Maroon MEMO: Employee News (Mississippi State University)

Mississippi State President Mark E. Keenum presents the National Alumnus of the Year award to Dr. R.L. Qualls of Little Rock, Arkansas, and his wife, Nancy. Qualls, a two-time graduate of MSU, was among alumni recognized earlier this month at the MSU Alumni Association's 2018 awards banquet at The Mill. PHOTO: Russ Houston | Public Affairs

Southern Gardening wins another award
Southern Gardening media products of the Mississippi State University Extension Service once again brought home top honors in competition. Hosted by Gary Bachman, Extension horticulturist, Southern Gardening is a television program, newspaper column and radio show with a strong online presence. These products are offered weekly year-round to the state’s media and directly to consumers across the region. “This is truly a team effort, and I thank all my team for their help in this great work of spreading the good news about home and garden horticulture,” Bachman said.

Retired DAFVM Vice President Rodney Foil dies at age 83
Rodney Foil, longtime vice president for Mississippi State University’s Division of Agriculture, Forestry and Veterinary Medicine, died February 4, 2018, at the age of 83. He retired from MSU in 1999 after 30 years as an administrator. At MSU, Foil also served as head of the Department of Forestry and dean of the then School of Forest Resources, as well as associate director of the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station. He was named director of MAFES in 1978, and Experiment Station research prospered during his years of leadership. He was named a vice president in 1986.

DAFVM Spotlight Employee: Irene Harrison
Irene Harrison does not simply teach children about food. She teaches children and families across Lauderdale County how to live a rich and vibrant life. children and families across Lauderdale County how to live a rich and vibrant life. As a Snap-Ed Educator with the Mississippi State University Extension Service, Irene educates families about the importance of balanced nutrition and physical activity at schools, churches and around the community. “My favorite part of this job is going to these different places and meeting new people,” Harrison said.

DAFVM Spotlight Employee: Sarah ‘Izzy’ Pellegrine
Izzy Pellegrine helps improve the lives of Mississippi children through her passion: sociology. Every day, her work directly challenges what justice, health and well-being looks like for youth across the state. Pellegrine divides her time between the Family and Children Research Unit and the Wolfgang Frese Survey Research Laboratory, both facets of Mississippi State University. She collects and interprets data about the lives of children through analyzing the system Mississippi uses to measure the quality of childcare centers, evaluating programs to increase college enrollment for high school students and helping design a statewide system that betters the developmental health of babies and toddlers.

Mississippi State celebrates Black History Month with array of events
As home to one of the Southeastern Conference’s most diverse student bodies, Mississippi State University is hosting a variety of free programs in honor of Black History Month. For more information, contact the Holmes Cultural Diversity Center at 662-325-2033, visit www.hcdc.msstate.edu or stop by Suite 220 on the second floor of the Colvard Student Union.

Nominations wanted for Powe, research awards
The nomination period is now open for Mississippi State University's 2018 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 16 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.

PCSM now accepting nominations for 2018 MSU Diversity Awards
The President's Commission on the Status of Minorities is accepting nominations for the 2018 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 Mississippi State University or within the community. Nomination packets are due no later than 5 p.m. on March 9.

Nomination period open for 2018 PCSW Awards
Nominations are now being accepted for the 2018 PCSW Awards, sponsored by the President's Commission on the Status of Women at Mississippi State. These awards recognize those who are advocates for the well-being, development and advancement of all women on the university's campuses and the surrounding communities. Nominations will be accepted from or on behalf of qualified nominees with notable achievements in promoting the status of women, regardless of the sex, gender identity, or sexual orientation of those nominees.

Famous touring company brings 'Othello' to historic Lee Hall on Monday
One of William Shakespeare’s most highly regarded tragedies will be staged Monday at Mississippi State as part of the university’s 2017-18 Lyceum Series. Though composed in the early 17th century, “Othello” is a timeless examination of identity, institutional racism and deceit. To be performed in modern attire, the play is a production of the National Players, America’s longest-running tour company. The curtain will rise at 7 p.m. in the Bettersworth Auditorium of historic Lee Hall.

Maroon Goes Green: Recycling reminders
Mississippi State University currently recycles an average of 60,400 pounds per month. The campus-wide sustainability initiative "Maroon Goes Green" is continuing its efforts to increase recycling awareness and participation among the campus community. Custodial staff members continue to be an integral part of this process and are committed to helping us increase our recycling numbers. To reduce contamination of recyclables, the Office of Sustainability is working to ensure all offices have bins with blue bags for recyclables only and to have convenient trash containers placed in buildings throughout campus.

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, 02/12/18
Men's Golf starts play Monday in the Mobile Sports Authority Intercollegiate and on Saturday in the SunTrust Gator Invitational ... Men's Basketball visits Nashville on Wednesday for a 6 p.m. tipoff against Vanderbilt (SEC Network), and then hosts Ole Miss at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday (SEC Network) ... Softball hosts UT-Martin at 4 p.m. on Thursday, Murray State at 3 p.m. and Drake at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, and South Alabama at 1:30 p.m. and Drake at 4 p.m. on Saturday ... Women's Basketball tips off against Vanderbilt in Nashville at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday (SEC Network), and then hosts Texas A&M on Sunday at 4 p.m. (ESPN2) ... Baseball opens the 2018 season on the road in Hattiesburg against USM with games on Friday at 4 p.m., Saturday at 1 p.m., and Sunday at 1 p.m. ... Track & Field competes Saturday at Notre Dame's Alex Wilson Invitational in South Bend ... Women's Tennis hosts Georgia State at noon on Sunday.

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Spring meeting of the General Faculty coming up Tuesday afternoon
The spring meeting of the General Faculty is scheduled for 3 p.m. on Tuesday in Colvard Student Union's Foster Ballroom. The program will include reports on topics of general interest to the university community, including updates from President Mark E. Keenum, Provost and Executive Vice President Judy Bonner, Vice President for Research and Economic Development David Shaw, and Vice President for Agriculture, Forestry and Veterinary Medicine Greg Bohach.

Osman takes helm of Institute for the Humanities
In her new role as director of Mississippi State’s Institute for the Humanities, Associate Professor Julia Osman is inspiring the university community to consider different perspectives in a broader global context. A faculty member since 2011, Osman accepted the director position in January after William Anthony Hay completed his successful term. He continues his full-time work as an associate professor in MSU’s Department of History. MSU College of Arts and Sciences Dean Rick Travis said Osman will be instrumental in advancing the institute’s mission.

Sparks earns professional distinction
A Mississippi State University Extension Service instructor has earned an Impact Collaborative Facilitator certificate from the eXtension Foundation. Bekah Sparks, instructor for the MSU Extension Center for Technology Outreach, was one of 16 Extension professionals across the country to receive the training required for this distinction. Sparks uses her training to facilitate the organization’s Designathon One events.

New assistant English professor receives professional accolade
A Mississippi State faculty member is beginning her academic career with a significant research award in writing studies. Katherine Flowers of the university’s English department is receiving the James Berlin Memorial Outstanding Dissertation Award, an international recognition of the Conference on College Composition and Communication. Dan Punday, MSU English department head, said CCCC is “the” academic organization for the career Flowers is pursuing.