Turkey Trot 5K, and more.

Policy reminders from University Health Services
University Health Services at Mississippi State reminds the campus community of several important policies for its patients to keep in mind when seeking treatment, parking, refilling a prescription online, and privacy.

Submit campus gameday activities
MSU Athletics and Information Technology Services, in conjunction with the MSU Alumni Association, have again partnered for the Gameday website at www.hailstate.com/gameday. It is designed to be a one-stop site that lists all activities, including operating hours for major units such as Barnes & Noble Bookstore and Dining Services, along with contacts and other key information.

This Week in Mississippi State Sports, 11/11/13
Women's Basketball hosts Jackson State at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, and then New Orleans on Sunday at 3 p.m.... Men's Basketball hosts Kennesaw State on Thursday at 7 p.m.... Volleyball hosts Kentucky at 7 p.m. on Friday, and then Georgia on Sunday at 1:30 p.m.... Football hosts Alabama at Davis Wade Stadium on Saturday evening. Wear maroon.

The Office of Public Affairs provides Maroon MEMO as a general information
resource for Mississippi State University employees.

Web links are subject to change. Submit news, questions or comments to Jim Laird.

Schultz named Society of American Foresters fellow
A Mississippi State University forestry professor was recently named a Fellow in the Society of American Foresters. Emily Schultz was honored by the professional forestry organization for her contributions to the society and the forestry profession. She is a professor in the MSU College of Forest Resources and Forest and Wildlife Research Center.

Kaminski receives association's highest honor
Richard M. Kaminski, a longtime Mississippi State University professor, is being recognized for his contributions and service to wildlife science and conservation. Kaminski, a professor in the MSU Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Aquaculture, received the 2013 Clarence W. Watson Award at the Southeastern Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies’ meeting in Oklahoma City in October.

Bates first MSU Tadlock Extension Award winner
Rebecca B. Bates of Brookhaven is the inaugural selection for the newly endowed Travis Tadlock Outstanding Extension Agent Award at Mississippi State University. Bates, county agent/coordinator in Lincoln County for the past seven years, received the honor during the recent annual MSU Extension Service conference.

Brown, research team discover unicellular protist
From Massachusetts to Mississippi, a unicellular protist is hinting at answers about the evolution of multicellularity while raising a whole new set of questions. Matthew Brown, assistant professor of biological sciences at Mississippi State University, recently led a research team that identified the protist as a new organism and classified its genomics.