Maroon MEMO: Employee News (Mississippi State University)

The College of Arts and Sciences at Mississippi State recently presented its 2016 faculty awards. Recipients were (left to right) Oldham Outstanding Mentor Award, Jada Johnson, Sociology; Interim Dean Rick Travis, who presented the awards; Gulmon Eminent Scholar, Jason Morgan Ward, History; Wallace Eminent Scholar, David Hoffman, Anthropology and Middle Eastern Cultures; and Henry Eminent Scholar, Kathy Sherman-Morris, Geosciences.

McAndrew performs Friday at MSU Lyceum event
A Tennessee-based pop and blues singer-songwriter brings his brand of musical storytelling to Mississippi State for a Friday concert in historic Lee Hall. John McAndrew’s 7 p.m. performance in the Bettersworth Auditorium is the latest in the university’s 2016-17 Lyceum Series. A Wisconsin native now living in Nashville, McAndrew taught himself to play a range of instruments, including the saxophone, flute, guitar, harmonica and piano. Along the way, he became skilled at songwriting, with the goal “to tell stories, say important things and make them easy to understand.”

MSU calendars, holiday cards on sale now
The 2017 Mississippi State University hanging wall calendar and holiday cards are now on sale. The MSU calendar features a sleek, modern design, with 13 beautiful campus scenes. Featuring images by the university's own award-winning photographers, it's truly a one-of-a-kind treasure. There are also two holiday card options this year debuting original artwork by Mississippi State alumni.

EPSCoR Track 2 call for pre-proposals issued
The National Science Foundation Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) Track 2 has issued a call for pre-proposals. Mississippi State researchers are encouraged to develop a submission and include co-principal investigators from other Mississippi Research Consortium institutions. The EPSCoR Track 2 focus this year is "Genomes to Phenomes."

Deadline nears for EPSCoR Track 1 pre-proposals
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 United We Feed food drive, sweet potato drop, Bulldogs on the Move, Habitat ReStore, Starkville High School football boosters, Project CLASS, Food Recovery Network, 2017 Alternative Spring Break, ACCESS Program peer mentors, 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, 10/31/16
Men's Tennis competes at the ITA National Indoor Championships beginning Thursday and at the SEC Invite beginning Friday ... Women's Basketball hosts Arkansas-Fort Smith in an exhibition at 6 p.m. on Thursday ... Volleyball hosts South Carolina on Friday at 7 p.m. and Florida at noon on Sunday ... Men's Basketball hosts Delta State in an exhibition on Friday at 7 p.m. ... Football hosts Texas A&M at Davis Wade Stadium at 11 a.m. on Saturday.

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.

Brain receives 2016 humanities teacher honor
An associate professor of history and two-time recipient of the prestigious Fulbright Fellowship is Mississippi State’s 2016 Humanities Teacher of the Year. The selection of Stephen Brain is being announced by the university’s College of Arts and Sciences, along with the Mississippi Humanities Council. As part of the honor, Brain will be recognized during the Mississippi Humanities Council’s awards ceremony in Jackson next February.

Skarke receives National Academies Early Career Research Fellowship
A Mississippi State geosciences faculty member is among 10 recipients of the prestigious Early Career Research Fellowship awarded by the Washington, D.C.-based National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine. MSU Assistant Professor of Geology Adam D. Skarke joins other pre-tenure professionals being recognized for exceptional leadership, past performance, and potential for future contributions to improving oil system safety, human health and well-being, and environmental protection.

Wetherbee named interim athletic director
Scott Wetherbee has been named Mississippi State University’s interim director of athletics, MSU President Mark E. Keenum announced last week. Wetherbee is MSU’s current senior associate director of athletics for external affairs. He joined MSU’s staff after serving as East Carolina University’s assistant athletic director for marketing and ticket operations. He joined ECU in 2003 after stints at Fresno State (1999-2002) and San Diego State, where he was assistant AD for ticket operations.

Legislators gain insights into ag programs
Mississippi State recently hosted state legislators serving on agricultural committees. “We wanted them to hear from faculty and staff in as many areas as possible, so when they were not touring facilities, they were listening to extension, research and teaching personnel explain some of their current projects,” said Bill Herndon, associate vice president for the MSU Division of Agriculture, Forestry and Veterinary Medicine. “We want them to understand that MSU is working hard to support the state’s $8 billion agricultural industry.”