Maroon MEMO: Employee News (Mississippi State University)

Under the guidance of Mississippi State Assistant Professor of Psychology Michael Nadorff, right, applied psychology/clinical psychology doctoral students Katrina “Kat” Speed of Columbus, left, and Brittany A. Kinman of Gulfport, center, analyze sleep patterns on a computer using a chart generated by an ActiGraph. The university's Psychology Clinic is offering evidence-based cognitive behavioral assessment and interventions through its new sleep disorder specialty treatment clinic. PHOTO: Megan Bean | Public Affairs

MSU, ECCC signs Partnership Pathways agreement
A new partnership between East Central Community College and Mississippi State University will help area students successfully enter and complete baccalaureate degree programs. The two institutions signed an agreement last week creating a Partnership Pathways program that will ease the transition to a bachelor’s degree program for ECCC students. The partnership initially concentrates on 10 academic programs and will allow students to enroll concurrently at ECCC and MSU.

MSU to lead state's Pan-Pacific Test Range hub
The State of Mississippi has joined Alaska, Oregon, and Hawaii as a full member in the University of Alaska Fairbanks-led Pan-Pacific UAS Test Range Complex (PPUTRC), one of the Federal Aviation Administration’s seven Unmanned Aircraft System test sites. The Mississippi program will be led by Mississippi State University, and will include several UAS test and evaluation sites in the state.

Grants Resource Center sessions set for Tuesday
Join the Office of Research and Economic Development for two sessions about the many resources available from the Grants Resource Center on Tuesday 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.

University celebrates International Education Week
Mississippi State University is celebrating International Education Week Monday through Friday with a diverse array of events hosted by the International Institute, Holmes Cultural Diversity Center and other campus organizations. Free to all, MSU’s weeklong schedule of events begins Monday with “Delicious DestiNATIONS” at the Marketplace at Perry residential dining facility. The experience will introduce students, faculty and staff to cuisines of different countries and regions.

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.

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.

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.

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 hunger drive, MVC End of the Semester Food Drive, Salvation Army Red Kettle bell ringers, 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, 11/14/16
Women's Basketball plays Tulane on Wednesday at 7 p.m. in Biloxi at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum, and then hosts Texas at 5 p.m. on Sunday ... Volleyball hosts Ole Miss at 7 p.m. on Wednesday ... Men's Basketball plays UCF at 4 p.m. on Thursday in Charleston, S.C., with a game to follow on Friday with opponent and time TBD ... Cross Country competes Saturday at the NCAA Championship in Terre Haute, Indiana ... Football hosts Arkansas on Saturday at 6 p.m.

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.

Cannizaro to lead storied baseball program
Andy Cannizaro, a former Major Leaguer and one of the rising coaching stars in college baseball, has been named Mississippi State’s 17th head baseball coach, Director of Athletics John Cohen announced last week. “I am extremely honored and humbled by the opportunity to become the head baseball coach at Mississippi State and would like to thank President Mark Keenum and John Cohen for trusting me to continue the success of this historic program into the future,” Cannizaro said.

Baham named assistant VP for student affairs
A veteran campus administrator is the new assistant vice president for Student Affairs at Mississippi State. Jeremy Baham, who has served MSU as the associate dean of students since 2011, was promoted to the new role focusing on student support and wellbeing effective Nov. 1. The McComb native and veteran of the Army Reserves and Alabama National Guard will be responsible for providing leadership and supervision to several areas.

Hoffmann's study published in Science
The unexpected findings of a two-nation research team including a Mississippi State scientist are featured in a recent edition of a leading academic journal. Genetic adaptations of hummingbirds to life at high altitudes where oxygen is less available are the focus of the recent report in Science authored by Federico G. Hoffmann, in collaboration with academic partners in the U.S. and Denmark.

Marketing units win public relations honors
In recognition of outstanding public relations work, Mississippi State University staff members recently garnered high honors in a regional competition. At the Southern Public Relations Federation’s annual conference in Sandestin, Florida, the university took home a total of 23 awards -- six Certificates of Merit, 13 Awards of Excellence, as well as four Lantern Awards, the organization’s top honor.