Maroon MEMO: Employee News (Mississippi State University)

Morning light shines through the stained glass windows at the Chapel of Memories. Built from bricks of the burned Old Main Dormitory, which was destroyed by a fire in 1959, the campus landmark continues to serve as a reminder of campus memories made by generations of students, faculty and staff. PHOTO: Keats Haupt | Public Affairs

Court named head strength and conditioning coach
Rick Court, a 13-year veteran in strength and conditioning who spent the past two seasons working directly with Ohio State football, has been named head strength and conditioning coach at Mississippi State, head coach Dan Mullen announced last week. In addition, Mullen announced that Thomas Stallworth has been promoted to associate strength and conditioning coach.

University named top recycling institution
Officials from the Mississippi Recycling Coalition were at Mississippi State Jan. 14 to present the university with the "Educational Institution Recycler of the Year" award. Sarah Kountouris, executive director for Keep Mississippi Beautiful and president of the board of directors for the Mississippi Recycling Coalition, said MSU has set a standard for other universities and community colleges to follow.

Last chance to sign up for MLK Day of Service
The Maroon Volunteer Center at Mississippi State details a number of volunteer opportunities for the campus community in its current newsletter, including Monday's MLK Day of Service, Boys and Girls Club tutoring, Girl Scouting in the School Day, Humane Society training, the MSU Food Security Network and more.

Nominations sought for outstanding women awards
Nominations are now being accepted for the 2014 Outstanding Women Awards Program, sponsored by the President's Commission on the Status of Women. These awards recognize women who are advocates for the well being, development and advancement of all women on Mississippi State University campuses and the surrounding communities. MSU faculty, staff and students are invited to nominate campus and community women for the awards.

Spirit of State nominations, applications wanted
Applications and nominations are now being accepted for the ninth-annual Spirit of State awards. With these awards, Mississippi State will recognize outstanding contributions made by our students toward improving student life. These awards are open to all MSU students from all campuses and recognize excellence in campus involvement; service to the university community; actions that promote the Spirit of State; and overall impact on peers and the broader campus community.

Museum plans Old Main commemorative program
The Oktibbeha County Heritage Museum will commemorate the 55th anniversary of the burning of Old Main Dormitory during a Wednesday event. The 10 a.m. program will feature Charles Lowery, former head of MSU’s history department and co-author of the book “Old Main, Memories of a Legend.” Bill Poe, a member of the board of directors for the museum and a witness to the 1959 fire, said several eye witnesses will attend and share memories.

Assembly Magazine features Mississippi State
Assembly Magazine featured Mississippi State University's Franklin Furniture Institute earlier this month: “Our mission is to help sustain and increase the competitiveness of the furniture and home furnishings industry in the southeastern region of the United States, including Mississippi, North Carolina and South Carolina,” says Bill Martin, director of the Franklin Furniture Institute. “We are an extension and outreach unit focused on providing research, training and technical assistance to the furniture value chain."

January employee assistance newsletter online
Mississippi State University's employee assistance program includes a free monthly newsletter for faculty and staff, and the latest edition is now available. This month's feature is about involving your family in financial wellness: deciding whether to give your children or teens an allowance, talking to your children and teenagers about money and credit, and developing a budget and finding ways to spend less money.

Barr Avenue, George Perry Street closures in place
In late December, portions of Barr Avenue and George Perry Street were closed for construction activities related to the new classroom building project at Mississippi State University. The closure on Barr Avenue extends from the intersection with George Perry Street to the entrance of the Critz Hall parking lot. On George Perry Street, the closure extends from the intersection with Barr Avenue to the entrance of the YMCA-Post Office loading dock.

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.

This Week in Mississippi State Sports, 01/20/14
Men's Basketball hosts Auburn at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, and then travels to Oxford for a 3 p.m. tipoff on Saturday against Ole Miss (SEC-TV)... Women's Basketball visits Ole Miss at 6 p.m. on Thursday, and then hosts Missouri on Sunday at 2 p.m. (SportSouth-TV)... Track & Field competes at the Vanderbilt Invitational in Nashville on Friday and Saturday... Men's Tennis hosts Harvard for the ITA Kickoff Weekend at Pitts Tennis Centre on Saturday at 1 p.m., and then will play either Memphis or South Carolina on Sunday... Women's Tennis visits College Station for the ITA Kick Weekend with an opening match against Texas A&M on Saturday at 2 p.m., and then will play either DePaul or San Jose State on Sunday.

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.

MSU Rhodes Scholar to keynote MLK breakfast
Character, commitment and leadership defined Martin Luther King Jr. as a civil rights trailblazer, and Mississippi State's 2013 MLK Jr. Unity Breakfast will feature a student recognized for demonstrating those same qualities. Senior Donald M. "Field" Brown of Vicksburg, the university's recently named Rhodes Scholar, will be keynote speaker Monday for the 20th annual local celebration of MLK's life and achievements.

French appointed Stennis Institute interim director
Replacing W. Martin "Marty" Wiseman as director of Mississippi State's John C. Stennis Institute of Government and Community Development might be a near-impossible challenge. That's why P. Edward "Eddie" French, the recently named interim director, said he isn't even going to try. French, who holds an MSU doctoral degree in public policy and administration, said his research and expertise focuses on the roles and responsibilities of elected officials and administrators, as well as the motivations of government employees.

Clifford surveys political genealogy in book
A Mississippi State professor's new book on political genealogy offers useful insights for geographers, historians, sociologists, and political scientists, as well as philosophers. "Empowerment: The Theory and Practice of Political Genealogy," by Michael R. Clifford of the university's philosophy and religion department, explores the philosophy of political genealogy.

IEEE taps King as fellow
A longtime Mississippi State engineering administrator is receiving the highest membership honor of a leading international organization. Roger L. King formally will be designated later this month as a Fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. "We are truly delighted and proud about the many world-class accomplishments of Dr. King," said Achille Messac, Bagley College dean.