Maroon MEMO: Employee News (Mississippi State University)

Ra'Sheda Forbes, center, assistant vice president for multicultural affairs and director of MSU's Holmes Cultural Diversity Center, and Regina Hyatt, right, MSU vice president for student affairs, serve pancakes to Mississippi State students during Homecoming Week activities last Monday [Oct. 16]. PHOTO: Beth Wynn | Public Affairs

Funderburk’s watercolor featured in national show
A longtime Mississippi State University professor is contributing artwork for the 44th annual Rocky Mountain National Watermedia Exhibition in Evergreen, Colorado. Brent Funderburk’s featured piece titled “Angelus Vitae” is a 22” x 38” watercolor he created earlier this year. The artwork was one of 73 pieces selected from a pool of 549 entries. The showcase is a national juried exhibition throughout October known for artistic experimentation and considered one of the best exhibits highlighting watermedia painters in the United States.

State equine association names room in Animal and Dairy Sciences Building
The first gift toward an anticipated Animal and Dairy Sciences Building slated to open in spring 2019 on the Mississippi State University campus comes from a state horse-owner organization. For their $25,000 contribution, the food retail room on the first floor of the new facility will be named for the Mississippi State Equine Association. The building is currently under construction near the corner of Stone Boulevard and Blackjack Road.

Faculty, staff feedback wanted for research priorities
Vice President for Research and Economic Development David Shaw invites faculty and staff to share their thoughts, ideas, concerns and suggestions for Mississippi State's research priorities by visiting https://w.msstate.edu/research-focus-areas/priorities/index.php. The survey is open through Nov. 17.

Benefits open enrollment underway
Benefits open enrollment is available for eligible Mississippi State University employees through Oct. 31, 2017. Open enrollment is required only if you are adding new coverage, changing existing coverage, or canceling coverage. If you aren’t adding new coverage, changing existing coverage, or canceling coverage, you do not need to participate in open enrollment and your current benefits will continue into 2018. All online elections must be completed by Oct. 26. Completed application forms must be received by HRM no later than Oct. 31.

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 Socktober, Haunted Horse Park, Boys & Girls Club, Project CLASS mentors, Make A Difference Day 2017, MSU Community Garden, Habitat for Humanity home build, Emerson's Fresh Start Garden, 3rd Annual Trail 5K Glow Run, Old Main Art Gallery volunteers, 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, 10/23/17
Men's Golf starts play Monday in the Quail Valley Collegiate at Quail Valley Golf Club in Vero Beach, Florida ... Soccer hosts Texas A&M at 7 p.m. on Thursday ... Women's Tennis starts play Friday at the Roberta Alison Invitational in Tuscaloosa ... Men's Tennis starts play Friday at the SEC Invite in Fayetteville ... Cross Country competes Friday at the SEC Championships in Athens ... Volleyball hosts Alabama on Thursday at 8 p.m. and Florida at noon on Sunday ... Softball plays Chipola College at 1 p.m. and Jacksonville University at 3 p.m. on Saturday in Marianna, Florida, and Florida State at TBA on Sunday in Tallahassee ... Football visits College Station on Saturday for a 6:15 p.m. kickoff against Texas A&M on ESPN.

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Jordan appointed university's interim international program leader
An experienced Mississippi State leader and director has been appointed interim associate vice president for international programs and interim executive director of the university’s International Institute. The Oct. 16 announcement naming Julie Jordan to the interim role was made jointly by Provost and Executive Vice President Judith L. “Judy” Bonner, Vice President for Agriculture, Forestry and Veterinary Medicine Greg Bohach, and Vice President for Research and Economic Development David Shaw. The International Institute reports to all three units.

Petrolia named Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy editor
Dan Petrolia, an associate professor in Mississippi State's Department of Agricultural Economics, has been named an editor of Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy. The AEPP is a journal of the Agricultural and Applied Economics Association. Published by Oxford University Press the journal presents high-quality research in a forum that is informative to a broad audience of agricultural and applied economists, including those both inside and outside academia, and those who are not specialists in the subject matter of the articles.

Higher Education Workplace magazine publishes Easley and Abbott article
Darrell Easley, learning development manager for MSU’s Office of Human Resources Management, and Eric Abbott, graphic artist for the Office of Public Affairs, have been published in “The Higher Education Workplace” magazine. Their article, “Defending Your Workplace Against the Supervillains of Distraction,” was written by Easley and illustrated by Abbott.