Maroon MEMO: Employee News (Mississippi State University)

The Starkville Civitan Club is donating $1,500 to the Autism and Developmental Disabilities Clinic at Mississippi State. Receiving a donation from the club represented by William Oakley, president, fourth from left, are (l-r) graduate assistants Mackenzie Sidwell and Hailey Ripple, assistant professor of counseling and educational psychology and director of the Autism and Developmental Disabilities Clinic Dan Gadke, assistant professor of counseling and educational psychology Kasee Stratton, and graduate assistants Molly Butts and Hallie Smith. PHOTO: Megan Bean | Public Affairs

Fountain earns certification from IOC
A Mississippi State University Extension Service nutritionist has earned two rare designations in his field. Brent Fountain, associate Extension professor of human nutrition, completed the International Olympic Committee Diploma in Sports Nutrition program last November. Last month, he joined a group of only eight certified sports dietetics specialists in Mississippi.

French delivers MCPM commencement address
Eddie French, professor and executive director of the Stennis Institute of Government and Community Development at Mississippi State, delivered the commencement address for the Mississippi Certified Public Managers Program in Jackson last week.

DAWG program enhances sponsored-project admin
Thirteen Mississippi State staff members are graduates of the third-annual professional development program offered by the university’s Office of Sponsored Programs Administration. This year’s edition of the Departmental Administrator Working Group involved a curriculum designed to develop participants’ sponsored-project admin skills and foster networking opportunities, according to SPA director Jennifer Easley.

University announces 2015-16 Lyceum Series lineup
A Sept. 3 concert by American musician and singer-songwriter ZZ Ward will kick off Mississippi State's 2015-16 Lyceum Series season. Season ticket renewals for those wishing to retain the same seats as last year will take place through June 19, while new season tickets will go on sale June 29-July 17. Season tickets for the general public are $125; for MSU employees and senior citizens, $105.

'A Conversation with the Kinseys' this week
Owners of one of the world's largest private collections of African-American art, artifacts, documents and manuscripts will return to Mississippi State for a special presentation on Thursday. Free to all, "A Conversation with the Kinseys" will begin at 7 p.m. in the third-floor John Grisham Room. Sid Salter, MSU's chief communications officer, will serve as moderator for the presentation.

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 this month. 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.

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.

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.

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
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Hyatt named vice president for student affairs
Mississippi State University has selected Regina Y. Hyatt as its next vice president for student affairs, the first woman to serve in this role at the 137-year-old land-grant institution. Hyatt's appointment, effective July 1, is pending approval by the Board of Trustees, Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning, and comes after an extensive national search by a diverse committee charged with making the final recommendation on the position to MSU President Mark E. Keenum.

Keith to lead Bagley College of Engineering
A nationally recognized leader in engineering education, research and service will lead the Bagley College of Engineering at Mississippi State. Jason M. Keith, who has served as interim leader and Earnest W. and Mary Ann Deavenport Jr. chair since March 2014, assumed the duties of dean June 1. “I am confident that Dr. Keith will be an outstanding leader for the Bagley College of Engineering,” said Jerome A. Gilbert, provost and executive vice president at Mississippi State.

Craven takes reins at WMSV as interim manager
The news and public affairs director at WMSV Radio, 91.1 FM is taking responsibilities as interim manager. Anthony Craven has been with the non-commercial professionally run radio station located on the campus of Mississippi State University since 2007. He began his new role June 1. Craven is taking on the new responsibilities from Steve Ellis, the longtime station manager who retired at the end of May.

Brenner serving as policy fellow for Cochran
A College of Education administrator at Mississippi State is beginning work as an education policy fellow for U.S. Sen. Thad Cochran. Devon Brenner, head of the curriculum, instruction and special education department, recently joined the Mississippi Republican's office staff to provide expertise and insights on upcoming education bills now making their way through Congress.