Maroon MEMO: Employee News (Mississippi State University)

Former Rhode Island Supreme Court Chief Justice Frank J. Williams, president of the Ulysses S. Grant Association, introduces Mississippi State President Mark E. Keenum during a reception last week. Keenum delivered a lecture on the connections between the Grant family and the family of Stephen D. Lee, MSU's first president. The university hosted the Grant Association's annual meeting, which included panel discussions and tours of the Ulysses S. Grant Presidential Library and Frank and Virginia Williams Collection of Lincolniana. The Grant Association presented Keenum with the John Y. Simon Award, an honor given every year in memory of the former USGA executive director. PHOTO: Beth Wynn | Public Affairs

Fulbright grant facilitates Dyer's research in Poland
A professor in Mississippi State’s Department of Geosciences is continuing the university’s history of participation in the U.S. Department of State’s flagship international exchange program. As the recipient of a Fulbright Specialist Grant, MSU’s Jamie Dyer will travel to Poland this summer to collaborate on meteorology and climatology research with colleagues at Maria Curie Sktodowska University. In Poland, he will develop and extend research projects related to the assessment and prediction of climate extremes such as droughts and heatwaves, extreme rainfall events and surface-atmosphere interactions over agricultural areas.

Friday deadline for Leadership Excellence for Accomplished Professionals nominations
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. The deadline for applications is Friday.

Applications sought for SEC Visiting Faculty Travel Grant Program
The Southeastern Conference Visiting Faculty Travel Grant Program is intended to enhance faculty collaboration that stimulates scholarly initiatives between SEC universities. Mississippi State University can select a maximum of eight faculty members to receive 2018-2019 travel grants of $1,250 each. Completed applications must be submitted by 5 p.m. on June 29.

Reminder: University policy addresses employee political activity
With political campaigning for Congress and other races currently underway, Mississippi State's Office of General Counsel offers the following reminder of the university’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.

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, 05/14/18
Baseball hosts Florida at Dudy Noble Field with games on Thursday at 6:30 p.m., Friday at 6 p.m. and Saturday at 3:30 p.m.

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Newest Zacharias Distinguished Staff Award recipients celebrated
The strengths of a great university are in its people. Twelve Mississippi State employees who make that statement ring true each and every day are being recognized with 2018 Donald W. Zacharias Distinguished Staff Awards. Presented last week during the university’s Staff Appreciation Day, the honors are a memorial to the university’s 15th president. The annual event is organized by MSU’s Staff Council. MSU President Mark E. Keenum presented each honoree with a plaque and $1,000 check. Tommie Zacharias, widow of former MSU President Donald Zacharias, also personally congratulated each recipient.

New professorship focuses on beef cattle production in the Southeast
A new Mississippi State professorship will focus on advancing beef cattle production. Brandi Karisch, an associate extension and research professor in the Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences, is the inaugural Milton Sundbeck Endowed Professor in Southeastern Cattle Management. “We are grateful to Milton Sundbeck for establishing the first endowed professorship in the Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences,” said George Hopper, dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and director of the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station. “This gift will ensure that research and extension efforts in beef cattle production will address the needs of small producers to enhance their profitability.”

Miller joins Office of Annual Giving team
The Mississippi State University Foundation this month welcomes Klaire Miller of Vicksburg as assistant director of annual giving. Miller joins Georgia Carter, director, and Ally Walker, associate director, as a professional development team member for the MSU Office of Annual Giving. Through annual giving, donors are provided an avenue to support any area of the university including colleges, schools and programs.

Alumni Association staff welcomes Sistrunk
The Mississippi State University Alumni Association recently welcomed a new professional staff member. Starkville native Brady Sistrunk began his duties in mid-April as assistant coordinator for alumni chapter and young alumni programs. In his role, he will implement and coordinate programs for the association to engage alumni of ages 35 and under and provide support for chapter programs with guidance and advice for chapters and their leaders, while also furthering the association’s outreach efforts.