Maroon MEMO: Employee News (Mississippi State University)

A view from the steps at Lee Hall shows McCain Hall and a corner of the historic Drill Field, a popular spot for summer recreational walks and other activities for Mississippi State faculty, staff, students, alumni and visitors. Summer temperatures are expected to climb into the middle 90s again this week. PHOTO: Sarah Tewolde | Public Affairs

MSU Riley Center Announces Fall/Winter Series
Singing legends and fresh young talents, theatrical productions that delights children and intrigue adults, and an athletic, creative contemporary dance company will entertain the state as part of the MSU Riley Center’s Fall/Winter Series. The series gets off to a romantic start in the historic venue in downtown Meridian on Aug. 24 with ballad singer and Grammy winner Michael Bolton.

Symposium to highlight future of energy storage
Mississippi State officials say the university is positioned to help shape the future of energy storage in the Southeast region. A conference on campus next month will help frame the conversation for what the region's future holds. In conjunction with the Joint Center for Energy Storage Research, the university is sponsoring an Aug. 12-13 symposium at The Mill at MSU.

SPA taking DAWG program applications
Sponsored Programs Administration at Mississippi State University is now taking applications for the 2015-16 Departmental Administrators Working Group program. The primary goal of DAWG is the development and application of knowledge and skills in the area of sponsored project administration. Applications are due Friday.

Don't miss: Maroon Volunteer Center opportunities
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 Humane Society volunteer orientation, President's Summit for Community Engagement, Service DAWGS Day, the Undergraduate Research Symposium, 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. Online applications are due Saturday.

Register today: Men and Women of Color Summit
Mississippi State's Office of Institutional Diversity and Inclusion is encouraging interested members of the campus and surrounding communities to begin registering for the 2015 Men and Women of Color Summit. Now in its fourth year, the summit is designed to engage minority students with faculty, staff, administrators, alumni and others interested in dialogue about critical issues related to academic and professional success.

Hardy Rd. traffic re-route now in place
Hardy Rd. from Etheredge Hall south to Morrill Rd. on Mississippi State's campus will be rerouted through December 2016 while an addition to Mitchell Memorial Library is under construction. During this time, all traffic will be rerouted around Herbert St. and re-enter Hardy Rd. Students, faculty, staff and visitors are advised to plan their daily commutes accordingly.

2015-16 Lyceum Series takes stage in September
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.

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.

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.

Blackbourn named to national dean's list
The leader of Mississippi State's College of Education is ranked among the 30 most influential deans of education in the United States. Richard L. Blackbourn was selected for the honor by Mometrix Test Preparation. Dean since 2005 and a three-degree alumnus of the land-grant university, he is the only Mississippi higher education administrator on the 2015 list.

Babski-Reeves named a director of BCPE
A BCoE faculty member will serve as a director of a national ergonomics certification board. Kari Babski-Reeves, an associate professor in the industrial and systems engineering department, was elected as a director to the Board of Certification in Professional Ergonomics.

Musselwhite named community of practice vice chair
A member of Mississippi State's Office of Environmental Health and Safety has been elected to a leadership position for a national professional organization. Alicia Musselwhite, the university's fire and life safety officer, is the new vice chair of the Campus Safety Health and Environmental Management Association's Fire and Life Safety Community of Practice.

Energy savings project sees success
Mississippi State is realizing savings just six months after completing a major lighting retrofit project. J.D. Hardy, associate director of engineering services, said the university in January finished a two-phase, multi-million dollar effort to replace T12 fluorescent lighting with more efficient light-emitting diode technology in 22 central-campus buildings.