Maroon MEMO: Employee News (Mississippi State University)

Starkville resident Dot Livingston, left, presents a quilt made from Mississippi State T-shirts donated by Maroon Edition Habitat for Humanity volunteers to new Habitat homeowner Angela Lindsey, right. MSU student-athletes Jeffery Johnson and Johnny Zuppardo display the quilt during the home dedication ceremony last month. Nearly 600 MSU students and employees, Starkville Habitat for Humanity organization members, and volunteers from the community contributed more than four months of sweat equity to the home construction at 84 Murdoch Lane. PHOTO: Russ Houston | Public Affairs

DAFVM Spotlight Employee: David Carter
David Carter takes on a multitude of responsibilities in his position as Adams County Coordinator for the Mississippi State University Extension Service, and he does it all to keep others informed. Carter’s position requires him to keep current with the issues facing his clients, from technology changes to agricultural diseases and pests to child care and health care.

DAFVM Spotlight Employee: Debra Kinser
As the sample receiving assistant for the Mississippi Veterinary Research and Diagnostic Laboratory, Debra Kinser runs a courier route in the morning to pick up veterinary diagnostic samples from veterinary clinics in Rankin, Madison and Hinds counties. In the afternoons she enters results from equine infectious anemia tests into a computer database that is used by the state veterinarian to monitor this disease.

Proposal development assistance from SPA
Sponsored Programs Administration and the Office of Research and Economic Development at Mississippi State University are committed to helping faculty find the resources needed to support research endeavors. Recognizing that not all faculty members have departmental support for proposal development, SPA is working to provide this support as needed.

Embrace new devices, technology in 2015
After some people open Christmas presents, they might find themselves the recipients of new devices they would have avoided but now feel compelled to use. Learning how to navigate such a device -- whether it is a smartphone, tablet, digital media player or e-reader -- can seem a daunting task to those who are not technologically savvy. Resolving to implement a new gift into routine activities in 2015 can be an easy first step toward getting the most out of that new gadget.

Kick off the new year by volunteering
The Maroon Volunteer Center at Mississippi State details a number of volunteer opportunities for the campus community in its newsletter this week. Faculty, staff and students are encouraged to make a difference by volunteering as a new year and semester begins.

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, 01/05/15
Men's Basketball hosts Tennessee on Wednesday at 8 p.m., and then travels to Gainesville on Saturday for a 6 p.m. tipoff with Florida... Women's Basketball hosts Arkansas at 8 p.m. on Thursday and is on the road to Nashville for a 2 p.m. game against Vanderbilt on Sunday... Track & Field competes Friday and Saturday at the UAB Invite in Birmingham.

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.

SACSCOC reaffirms university's accreditation
The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges has reaffirmed the accreditation for Mississippi State University for the next decade. MSU's reaffirmation came without recommendations for improvement from the commission. MSU President Mark E. Keenum, who in 2012 began serving a three-year term on the SACSCOC Executive Council, said he was "extremely pleased" with the reaffirmation and praised the university team that spearheaded the successful two-year SACSCOC review process.

University Florist celebrates 80 years on campus
For more than eight decades, the University Florist has provided a fun, enriching environment for Mississippi State students to gain the work and management skills they need to be successful in the floral industry and beyond. "A university florist like this one is not common on college campuses," said Lynette McDougald, who has served as florist business manager and plant and soil sciences instructor for 17 years.

CAVS showcases innovation for officials
Faculty and students at Mississippi State's Center for Advanced Vehicular Systems last month showcased several developments to visitors from the Environmental Protection Agency and the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality who wanted to learn about environmentally-friendly innovations at the university. Zach Rowland, MSU deputy director of CAVS, said MSU faculty and students affiliated with the center enjoy showcasing Mississippi State's capabilities relative to automotive engineering and the current innovations that will reduce the overall carbon footprint of vehicles in the future.