Maroon MEMO: Employee News (Mississippi State University)

Mississippi State faculty and staff members paint a picture of the Chapel of Memories during a "Yes We Canvas!" painting party at Barnes and Noble in March. Sponsored by MSU's Holmes Cultural Diversity Center and Barnes and Noble, the painting party was one of several Women's History Month events taking place on campus. PHOTO: Lizzy Powers | Public Affairs

Laird again elected treasurer for CASE District III
Harriet Laird, associate director in the Office of Public Affairs at Mississippi State, has been elected to serve a second term as treasurer of the Council For Advancement and Support of Education, District III. CASE, headquartered in Washington, D.C., serves educational institutions and the advancement professionals who work on their behalf in alumni relations, communications, development, marketing and allied areas.

University recognizes 2019 Diversity Award winners
Mississippi State University recently honored students, faculty and staff members for actions that enhance campus diversity. Honorees -- Elizabeth Englebreston, Tyler Daniel, Karina Zelaya, and the Society for African American Studies -- received their respective 2019 Diversity Awards during a March ceremony hosted by the MSU President’s Commission on the Status of Minorities.

32nd annual Insurance Day conference this week
Insurance professionals can earn up to 12 continuing education credit hours and hear a keynote by the former Black Hawk pilot who inspired the movie Black Hawk Down during Mississippi State’s 32nd Annual Insurance Day program this week. Hosted by the MSU College of Business’ Risk Management and Insurance Program, the continuing education program will take place at The Mill at MSU Conference Center.

Mississippi State recognized by Phi Theta Kappa for transfer-friendly student pathway
Mississippi State again is included in Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society’s Transfer Honor Roll for its friendliness and support of community college transfer students. MSU is one of only 78 colleges and universities across the U.S. cited in the 2019 honor roll for “excellence and success in community college transfer pathway development.” John Dickerson, Mississippi State’s assistant vice president for enrollment, said transfers make up more than a third of MSU’s enrollment, and over 2,100 transfer students enrolled at MSU in the fall. The university set transfer enrollment records the last three out of four years, he added.

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Moore named interim agriculture division VP
Veteran Mississippi State University agriculture administrator Reuben Moore has been named interim vice president of the Division of Agriculture, Forestry and Veterinary Medicine. MSU President Mark E. Keenum announced last week that Moore would assume his new duties while current DAFVM Vice President Gregory A. Bohach is hospitalized and dealing with health issues. For the past 18 months, Moore has served as associate vice president of DAFVM.

Hyatt named regional director for international student affairs organization
Mississippi State Vice President for Student Affairs Regina Young Hyatt has been elected by her peers as a regional leader in NASPA-Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education. The leading association for the advancement, health and sustainability of the student affairs profession, NASPA provides high-quality professional development, advocacy and research for 15,000 members in all 50 states, 25 countries and eight U.S. territories.

Reddy receives SEC Faculty Achievement Award
K. Raja Reddy is being recognized as Mississippi State University’s winner of the 2019 Southeastern Conference Faculty Achievement Award, which annually honors distinguished faculty from across the SEC. The conference announced last week that Reddy, a research professor in the university’s Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, is among 14 faculty members from SEC universities to receive the prestigious award this year.