Maroon MEMO: Employee News (Mississippi State University)

Associate producer Steve Carver and video program manager David Garraway film Mississippi State senior and Rhodes Scholar Donald "Field" Brown at the University Television Center last week. PHOTO: Megan Brown | Public Affairs

Reynolds, McCurdy win weed science honors
The Southern Weed Science Society recently honored several Mississippi State University faculty members for their outstanding contributions. Dan Reynolds, a professor in the MSU Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, received the Distinguished Service Award. Assistant Extension professor Jay McCurdy received the Outstanding Ph.D. Student Award for his doctoral work at Auburn University. McCurdy is a newly-hired turf specialist in the MSU Department of Plant and Soil Sciences.

Berkeley National Lab officials on campus
Mississippi State is hosting officials from one of the world’s leading research facilities this week. During the visit on Monday [Feb. 10], university faculty, staff, administrators and students will be meeting with leaders and researchers from Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory to explore partnership and funding possibilities, among other topics.

University hosting PERS seminar Feb. 26
Human Resources Management at Mississippi State is hosting a PERS pre-retirement, full-day seminar on Feb. 26 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Bost Extension Center on the Starkville campus. The seminar offers general information on a range of topics, including estate planning, the Mississippi Deferred Compensation Plan and Trust, Social Security benefits, and PERS benefits and options.

Drivers needed for alternative spring break
The Maroon Volunteer Center at Mississippi State details a number of volunteer opportunities for the campus community in its current newsletter, including information about driving a passenger van for alternative spring break in the Delta, #HailStateDay Ambassadors, Habitat for Humanity, Starkville Community Theatre ushers, and more.

Spring lineup for 'Intro to Lab Safety' sessions set
The Office of Environmental Health and Safety at Mississippi State is offering an interactive, hands-on training course on general laboratory safety. Open to all MSU employees and students, the goal of the course is to provide an introduction to the basics of laboratory safety so that laboratory users can identify and reduce/eliminate the risk of exposure to chemical and physical hazards.

Nominations wanted for Powe, research awards
The nomination period is open for Mississippi State University's 2014 Research Awards and the Ralph E. Powe Research Excellence Award. Employees and students are encouraged to submit nominations for this year's program. Complete nomination packets for all awards are due in the Office of Research and Economic Development on or before March 3. Recipients will be honored at a banquet in April.

PCSM seeks nominations for diversity awards
The President's Commission on the Status of Minorities is accepting nominations for the 2014 MSU Diversity Awards. The annual awards program is designed to recognize individuals and teams of individuals who have demonstrated a significant commitment to enhancing diversity at Mississippi State University. Nomination packets are due Feb. 21.

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.

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.

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.

This Week in Mississippi State Sports, 02/10/14
Softball hosts Southeastern Louisiana at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, and then opens play at the Florida Atlantic Strike Out Cancer Tournament in Boca Raton on Thursday... Men's Basketball hosts Georgia on Wednesday at 8 p.m., and then travels to Auburn for a 12:30 p.m. tipoff on Saturday... Women's Golf opens play in the Florida State Match-Up in Tallahassee on Friday... Track & Field competes at the Tyson Invitational in Fayetteville on Friday and Saturday... Men's Tennis starts play at the ITA National Team Indoor Championship in Houston on Friday... Women's Tennis plays Stephen F. Austin in Houston on Friday at 2 p.m. and Houston at 10 a.m. on Sunday... Baseball opens the 2014 season at Dudy Noble Field with a four-game series against Hofstra: Friday, 4 p.m.; Saturday, 11 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.; and Sunday, 1:30 p.m.... Women's Basketball hosts Vanderbilt at 1 p.m. 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.

Cooley gets reporter's view of Olympics
As the world turns its attention to Sochi, Russia for the 2014 Olympic winter games, a Mississippi State assistant professor of communication is getting a first-hand look from the sidelines as an Olympic News Service reporter. Skye Cooley, after a lengthy and meticulous selection process, was chosen as a volunteer journalist to serve as a "flash reporter," someone who will interview American and Russian athletes from the event sidelines. He will work in Russia through Feb. 27 before returning to MSU.

Jeanson takes helm of OETT
Josh Jeanson is the new director of the Office of Entrepreneurship and Technology Transfer at Mississippi State, effective Feb. 1. The former associate director of OETT fills the leadership post held previously by Gerald Nelson, who is retiring later this spring. Prior to his promotion to associate director, Jeanson worked as a licensing associate for OETT.

Street named interim director of MWRRI
The leader of a statewide research institute based at Mississippi State University is stepping down. Wayne Wilkerson, the director of the Mississippi Water Resources Research Institute, announced his retirement recently. Joe Street, MSU Extension Service associate director, will serve as interim director. MWRRI provides a coordinated research and development program focusing on issues affecting water resources.

University celebrating 100 years of ag economics
A leading environmental economist will be the featured speaker Thursday as Mississippi State commemorates the centennial birthday of the agricultural economics department. University alumnus Richard T. Carson, now an economics professor at the University of California, San Diego, will speak at 2 p.m. in McCool Hall's Taylor Auditorium. The event is free and open to all.