Maroon MEMO: Employee News (Mississippi State University)

MSU Dining Services held a ribbon cutting last week for State Fountain Bakery’s new space in Colvard Student Union. Pictured left to right, Mayah Emerson, MSU Student Association president from Meridian; Brandon C. Johns, a junior management major from Spring Hill, Tennessee; Madison K. Grant, a senior business administration major from Elberta, Alabama; MSU President Mark E. Keenum; LeRoy Hollingshed, retired State Fountain Bakery employee; Jeffrey Rupp, director of outreach for MSU’s Center for Entrepreneurship and Outreach; James Jankowski, Aramark resident district manager; Hunter Harrington, director of membership development for the Greater Starkville Development Partnership; and Regina Hyatt, MSU vice president for student affairs. With assistance from MSU’s Center for Entrepreneurship and Outreach, Johns, Grant and other MSU students founded Jitterbean’s coffee, now served at State Fountain Bakery. PHOTO: Logan Kirkland | Public Affairs

Music department to present ‘Sara and Billy and Richard and Oscar: America’s Got Talent!’
Mississippi State’s Department of Music is presenting its 12th Music and Poetry Program on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. in Old Main Academic Center’s Turner A. Wingo Auditorium. Faculty performers include clinical assistant professor Christy Lee, piano; instructor Ryan Landis, tenor; associate professor Gary Packwood, director of choral activities; instructor Jessica Haislip, oboe; and instructor Sheri Falcone, clarinet. “From serious love songs to hilarious comic songs and everything in between, this program has something for everyone,” said program co-director Nancy D. Hargrove.

Theatre MSU debuts ‘Studio Maroon’ series with dramatic comedy doubleheader
Theatre MSU is debuting a new “Studio Maroon” series Thursday-Saturday with 7:30 p.m. performances of “27 Wagons Full of Cotton” and “Author’s Voice” in the Mississippi State’s McComas Hall main stage theater. Cody Stockstill, assistant professor and theatre concentration coordinator in the College of Arts and Sciences’ Department of Communication, said Studio Maroon gives students hands-on experience to oversee all aspects of theatre performances, including design, directing and production.

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.

Faculty and staff may update online information about summer youth camps
Faculty, staff and deans, directors and department heads: The MSU summer camp page is up and ready to be updated with 2019 camp information. Having this information in one location is a help for people wanting to know what camps MSU will offer this summer. Your help getting this information centralized in one location is very much appreciated and a great way to ensure parents can find camp information easily. If you have any questions or trouble entering your camp information, please do not hesitate to contact Amber Shultice at the Center for Continuing Education, (662) 325-1457 or ams257@msstate.edu.

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.

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 Friday. For questions or more information, please contact the Facilities Management Service Desk at (662) 325-2005.

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Hardin to lead Cobb Institute of Archaeology as interim director
Mississippi State’s College of Arts and Sciences is announcing veteran archaeologist and associate professor Jimmy Hardin as the new interim director of the Cobb Institute of Archaeology. Specializing in the Bronze and Iron Age cultures of ancient Syria-Palestine, Hardin steps into the role with more than two decades of experience at MSU. “Dr. Hardin is a leading expert in the archeological record that focuses on the early establishment of the states of Judah and Israel around 1,000 B.C.,” said College of Arts and Sciences Dean Rick Travis.

New Camp Kesem at MSU to support children with a parent impacted by cancer
A national network of college student leaders who support children impacted by a parent’s cancer is announcing that Mississippi State will host a new chapter of Camp Kesem this fall. “We are delighted to be home to a Camp Kesem chapter,” said MSU Vice President for Student Affairs Regina Young Hyatt. “Not only does this create a new opportunity for our students to be involved, it also is a meaningful way for our students to make a difference in the lives of some very special children.” Camp Kesem at MSU will offer its first camp during the summer of 2020.

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. The deadline to apply is Friday.

‘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 Tuesday 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.