Maroon MEMO: Employee News (Mississippi State University)

Mary Ann Deavenport cuts the ribbon during the dedication ceremony for Earnest W. and Mary Ann Deavenport Hall last Friday. Pictured, from left to right, are Resident Hall Association President Nicolas Harris, Starkville First Presbyterian Church Senior Pastor Martin Lifer, Earnest W. Deavenport Jr., Mary Ann Deavenport, MSU President Mark E. Keenum, MSU Vice President for Student Affairs Regina Hyatt and MSU Student Association President Roxanne Raven. PHOTO: Russ Houston | Public Affairs

University to host first SEC on-campus academic conference in March
Mississippi State University will be the first Southeastern Conference institution to host a new academic event focused on SEC university research collaboration. To be held at the Starkville campus March 27-28, the 2017 SEC Academic Conference will focus on “The Future of Water: Regional Collaboration on Shared Climate, Coastlines, and Watersheds.”

Applications sought for teaching excellence awards
Mississippi State faculty who are interested in submitting applications for the 2017 Grisham Master Teacher Award, the Alumni Association Early Career Teaching Excellence Award or the Alumni Association Graduate Teaching Excellence Award have until Oct. 17 to do so. After careful review, the University Instructional Improvement Committee will select and announce the winners before the end of the spring 2017 semester.

‘Capitol Steps’ to perform for Lyceum Series
With the presidential election approaching, Mississippi State’s Lyceum Series is offering a special political season performance Oct. 17. The Capitol Steps, a Washington, D.C.-based comedy troupe that began as a group of Senate staffers, will present a show based on songs from their current album “What To Expect When You’re Electing” in Lee Hall’s historic Bettersworth Auditorium.

Big Head Todd and the Monsters bring blues
The Colorado-based rock band Big Head Todd and the Monsters with Mud Moganfield, Billy Branch and Ronnie Baker Brooks will bring its Big Head Blues Club tour to the MSU Riley Center in downtown Meridian on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. The concert will showcase songs by blues great Willie Dixon.

Pre-proposals sought for EPSCoR Track 1
The Office of Research and Economic Development at Mississippi State is now accepting pre-proposals from researchers for the National Science Foundation’s FY 2017 Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research Research Infrastructure Improvement (RII) Track-1 competition. The Mississippi Research Consortium is the steering committee authorized to designate a fiscal agent/proposing organization for Mississippi.

New opportunities with 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 2016 Interfaith Dialogue, United We Feed food drive, Bulldogs on the Move, Project CLASS, ACCESS Program peer mentors, Oktibbeha County Heritage Museum, 2nd-annual Trail 5K Glow Run, Pumpkinpalooza, and more.

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.

Game day golf cart rules and safety reminders
Over the last five years, crowds have grown at Mississippi State University sporting events. With growing concern for public safety and for ensuring a positive game day experience for fans and visitors, MSU reminds fans and visitors of the university’s existing policies regarding the use of private golf carts on game days.

This Week in Mississippi State Sports, 10/10/16
Men's Golf starts play Monday in the Mountaineer Intercollegiate in Bridgeport, West Virginia ... Volleyball travels to Tuscaloosa on Wednesday for an 8 p.m. match against Alabama ... Women's Tennis starts play Friday at the Oracle ITA Masters in Malibu, California and the ITA Southern Region Indoor Championships in Tuscaloosa on Saturday ... Men's Tennis starts play Friday at the ITA Southern Region Indoor Championships in Auburn and the USTA Futures in Harlingen, Texas ... Cross Country competes Friday at the Crimson Classic in Tuscaloosa ... Softball plays Anderson University and Western Carolina on Friday and Lincoln Memorial University and Walters State Community College on Saturday in Cullowhee, North Carolina ... Soccer hosts LSU at 7 p.m. on Friday ... Football visits Provo, Utah for a 9:15 p.m. kickoff against BYU on Friday.

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Re-vamped Roberts Building provides new home for post office, parking services
Mississippi State and U.S. Postal Service officials held a ribbon-cutting ceremony last week to celebrate a $3.1 million renovation that has revitalized the Roberts Building. “I am thrilled with how the Roberts Building has evolved to support our parking services office and the U.S. Postal Service here at Mississippi State,” MSU President Mark E. Keenum said. “This is something we have been working to achieve for quite some time, and it has turned out extremely well. This is a much better location, with easier access.”

Hopper named president-elect of Phi Kappa Phi national board
A Mississippi State University faculty member has been elected to lead Phi Kappa Phi, the nation’s oldest and most selective collegiate honor society for all academic disciplines. Missy Hopper, an associate professor in MSU’s Department of Curriculum, Instruction and Special Education, was recently elected to serve as president-elect of Phi Kappa Phi’s national Board of Directors. Her election represents a six-year commitment of service to Phi Kappa Phi that will include terms as president-elect, president and past-president.

Agiovlasitis serving as NAFAPA president-elect
Associate Professor Stamatis Agiovlasitis of Mississippi State is the new president-elect of the North American Federation of Adapted Physical Activity. A member of the university’s Department of Kinesiology, he will be among the organization’s top leaders for the next six years. After two years as president-elect, he then serves periods as president and past-president. NAFAPA is this continent’s branch of the International Federation of Adapted Physical Activity.

Rural Community College Alliance honors Davis
A well-known and widely respected Mississippi State faculty member is being recognized with the highest tribute of a professional organization representing more than 600 U.S. community colleges. James E. “Ed” Davis of Starkville is the Rural Community College Alliance’s selection for the 2016 George Autry Lifetime Achievement Award. An associate professor with three degrees from the university, he is interim head of the College of Education’s educational leadership department.