Maroon MEMO: Employee News (Mississippi State University)

Fleshia Gillon, a junior fashion design and merchandising major from Louisville, listens to the advice of Catherine Black, a visiting professor in the School of Human Sciences, during her draping class in the Moore Hall studio last week. PHOTO: Megan Bean | Public Affairs

ConventionSouth honors MSU Riley Center
ConventionSouth, the national multimedia resource for planning events in the South, has presented the MSU Riley Center with a 2016 Readers’ Choice Award. "ConventionSouth readers and fans have voted to decide the best meeting sites in the South, and it is no surprise to us that MSU Riley Center has been selected to receive our annual Readers’ Choice Award," said ConventionSouth Publisher J. Talty O’Connor. "The value in receiving this prestigious recognition is that it comes from the United States’ top meeting professionals who hold events in the South."

DAFVM Spotlight Employee: Latesia Jackson
When Latesia Jackson was in 4-H as a child, she never imagined she would one day be responsible for the same program. After previously working as a Dental Assistant, Jackson was taking nursing classes when she heard about the position for Extension Program Assistant in Walthall County. “When I was visiting the office, the secretary told me about the job, and we actually joked about me applying,” Jackson said.

DAFVM Spotlight Employee: Lori Matzek
For Lori Matzek, changing the lives of students across the state has become second nature. As an Extension associate in the MSU Extension Center for Technology Outreach, Matzek serves as project coordinator for a math and science partnership grant program, In-Depth Mathematical Practices and Teacher Content Training (IMPACT2), which delivers professional development to in-service K-8 mathematics teachers across the state.

Grants Resource Center sessions coming up Nov. 15
Join the Office of Research and Economic Development for two sessions about the many resources available from the Grants Resource Center on Nov. 15 in the auditorium at Bost Extension Center. The Grants Resource Center, a unit of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities, has enhanced the research and sponsored programs capabilities of four-year higher education institutions since 1967.

NSF issues call for EPSCoR RII Track 4 proposals
The National Science Foundation has issued a call for proposals for the FY 2017 Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) Research Infrastructure Improvement (RII) Track-4 competition. RII Track-4 provides opportunities for non-tenured investigators to further develop their individual research potential through extended collaborative visits to the nation’s premier private, governmental, or academic research centers.

White papers sought for NASA EPSCoR funding
The Mississippi jurisdiction may submit two proposals to the 2017 NASA EPSCoR program for three years of funding for a maximum $750,000 per award, or roughly $250,000 a year. This announcement is to solicit a two-page white paper from potential proposers at Mississippi universities. Two of these papers will be selected by the Mississippi Research Consortium for development into a full proposal to this NASA EPSCoR program.

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.

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 Veteran's Day 5K, United We Feed hunger drive, MVC End of the Semester Food Drive, Salvation Army Red Kettle bell ringers, Family Volunteer Day Sweet Potato Drop, Cardboard City 2016, 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, 11/07/16
Women's Golf starts play Monday in the SMU Trinity Forest Invitational ... Volleyball travels to College Station for a match against Texas A&M at 5 p.m. on Friday, and then plays LSU in Baton Rouge on Sunday at 1 p.m. ... Women's Basketball plays Villanova on Friday at 6:30 p.m. in the Maine Tipoff Tournament followed by a game TBD on Saturday ... Men's Basketball hosts Norfolk State at 7 p.m. on Friday ... Cross Country competes Friday at the NCAA South Region Championship ... Football is on the road to Tuscaloosa for an 11 a.m. kickoff against Alabama 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.

Cohen named Mississippi State athletic director
John Cohen has been named Mississippi State University’s 17th director of athletics, MSU President Mark E. Keenum announced last Friday. The current MSU head baseball coach and two-time Southeastern Conference Coach of the Year replaces Scott Stricklin, who was named athletic director at the University of Florida in September. "I love Mississippi State University," Cohen said. "As a student, later as a coach, and now with this fantastic opportunity to lead MSU’s athletics program, this was always where I wanted to be."

University dedicates G.V. 'Sonny' Montgomery Lobby at Nusz Hall
State and university officials, along with a large group of military service members and friends, gathered Friday at Mississippi State to dedicate a special lobby in honor of the late Congressman G.V. “Sonny” Montgomery. The newly constructed Nusz Hall houses MSU’s G.V. “Sonny” Montgomery Center for America’s Veterans, and the lobby now is an appropriate remembrance of the man who built his life around service to his country and to his home state.

MSU moves up in annual ‘Best for Vets’ rankings
As Veteran’s Day approaches this Friday, Mississippi State University is again listed among the best colleges for military veterans, coming in at No. 31 in the Military Times Best for Vets: Colleges 2017 rankings. MSU is listed in the four-year college category of the rankings and moved up 13 spots from its place at No. 44 in the 2016 rankings. The Best for Vets rankings is an editorially independent news project that evaluates many factors that help make colleges and universities a good fit for service members and their families.

Mississippi State recognized for interfaith service efforts
Mississippi State University’s efforts to promote interfaith service opportunities have been recently recognized by the Corporation for National and Community Service and the U.S. Department of Education. “One of our core values at Mississippi State is service,” MSU President Mark E. Keenum said. “This national recognition reiterates the university’s commitment to community service and speaks strongly to the quality of our students, faculty and staff. I’m so proud of all involved with bringing this honor to our great university.”