Maroon MEMO: Employee News (Mississippi State University)

Mississippi State University hosted a luncheon for local and state law enforcement officials last week to discuss plans for making gamedays as smooth and safe as possible. Pictured (left to right) are MSU Police Department Lt. Brad Massey, Oktibbeha County Chief Deputy Sheriff Chadd Garnett, MSU Police Chief Vance Rice, MSU President Mark E. Keenum, Mississippi Public Safety Commissioner Albert E. Santa Cruz, Mississippi Highway Patrol Col. Chris Gilliard, Oktibbeha County Sheriff Steve Gladney, Mississippi Highway Patrol Lt. Col. Randy Ginn and Mississippi Department of Transportation Maj. Thomas Dollar. Starkville Police Department representatives also attended Wednesday’s luncheon. PHOTO: Beth Wynn | Public Affairs

Snyder talks King Arthur with National Geographic
A recent discovery in southwest England is making headlines for its association with King Arthur, but archaeologists are hailing it as an incredibly important find regardless of any connection with Britain's greatest legendary ruler. While some scholars are firm in their belief that King Arthur is merely a literary invention, others are more circumspect. "We don't have evidence to prove his historicity, but we certainly don't have evidence to prove he's manufactured, that he's a completely fictional character," says Christopher Snyder, dean and professor of history at Mississippi State.

Mississippi History Now features Waide, Giesen article
Mississippi History Now, an online publication of the Mississippi Historical Society, this month features an article by Mississippi State's Whit Waide, clinical assistant professor of political science, university pre-law advisor, and general counsel to students, and James C. Giesen, associate professor of history and executive secretary of the Agricultural History Society: "Blewett Lee: Mississippi’s Forgotten Legal Pioneer."

Research resources seminar set for Monday
Join the Office of Research and Economic Development at Mississippi State for a "Campus Resources Necessary for Research Success" seminar on Monday [Aug. 29] from 3-4:30 p.m. in the Bost Extension Center theater. During this session, representatives from Sponsored Projects, Office of Research Compliance, Office of Research Security, Office of Technology Management, and Office of Environmental Health and Safety will be on hand to discuss their services and answer your questions.

Ukrainian ambassador visiting campus Wednesday
The International Institute at Mississippi State University invites faculty, staff, and students to attend a global engagement lecture series on Wednesday from 2-3 p.m. at Bost Extension Center, North Auditorium. The featured speaker will be the Ambassador of Ukraine, Valeriy Chaly. He will discuss Ukraine’s current challenges in international security, and how it relates to political and economic instability.

NGI renews agreement with EPA
A coastal-based research cooperative led by Mississippi State is extending its memorandum of understanding with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The Northern Gulf Institute provides the Gulf of Mexico region with diverse, science-based services to help protect the ecosystem while continuing to ensure healthy communities situated along its borders.

Grant to support MSU-public school project
Mississippi State is receiving a nearly $200,000 Library of Congress grant to help upgrade social studies curricula in local grades three-12. University faculty members Kenneth V. Anthony, Paul E. Binford and Nicole C. Miller in the College of Education will use the funding to enhance and expand the work of teachers in the recently organized Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District.

Baptist Student Union celebrates ribbon cutting
The Baptist Student Union at Mississippi State University celebrated its new building with a ribbon-cutting ceremony last week. The new BSU building is located at 755 Bailey Howell Drive, just south of its former home of more than 50 years.

Gill kicks off Riley Center 10th-anniversary season
Vince Gill, one of the most popular singers in country music and one of the nicest guys in show business, will kick off the MSU Riley Center’s 10th-anniversary season with a 7:30 p.m. concert on Sept. 8. The show will launch the 2016-17 Fall/Winter Performing Arts Series at the historic venue in downtown Meridian.

Get Swept Up with the Maroon Volunteer Center
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 Get Swept Up 2016, Mississippi flood relief, First Responders Appreciation Day, Food Recovery Network, Montgomery Leadership Program, Linking Internationals in the Community, and more.

Clear bag policy in place for Davis Wade Stadium
In an effort to enhance fan safety, Mississippi State will implement a new clear bag policy for the 2016 football season at Davis Wade Stadium. The policy, which takes effect for the Sept. 3 season-opener against South Alabama, is consistent with the NFL's current model and being adopted by most Southeastern Conference schools this season, including Alabama, Auburn, Florida, LSU, Texas A&M, Tennessee and South Carolina.

This Week in Mississippi State Sports, 08/29/16
Volleyball is on the road to Little Rock, Arkansas, to play UT Martin at 10 a.m. and UA Little Rock at 6 p.m. on Friday, and then faces Oklahoma at 10 a.m. on Saturday... Soccer visits Mobile on Friday for a game against South Alabama at 7 p.m., and then travels to Hattiesburg to play Southern Miss at 5 p.m. on Sunday... Cross Country competes Saturday at the Memphis Twilight in Memphis... Football hosts South Alabama in Davis Wade Stadium at 11 a.m. on Saturday.

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Moore named marketing department head
Melissa Moore, a longtime Mississippi State University College of Business faculty member, now is leading the Department of Marketing, Quantitative Analysis, and Business Law. After 17 years with MSU, the Kathy M. St. John Fellow and professor of marketing has been promoted to department head. In her new role, Moore will oversee the continued growth and management of the department.

National training academy to be housed at MSU
A new partnership between Mississippi State University and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s APHIS Wildlife Services program has made the university home to a national training academy. Last Friday, MSU President Mark E. Keenum and USDA APHIS Wildlife Services Deputy Administrator William H. Clay signed a “Resolution for Collaboration” to create a national training academy housed at Mississippi State.

Parisi to serve on Southern Regional Ed Board
Domenico “Mimmo” Parisi, executive director of the National Strategic Planning and Analysis Research Center at Mississippi State University, has been appointed to the Southern Regional Education Board by Gov. Phil Bryant. SREB is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that works with 16 member states to improve public education at every level, from pre-K through Ph.D. programs. “It is an honor to represent the state of Mississippi and MSU, and I appreciate the opportunity to serve on this board,” he said.