Maroon MEMO: Employee News (Mississippi State University)

Mississippi State staff member Angela Verdell listens to "Intersectionality: A Prism For Understanding Social Inequality and Inequity," a presentation given by Assistant Professor Qiana Cutts during the university's 2019 Diversity Conference last week. The two-day conference at The Mill at MSU also included a keynote address from strategic diversity leadership expert Damon A. Williams. PHOTO: Logan Kirkland | Public Affairs

University recognized as top 10 Military Friendly School
Mississippi State University is being recognized as a 2019 top 10 Military Friendly school for its commitment to supporting service members, veterans and their dependents. The distinction was recently awarded to MSU by VIQTORY, formerly Victory Media, which annually evaluates post-secondary schools for support of student veterans. For the second consecutive year, MSU has earned the Military Friendly Gold Medal. Building on historical military roots, MSU has long been recognized as one of the nation’s most veteran-friendly universities.

DAFVM Spotlight Employee: Thomas E. Brewer
Each day is different for Extension Agent Thomas E. Brewer. He researches and delivers information that improves quality of life for clients in areas such as agriculture and livestock, 4-H youth development, and community development. He enjoys meeting new people and believes he helps clients understand vital information.

DAFVM Spotlight Employee: Janie Taylor
Administrative Assistant Janie Taylor knows how to “do it all” after three decades of work at MSU. Her responsibilities at the Truck Crops Branch Experiment Station in Copiah County include monitoring and checking out credit card charges, handling new-hire paperwork, advising how to purchase necessary office supplies and even working on the copier.

Thursday workshop puts designing, designating CEL course in focus
The Center for Community-Engaged Learning and the Center for Teaching and Learning at Mississippi State will host a workshop on designing and designating a community-engaged learning course on Thursday from 2-3 p.m. in Mitchell Memorial Library's ELI classroom. Please register for this session at www.ctl.msstate.edu/events. Participants are asked to bring a syllabus for reference.

Apply today: Community-Engaged Learning Fellows Class of 2019
Applications for Mississippi State's Community-Engaged Learning Fellows Class of 2019 are now being accepted at www.ccel.msstate.edu/faculty/workshops. The program aims to integrate the philosophy, pedagogy and process of community-engaged learning into the university's academic environment.

MSU Extension launches new training partnership with MUW
Human health in the home is the focus of a new partnership between the Mississippi State University Extension Service and the Mississippi University for Women College of Nursing and Health Sciences. David Buys, Extension health specialist, said the partnership with The W came about through connections made at a Mississippi Public Health Association event. Senior Extension associate Susan Cosgrove and Extension agent Beth Youngblood joined Buys as presenters. MUW instructor of nursing Hannah Bascomb worked with Buys to coordinate the training and emphasized the potential reach and impact it could have.

SMART Business Act reminder from ORED
The Office of Research and Economic Development at Mississippi State reminds eligible businesses of the Strengthening Mississippi Academic Research Through Business Act. The SMART Business Act was adopted by the Legislature in 2013 to stimulate private investment in research and development through partnerships with Mississippi Public Universities, develop the competitiveness of Mississippi companies, and improve the state's economy. The program is managed by the Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning.

Nominations for Irvin Atly Jefcoat, Wes Ammon academic advising awards now open
The Office of the Provost and Executive Vice President at Mississippi State is now accepting nominations for the 2019 Irvin Atly Jefcoat Excellence in Advising Awards and the 2019 Wes Ammon Outstanding New Advisor Awards. The Jefcoat and Ammon awards honor both a full-time MSU faculty adviser and a full-time staff adviser for contributions to student advising. Interested faculty and staff must submit an application in PDF form to Nancy Fultz at nfultz@provost.msstate.edu. The deadline to submit nominations for both awards is 5 p.m. on April 1.

Construction area near Allen Hall causes temporary closure on west side
To allow a contractor to complete sidewalk and parking lot construction in the area, a portion of sidewalk and parking spaces on the west side of Allen Hall will close temporarily. Please use entrances on the east, north and south sides of Allen Hall through Feb. 15. For questions or more information, please contact the Facilities Management Service Desk at (662) 325-2005.

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Boyce named humanities teacher of the year
A faculty fellow in the Judy and Bobby Shackouls Honors College and assistant professor in the Department of Philosophy and Religion is Mississippi State’s 2018 Humanities Teacher of the Year. Kristin Boyce will receive her award from the Mississippi Humanities Council at an annual ceremony in Jackson on April 5. Approximately 30 awards will be given to individuals throughout Mississippi whose work is recognized for bringing insights of the humanities to public audiences. Titled “‘Conversation’ in Philosophy and the Arts,” her March 6 public presentation begins at 3 p.m. in the Shackouls Honors College Forum Room of Griffis Hall

Lane named program coordinator of MSU Idea Shop in downtown Starkville
The Mississippi State University Center for Entrepreneurship and Outreach is announcing Michael Lane as program coordinator for MSU’s new Idea Shop. Lane, who graduated from MSU in December with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, will be responsible for MSU’s new downtown makerspace and retail storefront. Launched in late 2018, the Idea Shop is located at 114 E. Main Street in Starkville and houses the Turner A. Wingo Maker Studio and the Retail Product Accelerator, which are operated by MSU’s College of Business and School of Human Sciences.

Sankovich retiring as executive director of MSU Riley Center in March
Dennis Sankovich, the executive director who oversaw the creation of the MSU Riley Center and shepherded it through more than a decade of bringing top performing artists from around the world to downtown Meridian, is retiring at the end of March. “Dennis guided the MSU Riley Center from construction to its triumphant opening, and from concept to its current status as a mainstay of Meridian civic life and anchor of our downtown Riley Campus,” said Terry Dale Cruse, administrative director and head of campus at Mississippi State University-Meridian. “The university, the community and all of east central Mississippi owe him a tremendous debt of gratitude.”

‘Hope and History’ programs celebrate Black History Month
From art to film and writing to discourse, Mississippi State is hosting a variety of free programs in February to commemorate Black History Month. The celebration kicks off Feb. 12 with “A Tough Row to Hoe: Black Farmers and a History of Struggle in the South,” a 3:45-5 p.m. panel discussion in Fowlkes Auditorium in Colvard Student Union. Jim Giesen, MSU associate professor of history and John Grisham Master Teacher, will serve as moderator for the program sponsored by MSU’s African American Studies program and Department of History.