Maroon MEMO: Employee News (Mississippi State University)

Gov. Phil Bryant met with Mississippi State President Mark E. Keenum last Tuesday to discuss MSU’s recent designation by the Federal Aviation Administration as the National Center of Excellence for Unmanned Aircraft Systems. Bryant met with Keenum after speaking to more than 370 rising high school seniors participating in Boys State on the MSU campus. PHOTO: Beth Wynn | Public Affairs

DAFVM Spotlight Employee: Angelia Barr
Seeing smiles on the faces of little children is what makes Angelia Barr excited to go to work every day. Barr is a teacher’s assistant for two-year-old children at the Mississippi State University School of Human Sciences Child Development and Family Studies Center. She participates in a variety of activities and experiments with the children and loves interacting with them.

DAFVM Spotlight Employee: Reid Nevins
Reid Nevins loves to spend time outside, which makes his work as the county coordinator for the Mississippi State University Extension Service in Lowndes County a perfect fit. “People don’t think of Extension agents this way, but truthfully, I help people with their problems all day long,” Nevins said.

Wear maroon and Run with Your Colors 5K
Mississippi State faculty and staff, along with students, alumni, family and friends, are encouraged to wear maroon and run or walk in the Run with Your Colors 5K on June 18. The race takes place June 18 at 5:30 p.m. with a start on the south steps of the New Capitol in downtown Jackson. Proceeds from the race will benefit Blair E. Batson Children's Hospital.

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.

Coming in August: Service Dawgs Day
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 "Healthier You" summer camp, summer reading program, food pantries, Emerson Fresh Start Program, BB4K mentoring, Habitat for Humanity, Service Dawgs Day, and more. Faculty, staff and students are encouraged to make a difference by volunteering this summer.

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.

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.

Web links are subject to change. Submit news, questions or comments to Jim Laird.

Keenum elected vice president of SEC
Mississippi State University President Mark E. Keenum has been elected vice president of the Southeastern Conference by his fellow presidents and chancellors. The action was taken last Friday at the SEC's summer meeting. sElection to the office puts Keenum in the line of succession to lead the SEC as president in 2016. The last MSU chief executive to serve as the SEC's president was the late Donald Zacharias in 1989.

Ryan receives Dean of Students Award of Excellence
In recognition of his contributions to student well-being, Mississippi State's associate provost for academic affairs is receiving the Dean of Students Award of Excellence. Peter L. Ryan, who has been at MSU for more than 15 years, becomes only the seventh recipient of the honor since its inception, according to Thomas Bourgeois.

Buffum receives Excellence in Government Award
Mississippi State University's director of procurement and contracts was recognized last week by Gov. Phil Bryant for dedicated public service with excellence, innovation and integrity in his areas of expertise. Don Buffum received the Excellence in Local and District Government Award at a Jackson ceremony on May 27.

Friday deadline for SECU ALDP nominations
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. The nomination deadline is this Friday.