Maroon MEMO: Employee News (Mississippi State University)

Lisa Bencivenga of Maryland-based Export Compliance Solutions LLC leads one of four export control training sessions offered by the Office of Research Security at Mississippi State last month. To learn more about how export control laws and regulations affect flagship research universities like MSU, please visit www.ors.msstate.edu. PHOTO: Keats Haupt | Public Affairs

DAFVM Spotlight Employee: Isaac Pickett
You never get a second chance to make a good first impression, and visitors to the E.G. (Gene) Morrison Brown Loam Branch Experiment Station can tell Isaac Pickett works hard to impress them. “One thing I wish people knew about my job is that working around Mother Nature is a challenge, but the challenge makes the outcome all the sweeter,” he said.

DAFVM Spotlight Employee: Amanda Smith
Child care providers can sometimes have a difficult time learning all the required tasks for their positions. Amanda Smith helps them along the way. Smith provides staff development at the Early Years Network. She also provides one-on-one, in-classroom technical assistance to child care providers.

Policy addresses employee political activity
With local and statewide political campaigning underway this year, 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.

Middleton to discuss The Kinsey Collection
The Kinsey Collection, on display at Mississippi State through June 20, illustrates African American history through achievements and accomplishments. During a Thursday program at the university's Mitchell Memorial Library, history professor Stephen Middleton will explain how certain artifacts in the collection validate the historical record, while others challenge it.

Community invited to CVM's annual open house
The Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine invites visitors of all ages to attend its 30th annual Open House on Friday and Saturday. This year’s theme is “Wizard of Pawz.” One of the primary goals of the event is to open the world of veterinary medicine to visitors through fun activities and educational sessions on animal health and behavior.

Suicide prevention training offered April 21
The Work Life Balance Committee at Mississippi State is partnering with Staff Council and the Mississippi Coalition of Partners in Prevention for two QPR suicide prevention workshops for faculty and staff on April 21. QPR stands for question, persuade and refer -- three simple steps that anyone can learn to help save a life from suicide.

'I Bleed Maroon' blood drive next week
Mississippi State campus radio station WMSV 91.1 FM and United Blood Services will host a week-long blood drive event next week -- believed to be the first of its kind. “I Bleed Maroon” will consist of nine blood drives in six days and will be held at bloodmobiles located throughout campus and in Starkville.

Habitat, Border Clash track meet, blood drive & more
The Maroon Volunteer Center at Mississippi State details a number of volunteer opportunities for the campus community on its website and in its newsletter this week, including Habitat for Humanity, Border Clash track meet volunteer officials, I Bleed Maroon blood drive, and more. Faculty, staff and students are encouraged to make a difference by volunteering this spring.

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, 04/06/15
Men's Golf hosts the Old Waverly Collegiate Championship beginning Monday... Softball plays Arkansas in Fayetteville on Monday at 6 p.m., and then hosts LSU at 6 p.m. on Wednesday before traveling to Columbia for a weekend series with Missouri with games on Friday at 6:30 p.m., Saturday at 1 pm. and Sunday at 2:30 p.m.... Baseball visits Memphis on Tuesday for a 6:30 p.m. game at AutoZone Park, and then is on the road to College Station with games against Texas A&M on Friday at 6:35 p.m., Saturday at 2:05 p.m. and Sunday at 1:05 p.m.... Soccer hosts Alabama at 7 p.m. on Tuesday... Track & Field hosts the Border Clash meet on Friday... Men's Tennis plays Vanderbilt in Nashville on Friday at 5 p.m. and hosts LSU at 1 p.m. on Sunday... Women's Tennis travels to Oxford on Saturday for a 1 p.m. match against Ole Miss.

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.

Diversity Award winners announced
For their significant commitments to enhancing diversity at Mississippi State, the university's President's Commission on the Status of Minorities is recognizing three individuals and a campus organization. "This year's winners have stepped outside of their norm and exhibited a great passion for exploring and promoting diversity," said Ra'Sheda Forbes, PCSM's interim chair.

McCandless to lead tech management office
A patent attorney with intellectual property experience will lead the Office of Technology Management at Mississippi’s flagship research university. Kristin L. McCandless began her role as OTM director in early March. The Mississippi State unit is charged with efficiently capturing, protecting, and managing the commercialization of university-owned and -generated IP.

Buys selected for national project
A Mississippi State University Extension Service health specialist’s expertise in the battle against chronic disease has put him in the national spotlight. David Buys will serve as the chair of the chronic disease prevention and management action team for a larger, nationwide effort by the Extension Service and its partners to improve health factors in the U.S.

Applications sought for Faculty Leadership Program
The Office of Research and Economic and Development and the Office of the Provost and Executive Vice President will lead Mississippi State's Faculty Leadership Program in the upcoming 2015-2016 academic year, and applications are now being accepted for it.