Maroon MEMO: Employee News (Mississippi State University)

Mississippi State baseball pitcher and kinesiology major Ethan Small, third from left, shakes hands and receives his diploma from President Mark E. Keenum, second from right, before the Bulldogs' game versus South Carolina last Thursday [May 16]. Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning trustees, from left, Bruce Martin, Dr. Walt Starr and Hal Parker also congratulated Small and other graduating baseball seniors during a special pre-game ceremony at Dudy Noble Field. PHOTO: Beth Wynn | Public Affairs

Governor honors EFNEP with official proclamation
Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant named May 14, 2019, a day to recognize 50 years of successful programing by the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program, or EFNEP. The proclamation honors EFNEP graduates, volunteers and Extension Service educators and agents in Mississippi who have worked tirelessly to enhance quality of life for the clients they serve. EFNEP is a grassroots initiative of the Mississippi State University Extension Service working with cooperating county, state and federal partners. The program benefits limited-resource families and young people.

MSU-Meridian’s Master of Physician Assistant Studies program works toward accreditation
A new Master of Physician Assistant Studies degree program at Mississippi State University-Meridian is on track toward accreditation, and MSU leaders anticipate the first PA students will enroll in January 2020. MSU will be the state’s only public institution to offer a PA studies master’s degree. Applications for the rigorous 24-month program are now being accepted through the Centralized Application Service for Physician Assistants, known as CASPA. The application period for MSU-Meridian’s program is open through August 1, and all prospective PA students must apply for any program in the U.S. through CASPA.

MSU RTC closes deal on Cadence Bank property
The impact of research conducted by Mississippi State University has taken a significant step forward, as the MSU Research and Technology Corporation closed on a primary property last week that clears the way for planned expansion of the Thad Cochran Research and Technology Park. MSU’s May 15 purchase of Cadence Bank’s Main Street office in Downtown Starkville allows the university to move forward with Phase II of the park, providing additional space for expanding companies wanting to remain in this market and also attracting startup businesses.

Friday deadline for Academic Leadership Program
The Office of Research and Economic and Development and the Office of the Provost and Executive Vice President at Mississippi State will be leading a newly restructured Academic Leadership Program in the upcoming 2019-2020 academic year for faculty who aspire to be administrators. The format of the leadership program consists of two-hour seminar sessions once per month from August to April. A wide variety of topics will be covered by senior leaders at MSU. Applications are due by Friday.

June 14 deadline for SECU Academic Leadership Development Program
SECU is an organization of university provosts established to help advance the teaching, research and service missions of the Southeastern Conference member institutions, with a focus on areas unrelated to athletics. One of the SECU initiatives has been to develop an Academic Leadership Development Program. Nominations are being solicited for two to four ALDP fellows from among the tenured faculty (full professor) of Mississippi State University.

Summer fun awaits at MSU camps
From agriculture to art and science to sports and business, Mississippi State University is offering a variety of fun, educational summer camp experiences for elementary through high school students. Dixie Cartwright, manager of the university’s Center for Continuing Education, said summer is one of her favorite times of the year at MSU because “campus comes alive with kids of all ages enjoying the benefits of this great university.”

Day One Leadership Community seeks faculty and staff mentors
The Day One Leadership Community at Mississippi State is currently searching for dedicated faculty and staff members to be team mentors for freshmen during the upcoming fall semester. Day One is a service-learning community for entering freshmen in which students take a two-credit course on leadership and apply what they learn towards 20 hours of community service in the fall semester. Volunteering to be a Day One mentor is a great way to help entering freshmen transition into college life and to satisfy one’s own desire to serve the community.

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 will select 10 faculty members to receive 2019-2020 travel grants of $1,000 each. Travel dates for these visits are between Aug. 2, 2019, and June 16, 2020. Completed applications must be submitted by 5 p.m. on June 28.

CDC survey seeks info on poliovirus containment
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.S. National Authority for Containment of Poliovirus are asking research centers and institutes to complete a survey in support of a national inventory of materials that potentially contain poliovirus. Historical domestic and international specimens are more likely to fall into these categories. The specimens should be identified on the basis of where and when they were collected, not on the basis of test results. Principal investigators with questions about completing this survey should contact Trent Peacock, Mississippi State University's biosafety officer, at tp1230@msstate.edu or (662) 325-0620.

Sanderson Center offers Summer Fun membership at special rate
Join in the summer fun at the Joe Frank Sanderson Center! Ask for the special Summer Fun membership now available for all faculty/staff, affiliates, and retirees. Rates for adults are just $100 per person and only $30 for each child. Come by the Member Services Office in the Sanderson Center, open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday-Friday, to purchase a Summer Fun membership today. An MSU photo ID card is required.

Butler Hall parking lot construction to cause temporary closure
Construction to improve the parking lot adjacent to Butler Hall will cause temporary closures of the lot beginning April 8 and lasting through Aug. 6. The MSU Office of Planning, Design and Construction Administration is administering a project to replace a retaining wall, curbs and sidewalks in the area. The parking lot also will be milled, overlaid and striped.

Construction on Rula complex prompts partial closure, temporary detour for Hardy, Morrill roads
Due to new utility connections and road construction for the Richard A. Rula Engineering and Science Complex, there will be a partial road closure and temporary detour for Hardy and Morrill roads beginning Monday [May 20] and lasting through June 17, weather permitting. For questions, please contact the Facilities Management Service Desk at (662) 325-2005.

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PRAM honors Herrington with Professional Achievement Award, recognizes students, staff
A Mississippi State alumnus and senior member of the university’s Office of Public Affairs is the recipient of the Public Relations Association of Mississippi’s highest honor. Checky Herrington, MSU’s brand manager, accepted the 2019 Professional Achievement Award during the organization’s recent conference in Vicksburg. The award is presented annually to a PRAM member who embodies the highest degree of professionalism, serves his or her community, has outstanding achievements in the practice of public relations, and is committed to advancing the profession.

Byrd named Southern Weed Science Society fellow
A Mississippi State plant and soil sciences faculty member is now a fellow of the Southern Weed Science Society. John Byrd, a research and extension professor, received the honor at the organization’s annual meeting held recently in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. “Dr. Byrd is an excellent scientist who has worked to understand and stop the spread of invasive species that are detrimental to Mississippi’s native plants and wildlife,” said George Hopper, dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and director of the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station.

Boyce accepts prestigious NYU ballet fellowship
A faculty fellow in Mississippi State’s Judy and Bobby Shackouls Honors College and assistant professor in the Department of Philosophy and Religion is the recipient of a fellowship at the Center for Ballet and the Arts at New York University. Kristin E. Boyce is among 20 distinguished individuals chosen for the NYU fellowship residency beginning in January 2020. Now in its sixth year, the CBA is an international institute bringing together choreographers, composers, dancers and scholars from across the globe to share expertise and experiences beyond their core disciplines while completing self-directed research projects related to the art of dance.

Lee receives CDE’s inaugural Online Teaching Award
An assistant professor in Mississippi State’s Department of Instructional Systems and Workforce Development is the inaugural recipient of the Online Teaching Award given by the university’s Center for Distance Education. Sang Joon Lee is receiving $500, plus registration and expenses to attend a distance education conference. The award acknowledges and rewards an MSU online instructor who employs best practices to engage, inspire and support students in an online environment.