Maroon MEMO: Employee News (Mississippi State University)

Mississippi State Department of Sustainable Bioproducts staff members Brian Mitchell, front right, and David Butler, back right, assist forestry students in sawing logs. The students estimate the board feet in each log to compare with actual board feet rendered from the sawn log as part of the College of Forest Resources’ nine-week summer field program. Encompassing many field activities, the forestry summer field program is one of a few in the nation offering hands-on training. PHOTO: Janiece Pigg | Agriculture and Natural Resources Marketing

Study reaffirms Mississippi State's dominance in broadcast meteorology
Mississippi State’s long-term strength in the field of broadcast meteorology is being reaffirmed by a study on the educational backgrounds of the nation's TV weathercasters. A recent article in Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society reports that one-third of all on-air weather broadcasters have training from MSU, and that “... the program alone has nearly as many graduates as the four largest traditional programs combined.” College of Arts and Sciences Dean Rick Travis said the scale of the impact of MSU’s meteorology program across the country is staggering.

Volunteers needed for MVNU2MSU
Mississippi State’s Department of Housing and Residence Life is seeking volunteers for two move-in days as part of the university’s annual MVNU2MSU event. Individuals and groups of volunteers will welcome and assist new Bulldog students with moving into the Starkville campus’s 17 residence halls. Volunteers will receive a free T-shirt. Students participating in Panhellenic recruitment, New Maroon Camp, Famous Maroon Band and Spirit Groups may move into their residence halls on Aug. 11 from 7:30 a.m.-5 p.m. All other students may move in from 7:30 a.m.-5 p.m. on Aug. 17.

Summer read: 2019 Maroon Edition book, ‘Hold on with a Bulldog Grip’
Mississippi State students, faculty, staff, alumni and friends, as well as members of the local community, are encouraged to include the university’s Maroon Edition book, “Hold On with a Bulldog Grip,” in their summer reading selections. The book is being made available to incoming freshman students and transfers in their summer Orientation packets, and others can purchase the book at MSU’s Barnes & Noble bookstore or through other booksellers. Purchases also can be made online from the University Press of Mississippi at www.upress.state.ms.us/books/2240.

Nominations now being accepted for Leadership Excellence for Accomplished Professionals program
Nominations are being accepted for Mississippi State’s Leadership Excellence for Accomplished Professionals (LEAP) program. Chosen through a competitive nomination and selection process, LEAP participants meet with campus and community leaders to explore and develop their leadership skills in many areas and to more effectively lead MSU’s efforts. Conflict resolution and decision-making, managing change, divergent thinking, effective team building and employee performance management are among session topics addressed throughout the four-month program designed for professional staff members.

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.

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.

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 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 lasting through June 17, weather permitting. For questions, please contact the Facilities Management Service Desk at (662) 325-2005.

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Grebner named forestry department head
A 21-year Mississippi State veteran is the new head of the university’s Department of Forestry. Donald L. Grebner, George L. Switzer Professor of Forestry, begins his role on July 1 in the department that operates within the College of Forest Resources. A forest economist with a research focus in natural resources and forest management, Grebner is a certified forester in the Society of American Foresters and a registered forester in the Mississippi Board of Registered Foresters.

Wang achieves IEEE’s highest member status
Lidong Wang, an associate research professor in Mississippi State University’s Institute for Systems Engineering Research, has been named a “Senior Member” by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. “All of us are very proud of this well-deserved recognition for Dr. Wang, and I appreciate his many contributions to the ISER team and the university’s growing research enterprise,” said David Shaw, MSU’s vice president for research and economic development and incoming provost.

DeShong, Nadorff working to address state's obesity challenges
Two faculty members in Mississippi State’s psychology department are working this summer on a statewide initiative to educate scientists on new trends in obesity research. Hilary L. DeShong and Danielle K. Nadorff, both assistant professors, are two of 10 faculty members from Mississippi institutions of higher learning to join the 2019 Community-Engaged Research Summer Institute. Held at the University of Southern Mississippi’s Trent Lott Center in Hattiesburg, it begins June 23.

University's Grant historians contribute to Journal of Mississippi History’s latest issue
Articles by Mississippi State’s top researchers on Ulysses S. Grant are featured in the latest issue of the Journal of Mississippi History. With the theme “Grant and Mississippi,” the JMH spring/summer publication, Vol. LXXX, includes the writings of John F. Marszalek, the issue’s managing editor and special projects coordinator of MSU Libraries’ Ulysses S. Grant Collection. Marszalek also is executive director and managing editor of the Ulysses S. Grant Association.