Maroon MEMO: Employee News (Mississippi State University)

Mississippi State University staff members enjoy food, music and games during the annual Staff Appreciation Day Luncheon, which was held in the Newell-Grissom Building earlier this month. PHOTO: Sarah Dutton | Public Affairs

Six Bagley faculty members to hold 2017-18 ASEE leadership positions
Six members of the Bagley College of Engineering faculty -- John Brocato, Alta Knizley, Kelly Agee, Donna Reese, James Warnock and Byron Williams -- were recently appointed to leadership positions within the American Society for Engineering Education’s Southeastern Section. The elected MSU faculty represent four different Bagley departments. In a field of ever-changing technology, ASEE is a nonprofit organization consisting of individuals and institutions that encourage education efforts in engineering and engineering technology.

Gombojav's research informs global food security
A recent paper published by a Mississippi State University assistant professor of physics will inform global food security research through detection of abiotic stress in plants. The novel technique developed will help food growers more quickly and efficiently respond to plant stresses. MSU Department of Physics and Astronomy faculty member Ariunbold Gombojav, along with colleagues from Texas A&M University and Baylor University, published the breakthrough interdisciplinary research in a recent issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Deadline for Faculty Leadership Program nominations coming up Friday
The Office of Research and Economic Development and the Office of the Provost and Executive Vice President will again be conducting an Academic Leadership Program for selected faculty at Mississippi State during the upcoming 2017-18 academic year. The program consists of two-hour seminar sessions once per month from August to April. A wide variety of topics will be covered by senior leaders at MSU.

Policy addresses employee political activity
With local political campaigning underway this year, Mississippi State's Office of General Counsel reminds employees to be aware of the university's policy on political activities. There are several basic guidelines that university employees should keep in mind when engaging in any form of political activity. MSU employees are encouraged to review the policy in its entirety and to understand their rights and responsibilities.

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 Columbus Boys & Girls Club volunteers, reading tutors needed at Emerson, summer garden volunteers, tutoring at Ms. Smith's Educational Services, communication partners needed, Habitat for Humanity Home Build, Oktibbeha County Heritage Museum volunteers, applied suicide intervention training, Back 2 School Bash, helping the Council of Community Organizations, and Starkville Boys & Girls Club summer volunteers.

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.

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.

University, school district move education forward with Partnership School groundbreaking
Mississippi State, Starkville Oktibbeha School District and statewide officials gathered to break ground last week on a building that will enhance education in Oktibbeha County, the Golden Triangle area and Mississippi. Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves and education stakeholders were on hand for the ceremonial turning-of-the-sod for the Starkville Oktibbeha School District Partnership School at Mississippi State University. The 128,000-square-foot facility is slated for completion in January 2019.

Fuller to assume new role in College of Education
A longtime Starkville public school educator and administrator is assuming a new role at Mississippi State University. Bobby D. “Bob” Fuller has been named College of Education coordinator for the new Starkville Oktibbeha School District Partnership School at Mississippi State University. He will officially begin his new position on July 1. First announced in 2015, the Partnership School will become the keystone of a research center for rural teaching at the 139-year-old land-grant institution.

New G.V. 'Sonny' Montgomery Advisement and Career Services Center dedicated at MSU-Meridian
A new advisement and career services center at the Mississippi State University-Meridian campus now honors the late U.S. Rep. G.V. “Sonny” Montgomery, a Meridian native and MSU alumnus. Officials dedicated the G.V. “Sonny” Montgomery Advisement and Career Services Center during a formal ceremony last week at MSU-Meridian’s College Park Campus. “This gift significantly impacts the success of our Partnership Pathways initiative with local community colleges while also promoting retention of current students,” MSU-Meridian Administrative Director and Head of Campus Terry Dale Cruse said.