Maroon MEMO: Employee News (Mississippi State University)

Pictured with President Mark E. Keenum (back row, left) and Vice President for Student Affairs Regina Young Hyatt (back row, right) are Mississippi State University's 2018 Spirit of State Award recipients. They include (front row, left to right) Ze’Erica Duncan, Margaret Davis, Emily Turner, Tyler McMurray, Chasten McCrary and Betty Thomas; (back row, left to right) Mariam Khmaladze, Lauren Blalock, Jailand Williams, Nicholas Cobb, Suede Graham, Nicolas Harris, Roger Davis Jr. and Phyliceia Brown. PHOTO: Megan Bean | Public Affairs

Former Rhode Island chief justice, noted historian to address graduates
Former Rhode Island Supreme Court Chief Justice Frank J. Williams will be the commencement speaker for Mississippi State’s three graduation ceremonies taking place Thursday and Friday at Humphrey Coliseum. Williams, a noted historian and current president of the Ulysses S. Grant Association, has played key roles in making MSU one of the nation’s leading centers for study of the American Civil War. Approximately 3,200 Mississippi State students are candidates for spring semester degrees.

Mississippi Public Universities to award more than 11,000 degrees at spring ceremonies
Mississippi Public Universities will award 11,326 bachelor's, master's, specialists and doctoral degrees during spring commencement exercises. The system total for Spring 2018 represents an increase of 641 graduates from Spring 2017, when the total number of degrees awarded was 10,685. "I am extremely proud of our students and universities for raising the bar in degree production," said Commissioner of Higher Education Glenn Boyce.

Nomination period for Leadership Excellence for Accomplished Professionals open
Nominations are now being accepted for Mississippi State’s premier staff leadership program, Leadership Excellence for Accomplished Professionals (LEAP). The mission of the LEAP program is to empower new supervisors and extremely high performing employees with a heightened self-awareness, advanced knowledge, and value-added leadership in a secure, but challenging environment. Since 2011, almost 60% of LEAP graduates have received a promotion and 70% of employees who participate in the LEAP program still work at MSU.

Maroon Goes Green: Raise your recycling awareness
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.

This Week in Mississippi State Sports, 04/30/18
Baseball visits Tuscaloosa for an SEC series against Alabama with games on Friday at 6 p.m., Saturday at 6 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m. ... Softball hosts Tennessee for a weekend series at Nusz Park with games on Friday at 6:30 p.m., Saturday at 1 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m.

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Mabry leaving patients in good hands at Longest Student Health Center
For nearly 40 years, Dr. Mike Mabry has cared for fellow Bulldogs at Mississippi State. As he concludes his university medical practice at the John C. Longest Student Health Center this semester, the longtime physician and MSU alumnus is proud to leave his patients in good hands with his medical colleagues. “It is hard to say goodbye to patients, but I couldn’t have more confidence in the medical care they will be receiving from the other doctors here,” said Mabry, a 1972 pre-medicine graduate from Liberty who is retiring May 1.

Ag units honor faculty, staff and students at annual award ceremony
Nearly two dozen Mississippi State faculty, staff and students were honored recently with major awards in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station. At the campus ceremony recognizing teaching, research and service achievements, George Hopper praised the honorees for their dedication to the university’s land-grant mission. “Our scientists are engaged in impactful research on a global scale and right here at home in Mississippi,” said Hopper, the dean of the college and MAFES director.

CAAD hosting Funderburk retirement reception Wednesday afternoon
The College of Architecture, Art and Design and the Department of Art invite members of the campus and local community to a reception honoring Giles Distinguished Professor of Art Brent Funderburk on the occasion of his retirement from Mississippi State. The reception will be held on Wednesday from 3-5 p.m. in the Dawg House. Refreshments will be served. All are welcome. A North Carolina native, Funderburk is retiring this May after nearly 36 years at MSU.