Maroon MEMO: Employee News (Mississippi State University)

Mississippi State University faculty and staff members participate in the Holmes Cultural Diversity Center's "Painting With a Colleague" event, designed to help promote a healthy work/life balance. Pictured, clockwise from bottom, are Christine Jackson, Alicia Hu, Tracey Baham, Sheeji Kathuria and Hannah Owens. PHOTO: Megan Bean | Public Affairs

Poole new director of international partnerships and protocol for International Institute
Madison Poole is the new director of international partnerships and protocol for Mississippi State University's International Institute. She began working with the International Institute in 2014. She is an MSU graduate in the College of Business, where she earned her Bachelor of Accountancy and Master of Business Administration degrees. The Office of International Partnerships and Protocol primarily supports the mission to further globalize MSU through the facilitation of global academic and research partnerships.

Holmes Cultural Diversity Center showcases new expansion with open house
Mississippi State University’s Holmes Cultural Diversity Center has an expanded space to call home. University officials and student group leaders gathered last Monday for an open house celebrating the center’s recent second floor expansion in the Colvard Student Union. “This space shows our great desire and passion for diversity, inclusion, tolerance and safety for all of our students here at Mississippi State,” MSU President Mark E. Keenum said.

Wallin to be keynote speaker at national conference
A Mississippi State University-Meridian assistant professor of educational leadership will serve as keynote speaker for a national conference in early April. Penny Wallin will give the featured address during the National Field Experience Conference in Ruston, Louisiana April 5-6. The purpose of the conference is to share information, practices, policies and research pertaining to teacher candidates’ experiences in school settings.

Vahedifard examines ‘Lessons from the Oroville dam’ in Science
A letter in Science magazine from a Mississippi State faculty member is examining lessons gleaned from the recent Oroville dam incident in California. Farshid Vahedifard, an assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering, penned the letter, along with MSU doctoral student Shahriar Shahrokhabadi and civil and environmental engineering colleagues from the University of California, Irvine. Vahedifard studies how a variety of hazardous conditions may affect critical infrastructure.

MSU Libraries’ Templeton Ragtime and Jazz Festival kicks off Thursday
When Mississippi State University Libraries’ Templeton Ragtime and Jazz Festival returns this week, patrons of Mitchell Memorial Library will travel back to the 1920s and experience what many consider one of the most fascinating eras in American culture. “We want to share the significance, joy and excitement of our indigenous American music. Ragtime and jazz were created right here on our soil, and we look forward to celebrating that every year at the Templeton Festival,” said internationally renowned pianist Jeff Barnhart, now serving his fourth year as the festival’s artistic director.

Maroon Edition book tells story of one name, two very different lives
The compelling story of how two young men with the same name — growing up at the same time in the same neighborhood — could end up in two very different places is Mississippi State’s 2017 Maroon Edition common reading program book selection. First published in 2010 by Spiegel & Grau, an imprint of Random House, “The Other Wes Moore: One Name, Two Fates” received critical praise for its gripping account of the challenges of adolescence and the decisions — some good, some bad — two young men make and their life-changing consequences.

April reception to recognize PCSW award winners
The President's Commission on the Status of Women (PCSW) at Mississippi State University has announced the winners for the annual Student Leadership Awards and PCSW Awards. There will be a reception on April 4 from 2-4 p.m. to honor all of the nominees and recognize the winners for each category. The reception will be held in the Griffis Hall Honors Forum Room on the top floor of the building.

Summit looks to the future of manufacturing
Mississippi State University’s 7th Annual Manufacturing Summit showcased ways teamwork can help keep Mississippi and the U.S. competitive in the manufacturing industry in the 21st century. Last Wednesday’s summit on “The Future of American Manufacturing” brought together leaders in industry and economic development at MSU’s Franklin Center for Furniture Manufacturing and Management.

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 the MSU Big Event on Saturday, International Fiesta evening volunteers, Habitat for Humanity, tutoring and communication partners, 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, 03/27/17
Softball visits Hattiesburg on Tuesday for a 6 p.m. game with Southern Miss, and then hosts Mississippi Valley State at 6 p.m. on Wednesday before traveling to Baton Rouge for an SEC series against LSU with games on Friday at 6 p.m., Saturday at 6 p.m. and Sunday at 1 p.m. ... Baseball visits AutoZone Park on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. for a game against Memphis, and then opens an SEC series against Ole Miss in Oxford with games on Thursday at 7 p.m., Friday at 6 p.m. and Saturday at 1:30 p.m. ... Track & Field competes Thursday-Saturday at the Florida Relays ... Men's Tennis hosts Georgia at 3 p.m. on Thursday and Tennessee on Saturday at 1 p.m. ...Women's Tennis hosts Texas A&M at 3 p.m. on Friday and LSU on Sunday at 1 p.m. ... Women's Golf starts play Friday in the Clemson Invitational ... Women's Basketball plays Friday in the NCAA Tournament Final Four in Dallas. For details, please visit HailState.com.

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Bulldogs Final Four-bound after defeating Baylor
For the Mississippi State women's basketball team, the music continues to play and the Bulldogs continue to dance. Behind an NCAA Tournament school-record 41 points from Morgan William, No. 2 seed Mississippi State upset No. 1 seed Baylor 94-85 in overtime to win the Oklahoma City Regional being played at Chesapeake Arena. MSU (33-4) advances to the school's first-ever Final Four. The opponent will be either Oregon or Connecticut, with the contest set for Friday in Dallas. Game time and television details will be finalized late Monday.

University recognizes Diversity Award winners
Mississippi State University honored two students and two faculty members last week for actions that enhance campus diversity. The students and faculty members received their respective 2017 Diversity Awards during a ceremony hosted by the MSU President’s Commission on the Status of Minorities. The commission is led by committee chair Lakiesha Williams, an associate professor in the Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering. The 2017 Diversity Award honorees are Scott Willard, Deborah Jackson, Roy Jafari and Bailey McDaniel

French named political science, public administration department head
A longtime faculty member in Mississippi State’s College of Arts and Sciences is the new permanent leader of its Department of Political Science and Public Administration. Professor P. Edward “Eddie” French has served the PSPA department on an interim basis since 2016. “I believe Dr. French will bring much to the department, and I am excited at the prospect of his leading the department going forward,” said Rick Travis, College of Arts and Sciences interim dean and political science professor.

Brocato chosen as ASEE outstanding campus rep
The Bagley College of Engineering’s John Brocato has been named the 2016 Southeastern Section Outstanding Campus Representative by the American Society for Engineering Education. “It’s a real honor to have my work as Campus Rep recognized by the ASEE Southeastern Section,” Brocato said. “I’ve been Bagley College’s Campus Representative for ASEE since 2004, and one of the reasons I relish this role is that I believe in ASEE’s mission of constantly improving education for all engineering students.”