Maroon MEMO: Employee News (Mississippi State University)

MSU Staff Council members Leslie Lloyd, left, and Darrell Easley, right, cheer on Mississippi State Chemical Lab research associate Dongping Jiang as she participates in a Showcase game inspired by the "Price is Right" game show during Staff Appreciation Day earlier this month. PHOTO: Sarah Dutton | Public Affairs

Ward pens book on Shubuta Bridge lynchings
A Mississippi State associate professor of history has released a new book chronicling events in a small Mississippi town that is home to a tragic monument to racial struggle. Written by Jason Morgan Ward and published by Oxford University Press, “Hanging Bridge: Racial Violence and America’s Civil Rights Century” examines decades of racial tension in the Clarke County town of Shubuta. He will sign copies of his book Thursday.

National recognition for university, NGI
Mississippi State University and the Northern Gulf Institute are sharing the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s 2016 Sam D. Hamilton Award for Transformational Conservational Science. The organizations were major partners in developing the Gulf Coast Vulnerability Assessment to identify natural habitats most in need of climate-related adaptation and mitigation strategies.

IHL's Blanton shares tips for PR success
The communication director for the Mississippi Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning spoke to Mississippi State and Starkville professionals working in the field of public relations last week. Caron Blanton was the featured speaker during the Public Relations Association of Mississippi Starkville-MSU chapter meeting. The Tupelo native said her current role with IHL is a challenging job, but one that’s made easier “through my relationships that I’ve made through PRAM and SPRF.”

Deadline Friday 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 2016-2017 academic year, and applications are now being accepted for it. The application deadline is Friday.

SMART modifying shuttle routes for summer
Starkville-MSU Area Rapid Transit (SMART) is modifying several routes through Aug. 11. However, the Boardtown North, Boardtown South, Highway 12 Express, Old Main Express, and the Golden Triangle Regional Airport Express will continue to operate as usual during the summer.

Don't take a break from volunteering 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 a #serviceatstate interview with Brianna Brown, details about two graduate assistant opportunities, and information about a mentoring at-risk juveniles class coming up this fall.

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, privacy and more.

This Week in Mississippi State Sports, 05/23/16
Baseball starts play this week in the 2016 SEC Baseball Tournament in Hoover, Ala. For a schedule and other event information, please visit HailState.com.

The Office of Public Affairs provides Maroon MEMO as a general information
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Bonner named provost and executive vice president
Judith L. “Judy” Bonner, a longtime senior administrator and former president at the University of Alabama, is the new provost and executive vice president at Mississippi State. MSU President Mark E. Keenum made the announcement last Thursday, welcoming Bonner as Mississippi State’s chief academic officer. She was selected following a national search during which four finalists were interviewed by a university search committee, as well as by faculty, staff and students in public meetings.

Staff, orgs honored with Student Affairs awards
Seven staff members and two organizations at Mississippi State recently received major recognition from the Division of Student Affairs for their contributions during the 2015-16 academic year. At a recent end-of-the-school-year banquet, Vice President for Student Affairs Regina Hyatt presented awards to employees from five campus centers and departments. One center and department each received special recognitions as well.

Schauwecker helps automaker aid the environment
The National Association of Landscape Professionals Academic Excellence Foundation has named a Mississippi State landscape architecture associate professor as the 2016 Outstanding Educator of the Year. Tim Schauwecker was presented with the prestigious national teaching award in his own backyard when Mississippi State University recently hosted the 40th Annual National Collegiate Landscape Competition.