Maroon MEMO: Employee News (Mississippi State University)

Douglas Dumas, an employee with MSU Facilities Management, lays the inaugural brick and pavers for the new Compass Scholars Walk in the Junction at Mississippi State. Over time, additional bricks and pavers bearing personalized messages will fill the walkway. All contributions for bricks and pavers benefit the university’s Compass Scholarships Program. PHOTO: Lizzy Powers | Public Affairs

Grant historians to release first fully annotated version of former president’s influential memoirs
Although Ulysses S. Grant’s personal memoirs have remained in print for more than 130 years, the American nonfiction classic is being fully annotated for the first time in a new book by historians at the Ulysses S. Grant Presidential Library at Mississippi State University: John F. Marszalek, David S. Nolen and Louie P. Gallo. “The Personal Memoirs of Ulysses S. Grant: The Complete Annotated Edition” will provide modern context for the historical memoirs when it is released Oct. 16

MSU, U. of Chile link for future endeavors
Mississippi State and the University of Chile are new partners in a special set of exchange programs for students engaged in start-up ventures and entrepreneurship. MSU also recently signed a memorandum of understanding to receive the country’s best and brightest graduate students with Chile’s National Commission for Scientific and Technological Research, an organization similar to the National Science Foundation.

Songzhuang International Photo Biennale includes Gootee's images
Songzhuang International Photo Biennale recently accepted nine of Marita Gootee’s images from the Sand Shadows Series for the international call for photo artists and photographers themed “Live in This Moment, Return to the Origin” in China. Songzhuang Photo is a major part of the 10th Annual Songzhuang Art Festival. The Mississippi State professor of art is one of 37 artists selected for the prestigious exhibition.

DAFVM Spotlight Employee: Mary Bennamon
Mary Bennamon feels as if she was drawn to working with young people at a very young age. Through her career at Mississippi State University, she continues to develop this long-standing passion. Mary teaches nearly 40 nutrition and health promotion classes to children monthly. She follows a curriculum that teaches children how to eat according to current nutritional guidelines, practice food safety and learn hand washing skills.

DAFVM Spotlight Employee: Sean Pruett
Twenty years ago, Sean Pruett was preparing himself for an engineering career that he could only imagine. His multifaceted background in welding, marine industry and engineering created in him a passion to work diligently, and at the Delta Research and Extension Center, he does just that. “We’re involved with research that is making a direct impact in the industry today, and it has a profound impact on catfish in today’s market,” he said.

Farming advocate finds her dream job with MSU Extension Service
Wouldn’t it be nice if entering a Mississippi State University classroom solved every midlife crisis? At age 52, Sylvia Clark found herself at a crossroad as she reflected on her life as a small business owner and caregiver for her family. With the support of her family, Clark enrolled at MSU in 2006 to finish her formal education in agriculture and extension education. After graduation, Clark easily transitioned into a fulltime Extension job.

Apollo astronauts speak on campus Wednesday
Two Apollo astronauts will speak at Mississippi State University Wednesday highlighting their space experiences and celebrating MSU’s recent admission to the prestigious Astronaut Scholarship Foundation. Astronauts Charlie Duke and Fred Haise will be featured, along with MSU alum and Apollo engineer Jerry Bostick. They will speak about their personal experiences on the Apollo missions. MSU President Mark E. Keenum will open the 5:30 p.m. free event in historic Lee Hall’s Bettersworth Auditorium. A question-and-answer session will follow.

Communication hosts 11th annual golf tournament
It is tee time for golfers of all skill levels who can change the lives of Mississippi State students through participation in the Mississippi State Department of Communication’s annual golf tournament to raise funds for student scholarships. Set for Friday, registration and a putting contest take place from 10:30 a.m. until 11:45 a.m. at the MSU Golf Course. “We appreciate all of the support we have received and hope those who have participated in the past will play, sponsor, donate and/or volunteer for our 11th annual tournament,” said John Forde, professor and head of MSU’s Department of Communication.

New opportunities with the 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 Art in the Park, Boys & Girls Club volunteer orientation, campus voter registration drive, MSU Community Garden, Habitat for Humanity home build, Emerson's Fresh Start Garden, hurricane relief efforts, 3rd Annual Trail 5K Glow Run, 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, 10/09/17
Men's Golf starts play Monday at the Jerry Pate Intercollegiate in Birmingham at the Old Overton Golf Club ... Cross Country competes Friday at the Crimson Classic in Tuscaloosa and at the Pre-NCAA Meet in Louisville, Kentucky on Saturday ... Volleyball visits Columbia on Friday for a 6:30 p.m. match against Missouri and then hosts Georgia in Newell-Grissom on Sunday at 2 p.m. ... Football hosts BYU at Davis Wade Stadium on Saturday with kickoff set for 11 a.m. ... Soccer visits Tuscaloosa for 5 p.m. game against Alabama on Sunday.

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.

Entrepreneurship research ranked in top 10 for global impact
International scholars are recognizing Mississippi State University as a top-10 global institution for impactful entrepreneurship research. A forthcoming article in the Journal of Small Business Management ranks MSU No. 6 in the world for the impact of its entrepreneurship research. The same study ranked James J. Chrisman, head of MSU’s Department of Management and Information Systems, as the No. 6 leading individual contributor to entrepreneurship research. MSU and Texas A&M (No. 9) are the only SEC schools among the top 50 in the rankings.

Salter among 50 being honored for statewide life achievements
The award-winning veteran journalist who leads Mississippi State’s public affairs office is receiving another accolade. Sidney L. “Sid” Salter, also the university’s chief communication officer, is among this year’s selections for an MSTop50 award. MSU President Mark E. Keenum was listed in the inaugural class of honorees as part of the 2016 MSTop50.

Breen assumes permanent Stennis Institute leadership
Mississippi State alumnus Joseph J. “Dallas” Breen is the new director of the university’s John C. Stennis Institute of Government and Community Development. Raised in Plano, Texas, he was an institute staff member who became interim head after P. Edward “Eddie” French became head of the Department of Public Science and Political Administration. It is an honor to have the opportunity to lead an institute with an enduring reputation of being a leader in policy, governance and training,” Breen said.

Policy addresses employee political activity
With local political campaigning underway this fall, Mississippi State's Office of General Counsel offers a reminder of MSU’s policy on political activities. There are several guidelines that employees of the university should keep in mind when engaging in any form of political activity. The Office of General Counsel encourages each employee to review this policy in its entirety to make certain you are fully aware of your rights and responsibilities.