Maroon MEMO: Employee News (Mississippi State University)

Students participating in a summer AP Physics preparatory academy at Mississippi State University from 13 schools around the state, along with teachers and other leaders, are pictured on the steps of historic Lee Hall with President Mark E. Keenum and Bob Hearin of the Robert M. Hearin Foundation. The program is conducted by the Global Teaching Project and the Mississippi Public School Consortium for Educational Access. PHOTO: Logan Kirkland | Public Affairs

Sullivan wins prestigious aerospace award
Mississippi State University aerospace engineering professor Rani Sullivan has been chosen as the 2019 recipient of the Hermann Oberth Award by the Greater Huntsville Section of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. The award is presented each year to a section member in recognition of outstanding individual scientific achievement or for the promotion and advancement of the aeronautical sciences. The award is named in honor of Hermann Oberth, who is considered one of the founders of modern rocketry and space travel.

'Orion:' HPC2's new supercomputer ranks 4th fastest in U.S. academia
From improving weather forecasts to making safer and more fuel-efficient vehicles to better securing the cyber world, Mississippi State’s technologically-advanced supercomputers have been helping researchers identify solutions to real-world challenges for decades. Trey Breckenridge, director of high performance computing at Mississippi State’s High Performance Computing Collaboratory, known as HPC2, said supercomputing capabilities are imperative to the university’s research enterprise.

Snyder, Hargrove visit new Rhodes House warden
One retired and one current Mississippi State faculty member recently visited the University of Oxford’s Rhodes House in England and its new leader. MSU William L. Giles Distinguished Professor Emerita of English Nancy D. Hargrove and MSU Judy and Bobby Shackouls Honors College Dean Chris Snyder met with Elizabeth Kiss, named warden of the research center in 2018. Hargrove has created an MSU endowment to generate support for honors students participating in the Shackouls Summer Study program at the University of Oxford. Snyder has lectured students in this program since 2007.

Friday deadline for SEC Visiting Faculty Travel Grant Program applications
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. this Friday.

Nominations due this week 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. Applications can be initiated by the LEAP candidate or his/her supervisor, and must be signed and approved by the corresponding division’s vice president. The submission deadline is 5 p.m. this Friday.

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.

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.

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.

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MSU-Meridian’s Cruse promoted to associate VP
The leader of Mississippi State’s Meridian Campus, Terry Dale Cruse, has been promoted to associate vice president and head of campus for the university’s east central Mississippi location. “MSU-Meridian is an important catalyst for regional development in eastern Mississippi and western Alabama, and Dr. Cruse has the campus on an upward trajectory,” MSU Provost and Executive Vice President Judy Bonner said. Enrollment at MSU-Meridian has increased 17 percent over the past three years.

Campbell to lead Department of Art
A longtime faculty member and coordinator of sculpture at Mississippi State is the university’s new head of the Department of Art. Effective July 1, Associate Professor Critz Campbell will lead the College of Architecture, Art and Design department, home of the state’s largest undergraduate studio art program. He said he wants “to ensure that students receive a world-class education that prepares them to contribute to the conversations and concepts of contemporary art and design while growing our creative economy.”

Martin becomes interim head of Delta center
A former leader of Mississippi State University’s largest agricultural research center will soon return to that role on an interim basis. Steve Martin will become interim head of the Delta Research and Extension Center July 1. He will also continue in his current role as associate director of the MSU Extension Service. Jeff Johnson, who served since 2013 as head of the Stoneville-based center, has accepted a full-time faculty position on the MSU main campus in Starkville. Before being named Extension associate director in 2015, Martin served as head of the Delta R&E Center from 2008 until 2012, when he became head of the North Mississippi R&E Center in Verona.

Giesen named fellow of Ag History Society, honored with inaugural award
Mississippi State University associate professor of history James C. “Jim” Giesen is a new fellow of the Agricultural History Society and is the namesake of the organization’s inaugural teaching award. At the society’s 100th anniversary meeting this month in Washington, D.C., Giesen was surprised with the announcement of the James C. Giesen Award for Exceptional Teaching in Agricultural History, to be awarded annually to a teacher at any level demonstrating skill, creativity and devotion in student education of agriculture and rural life history. The Giesen award comes with a monetary gift.