Maroon MEMO: Employee News (Mississippi State University)

Children at Mississippi State’s Softball Summer Youth Camp had an unlikely visitor last week. In celebration of National Dairy Month, Kenneth Graves of the animal and dairy science department brought a dairy cow to visit the second through sixth graders. MSU dairy cows produce more than three million pounds of milk annually, the equivalent of 369,000 gallons. All milk is used exclusively by the university to produce cheese, ice cream and fluid milk products. PHOTO: Kevin Hudson | Ag Communications

SEC Symposium now taking abstracts
The 2014 SEC Symposium will bring together scholars from each SEC university for the purpose of critically reviewing the body of knowledge that could guide the development and implementation of an effective national effort to markedly reduce the percentage of the American population that becomes overweight or obese. Attendees are invited to submit abstracts to be considered for inclusion in the symposium poster session.

Policy addresses employee political activity
With party runoffs slated for Tuesday [June 24], Mississippi State's Office of General Counsel reminds employees to be aware of the university's policy on political activities. There are several basic guidelines that university employees should keep in mind when engaging in any form of political activity.

Take time to volunteer this summer
The Maroon Volunteer Center at Mississippi State details a number of volunteer opportunities for the campus community in its current newsletter, including Starkville Community Market, Dawg Daze of Summer youth camp, College Ready Move In Day, Summer at the View youth camp, and more.

Sustainable landscapes focus of short course
Mississippi State University will host a one-day sustainable landscape short course on Aug. 1 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Bost Extension Center on the Starkville campus. The Department of Landscape Architecture, Department of Plant and Soil Sciences and the MSU Extension Service are sponsoring the course.

Lyceum Series returns to historic Lee Hall
An Aug. 20 concert by country music legend Merle Haggard will kick off Mississippi State's 2014-15 Lyceum Series season in newly renovated Lee Hall. Season-ticket renewal sales take place July 1-July 18. With the return of the full venue and reserved seating, season ticket holders again may reclaim seats reserved in the 2011-12 season.

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.

Maroon Alert: Sharing emergency updates with MSU
The Maroon Alert system is how Mississippi State University communicates with the campus community about emergency situations that may arise on campus. Maroon Alert is a family of communication outlets to communicate about emergency situations. In most situations the primary means of communication are web, e-mail, Twitter via @maroonalert and sometimes instant messaging.

Register today for CERT half-marathon, 5K
The Community Emergency Response Team at Mississippi State is hosting The Preparathon -- a half-marathon, 5K, half-mile family fun run and Emergency Preparedness Fair -- in mid-October. Proceeds from the races will benefit the Oktibbeha County Volunteer Fire Departments, OSERVS and the Salvation Army Emergency Disaster Services.

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.

Rushing joins Coastal Plain station
The Mississippi State University Extension Service and Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station welcomed a plant materials specialist on June 16. Brett Rushing will research native grasses and forages for livestock, concentrating on the needs of central Mississippi landowners and livestock producers. He also will study plant materials suitable for biomass production.

Liao named fellow of American Heart Association
A Bagley College of Engineering faculty member at Mississippi State has earned recognition as one of the nation’s leading cardiovascular researchers. Jun Liao, an associate professor of biomedical engineering, has been elected as a Fellow of the American Heart Association. Liao’s research focuses on cardiac and heart valve biomechanics, regeneration and simulations. He plans to use this research to develop medical devices and procedures that will maintain optimal cardiovascular tissue health.

Engineering education org names Keith a fellow
The Bagley College of Engineering’s interim dean joined the ranks of the country’s most esteemed engineering educators during a June 16 ceremony. Jason Keith, the Earnest W. and Mary Ann Deavenport, Jr. chair and a professor in chemical engineering, has been selected as a Fellow of the American Society for Engineering Education. He becomes the fifth Bagley College faculty member to earn this honor.