Maroon MEMO: Employee News (Mississippi State University)

Mississippi State staff celebrated the university’s annual Staff Appreciation Day last Friday. Geosciences associate professor Renee Clary, center, and College of Business Dean Sharon Oswald served employees potato salad and melon bites as part of the lunch provided in The Junction. Winners of the Zacharias Distinguished Staff Awards were announced, and MSU President Mark E. Keenum personally thanked Mississippi State faculty and staff for their hard work and dedication to Mississippi State. PHOTO: Megan Bean | Public Affairs

Staffers win top state public relations awards
Mississippi State communication and public affairs professionals are among winners from the university receiving honors from the Public Relations Association of Mississippi. PRAM represents approximately 600 professionals in advertising and public relations agencies around the state, as well as corporations, non-profits, government, education, industries and other organizations.

Interior design faculty receive major lighting ed grant
Two Mississippi State faculty members in the university's interior design program are receiving a $20,000 national grant. The 2015 Nuckolls Fund Grant has been awarded to assistant professor William Riehm and instructor Robin Carroll by the Nuckolls Fund for Lighting Education Inc. They will use the funds to purchase supplies necessary to launch a new course in integrated lighting solutions.

SECU ALDP taking nominations for 2015-2016
The SECU is an organization of university provosts established to help advance the teaching, research and service missions of the Southeastern Conference member institutions, with a focus on areas unrelated to athletics. One of the SECU initiatives has been to develop an Academic Leadership Development Program. Nominations are now being solicited for two to four ALDP fellows from Mississippi State's tenured faculty.

Nominations wanted for LEAP program by June 1
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.

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.

Holmes Cultural Diversity Center seeks volunteers
The Richard Holmes Cultural Diversity Center at Mississippi State again is seeking host families and individual mentors for its Linking Internationals in the Community program. "The LINC program is an opportunity for families and mentors to share their favorite traditions and customs of American culture, while also learning about the international student's culture," said HCDC program coordinator Rachel Ross.

Make a difference and mentor this summer
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 Noxubee Refuge visitor center staffing, Emerson Fresh Start Program, BB4K mentoring, Habitat for Humanity, and more. Faculty, staff and students are encouraged to make a difference by volunteering this summer.

Policy addresses employee political activity
With local and statewide political campaigning underway this year, as well as a special election runoff in the First Congressional District, 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.

The Office of Public Affairs provides Maroon MEMO as a general information
resource for Mississippi State University employees.

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Tuck named MCSW Ambassador of the Year
Mississippi State's vice president for campus services has been named the Mississippi Commission on the Status of Women's 2015 Ambassador of the Year. Amy Tuck, along with nominees from other state institutions, was formally honored at the Jackson-based organization's annual Woman of the Year luncheon earlier this month. The annual celebration recognizes Magnolia State women leaders for their contributions in a broad range of categories.

Long named associate dean of Graduate School
Rebecca Long is the new associate dean of the Graduate School at Mississippi State. She has served as graduate coordinator in her home department of Management and Information Systems, as well as director of graduate studies for the College of Business, working with the Starkville, Meridian and distance campuses. Most recently, she has served as interim associate dean since July 2014.

Bagley College wraps year with celebratory picnic
Recent spring showers held off just long enough for the Bagley College to end the academic year in style with the annual Faculty and Staff Appreciation Picnic. Members of the Bulldog Engineering family from across the college gathered on Mississippi State’s historic Drill Field for a lunchtime celebration of a year full of success in research, academics and service.

Bethel, Hill honored for teaching excellence
Two faculty members have earned spots in the Bagley College of Engineering’s Academy of Distinguished Teachers. Cindy Bethel, an assistant professor of computer science and engineering, and Priscilla Hill, an associate professor of chemical engineering, are the newest members of the college’s most prestigious faculty society. This year’s inductees were chosen based on nomination letters written by students and colleagues.