Maroon MEMO: Employee News (Mississippi State University)

Mississippi State President Mark E. Keenum (left) and members of the Powe family -- Sarah Powe, Pam Powe, Debbie Powe Miller and Amber Miller -- congratulate art professor Brent Funderburk for winning the 2015 Ralph E. Powe Research Excellence Award last Thursday. The Powe Award is a memorial to the MSU alumnus and longtime research vice president who died in 1996. It is selected at the university level from nominations received from the MSU community. PHOTO: Beth Wynn | Public Affairs

Cooley assumes new fundraising role
University fundraiser is filling a newly created role with the MSU Foundation beginning May 1. Asya Besova Cooley will become the university's director of development for the MSU Library, the Graduate School, and the Judy and Bobby Shackouls Honors College. She will direct major gifts fundraising for these areas.

DAFVM Spotlight Employee: Steve Jones
Steve Jones would have laughed at the idea of being an electronics laboratory manager 20 years ago. But today, he provides supplies and computer support for 100 sites as the electronics laboratory manager for the Mississippi State University Extension Service.

DAFVM Spotlight Employee: Allen Shack
Research Associate III becomes more than just a title for Allen Shack when all his hard work pays off with good, publishable results. His duties are divided into four main areas for a lab in the CVM Basic Sciences department: lab maintenance, lab safety, lab work and management.

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.

Nominations wanted for LEAP program
The 2015 Leadership Excellence for Accomplished Professionals program at Mississippi State is now accepting applications. The goal and purpose of LEAP is to empower new supervisors and extremely high performing professional staff with a heightened self-awareness, advanced knowledge, and value-added leadership in a secure, but challenging environment.

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.

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, 05/04/15
Softball sees the SEC Tournament open in Baton Rouge on Wednesday... Women's Golf begins play in the NCAA Regional at Raleigh on Thursday... Baseball visits Oxford for an SEC series against Ole Miss with games on Thursday at 7:30 p.m., Friday at 6 p.m. and Saturday at 4 p.m.... Men's Tennis faces Denver in Chapel Hill in the NCAA Team Championship first round at 9 a.m. on Friday... Women's Tennis plays Houston in Berkeley in the NCAA Team Championship first round on Friday at noon.

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Faculty, staff and student researchers recognized
Forty-nine Mississippi State students, faculty and staff are 2015 selections for exceptional research and leadership honors. Honorees, their guests and senior administrators gathered for a campus awards luncheon late last week. The program and banquet are co-sponsored by the offices of the vice presidents for Research and Economic Development and the Division of Agriculture, Forestry and Veterinary Medicine.

Faculty, staff receive major university honors
Six faculty and one staff member received major university honors during Mississippi State's 2014-15 Faculty Awards and Recognition Program last week. The annual spring-semester program is sponsored by the Office of the Provost and Executive Vice President and MSU Alumni Association. "The strengths of a great university are always in its people," said Provost Jerry Gilbert, who served as master of ceremonies.

Dumas named to MBJ's 'Top 50 Under 40' list
Mississippi State's director of university parking, transit and sustainability is a recipient of a Mississippi Business Journal annual honor. Jeremiah Dumas is included on the Jackson publication's 2015 "Top 50 Under 40" list published this month. Honorees, who have not yet reached age 40, are selected for their leadership in local communities and businesses.

Leland Community Service Award goes to MSU team
After four years of working to improve a Central Delta community's quality of life, a cross-collaborative Mississippi State team was recently thanked and honored by local residents. The Leland Chamber of Commerce recognized staff members and colleagues of the university's John C. Stennis Institute of Government and Community Development and the Department of Landscape Architecture with the 2015 Community Service Award.