Maroon MEMO: Employee News (Mississippi State University)

The American flag unfurls in the breeze on Mississippi State's historic Drill Field. The university will be closed on Friday this week in observance of Independence Day. PHOTO: Jim Laird | Public Affairs

Sidewalk expansion underway in Research Park
A project that is expected to boost quality of work-life for more than 1,500 employees who work in the state’s largest research park is moving forward. “Adding the sidewalk around the Research Blvd. loop has been a top request for many of our tenants and the local community, and we are pleased to be able to provide this additional amenity,” said Marc McGee, director of the MSU Research and Technology Corporation, the entity that manages the Thad Cochran Research, Technology and Economic Development Park.

University growing international opportunities
Mississippi State is playing a vital role in the global effort to end poverty and hunger, and that role is growing. David Shaw, MSU's vice president for research and economic development, visited Italy earlier this month to meet with the U.N.'s Food and Agriculture Organization. He was joined by Jim West, dean of the College of Architecture, Art and Design at MSU.

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 Dawg Daze Summer Camp, Healthier You Summer Camp, College Ready Move In Day, 4th of July fireworks show, and more.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Zacharias Awards honor dozen staff members
Nine Mississippi State staff members on the Starkville campus and three serving at other locations around the state are winners of 2014 Donald W. Zacharias Distinguished Staff Awards. The awards are a memorial to the university's 15th president, in whose 1985-97 administration the annual Staff Appreciation Day and the accompanying awards program were established. The awards program is organized by the MSU Staff Council.

National organization recognizes Archer
Dr. Todd Archer of Mississippi State University's College of Veterinary Medicine is being honored by the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine Foundation. In recognition of his demonstrated commitment to advancing veterinary specialty medicine and "outstanding dedicated volunteer service," the assistant professor recently received the foundation's 2014 Distinguished Service Award.

Mago to lead mechanical engineering department
After more than a decade at Mississippi State, an endowed professor will take the helm of the Bagley College of Engineering’s largest department. Pedro Mago, the Tennessee Valley Authority professor of mechanical engineering, begins his term as head of the department July 1. “Dr. Mago has been highly successful during his career in teaching, research and service,” interim dean Jason Keith said.

Faculty complete writing institute
After becoming students once again at Mississippi State's recent Maroon Institute for Writing Excellence, the new faculty-member graduates are ready to incorporate what they've learned in courses not traditionally associated with writing. "We are very excited about the QEP and Maroon & Write," said Jerry Gilbert, provost and executive vice president. "We're introducing writing-across-the-curriculum, and I tell students at each orientation, it's important for their future careers."