Maroon MEMO: Employee News (Mississippi State University)

Mississippi State Libraries Associate Dean Stephen Cunetto (left), Dean of Libraries Frances Coleman and Skip Wyatt of Foil Wyatt Architects & Planners tour the new Mitchell Memorial Library expansion. The project is nearing completion and will house the Ulysses S. Grant Presidential Library and the Congressional and Political Research Center. PHOTO: Megan Bean | Public Affairs

MSU Extension gains ag marketing specialist
Mississippi livestock producers have a new resource for research-based information to help them manage their businesses. Josh Maples has joined the faculty of the Mississippi State University Department of Agricultural Economics as an assistant professor with Extension responsibilities in livestock marketing and agribusiness. He will serve as the Extension livestock marketing analyst and help producers understand markets and finances.

Farmer's book focuses on K-12 education issues
An award-winning Mississippi State education faculty member is the author of a new guide for all involved in the kindergarten-high school learning process. “School Days 101” is the work of Angela S. Farmer, an assistant professor of leadership and foundations in the university’s College of Education. Designed for teachers and administrators -- and even parents -- the 116-page book is a recent release of Kendall Hunt Publishing.

Buys on USDA Agricultural Outlook Forum panel
Mississippi State University Extension Service health specialist David Buys will be a panelist at the U.S. Department of Agriculture's largest annual meeting. The USDA Agricultural Outlook Forum hosts more than 1,500 attendees each year. Buys, also a researcher with the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station, will be one of more than 100 speakers and moderators at the forum.

Forde swears in new PR association officers
Mississippi State University communication professor John Forde joins public relations professionals Nicole Bradshaw (left to right) and Jennifer Gray for a photo at a Jackson luncheon last week. A longtime PRAM leader, Forde -- who heads Mississippi State's Department of Communication -- administered the oath to the organization's new slate of officers on Jan. 25.

MSU Riley Center Spring/Summer Series turns spotlight on American music
The MSU Riley Center 2017 Spring/Summer Performing Arts Series will showcase the past half-century of American popular music. Legends of ’50s, ’60s and ’70s rock ’n’ roll, a tribute to the golden age of soul, storytelling singer-songwriters, up-and-coming young country and blues stars, an infectiously energetic indoor version of the marching band experience and a wildly reimagined version of a classic rock opera will visit the Riley Center’s elegant Victorian theater in downtown Meridian.

Nominations wanted for Powe, research awards
The nomination period is now open for Mississippi State University's 2017 Research Awards and the Ralph E. Powe Research Excellence Award. Faculty, staff and students are encouraged to submit nominations for this year's program. Recipients will be honored during a special luncheon at the Hunter Henry Center on April 27 at 11:30 a.m. The awards program is sponsored by the Office of the Vice President for Research and Economic Development and the Office of the Vice President for Agriculture, Forestry and Veterinary Medicine.

Nominations sought for 2017 MSU Diversity Awards
The President's Commission on the Status of Minorities at Mississippi State is accepting nominations for the 2017 MSU Diversity Awards. The annual awards program is designed to recognize individuals and teams of individuals who have demonstrated a significant commitment to enhancing diversity at the university. Nomination packets are due no later than 5 p.m. on Feb. 17.

PCSW now accepting nominations for annual awards
Nominations are now being accepted for the 2017 PCSW Awards Program, sponsored by the President's Commission on the Status of Women at Mississippi State. These awards recognize individuals both on and off campus with notable achievements in promoting the status of women, and who are advocates for the well-being, development and advancement of all women of MSU's campuses and surrounding communities. All nominations are due by Feb. 24 at noon.

Registration open for SEC Academic Conference
Registration is open for the 2017 SEC Academic Conference to be hosted by Mississippi State University March 27-28. The new academic event focused on SEC university research collaboration will examine “The Future of Water: Regional Collaboration on Shared Climate, Coastlines, and Watersheds.” For complete conference details, visit www.secconference.msstate.edu.

It's a new year: Why not volunteer?
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 the West Point Animal Shelter, Project CLASS, Columbus Boys & Girls Club, Habitat ReSale Store, reading tutors, 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.

This Week in Mississippi State Sports, 01/30/17
Men's Basketball visits Oxford on Tuesday for a 6 p.m. tipoff against Ole Miss, and then hosts Tennessee on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. ... Women's Basketball is on the road Thursday for an 8 p.m. game against Auburn, and then hosts Missouri at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday ... Track & Field competes Friday and Saturday at the Harvard/Boston Invite in Boston ... Women's Golf starts play Sunday at the UCF Challenge in Orlando.

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MSU Diversity Conference challenges attendees to pair conversation with action
Award-winning journalist and social activist Jeff Johnson challenged attendees at Mississippi State University’s 2017 Diversity Conference to strive for meaningful results when considering ways to increase institutional diversity. Johnson was the keynote speaker for the two-day conference, presented by MSU’s President’s Commission on the Status of Minorities and held at The Mill at MSU Conference Center. MSU President Mark E. Keenum spoke to the importance of diversity and its empowering effect in institutions.

MSU-Morocco partnership heralded as ‘best practice’ in international education
Mississippi State’s partnership with a Moroccan university is being recognized as one of the top partnerships in international education. “We’re very proud to see MSU recognized with the Heiskell Award, recognizing the innovative program that we’ve developed with the Universite Internationale de Rabat,” MSU Vice President for Research and Economic Development David Shaw said.

Parish will lead North Mississippi research, extension center
Jane Parish will take the reins at the North Mississippi Research and Extension Center on Feb. 1. Gary Jackson, director of the Mississippi State University Extension Service, and George Hopper, director of the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station, jointly announced her promotion from the Prairie Research Unit. She served as research and Extension professor at that unit since 2014.

University names new head for coastal center
James E. Henderson has been selected head of the Mississippi State University Coastal Research and Extension Center. When Henderson assumes his new role on Feb. 1, he will oversee the daily operations of the MSU Extension Service and Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station in the southeastern region. It is the hub of research and Extension education programs for 21 counties and four branch experiment stations.