Maroon MEMO: Employee News (Mississippi State University)

Ashli Brown-Johnson, an associate professor in MSU’s Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Entomology and Plant Pathology, discusses her research at the Mississippi Academy of Sciences Summer Student Science Symposium, held on campus earlier this month. Brown-Johnson is also the Mississippi State Chemist and director of the Mississippi State Chemical Lab. PHOTO: Logan Kirkland | Public Affairs

Old Waverly, home of MSU's golf programs, to host U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship
Old Waverly Golf Club, home to the Mississippi State men’s and women’s golf programs and one of the South’s premier golf destinations, will host the 119th U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship for its first appearance in the Magnolia State. MSU President Mark E. Keenum said, “What a marvelous honor for the entire Golden Triangle region and the State of Mississippi to host the 2019 U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship at the prestigious Old Waverly Golf Club. Because of MSU’s strong connection to Old Waverly, we think of it as ‘our’ course, and we are delighted to support this important sporting event in every way.”

Police Department adds electric motorcycles to patrol force
Mississippi State’s Police Department is adding a new form of patrol, which will not only enhance campus safety, but also supports sustainability goals. MSU Chief of Police Vance Rice announced that the nationally accredited department has purchased two electric motorcycles. “These are not little mopeds or chariots, they are full size, enduro type motorcycles with a top speed of over 90 miles per hour and a faster zero-to-60 time than most gas motorcycles,” Rice said. He noted one significant advantage is the motorcycles have no exhaust emission or engine noise.

NSPARC to host fourth annual Data Summit
Mississippi State University’s National Strategic Planning and Analysis Research Center (NSPARC) will host its fourth annual Data Summit on Sept. 12-13 in Starkville. This year’s theme is “Cybernetic City: An Ecosystem for Big, Smart, and Fast Economies.” “We are very much looking forward to meeting hundreds of professionals from across multiple industries and sharing ideas about our big, smart and fast data economy,” said NSPARC Interim Executive Director Allen Parrish

Center for Community-Engaged Learning now accepting applications for mini-grants
The Center for Community-Engaged Learning is accepting mini-grant applications through July 31 for 2019-20 community-engaged learning courses. CEL integrates meaningful community engagement into an academic course through experiential learning and critical reflection. CCEL seeks to support activities that enrich the educational experience of students by teaching civic responsibility and meeting the needs of a community. Any Mississippi State University faculty member is eligible to receive a mini-grant. Award priority will be given to projects of CEL fellows and faculty that teach a CEL designated course.

Lyceum mini-series tickets now available
Mini-series tickets for Mississippi State University’s 2019-20 Lyceum Series are now available for purchase. Starting Monday, mini-series tickets are available to the general public for $75 and $65 for MSU employees and senior citizens. The mini-series ticket option includes attendance to three programs and features guaranteed reserved seating at a discounted rate. The annual series supports performing arts in the Starkville and MSU communities.

MSU, ed2go offering online professional development courses
Mississippi State’s Center for Continuing Education, in partnership with leading online continuing education provider ed2go, is offering more than 300 online professional development courses. “Whether you want to enhance your professional skills or just learn something new, these classes are informative, affordable and can be taken entirely online at any time from the comfort of your home or office,” said Dixie Cartwright, CCE manager. New course sessions begin each month.

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.

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Historic high for fundraising: $113 million for FY 2019
Mississippi State leaders announced last week the single largest giving year in university history, marking the sixth consecutive year of raising in excess of $100 million. For the just-ended fiscal year, the 141-year-old land-grant institution attracted $113.1 million in private gifts and pledges of future support. “The generous support of alumni and friends places Mississippi State at the forefront of academic quality, student and faculty successes, and research-driven economic development,” said MSU President Mark E. Keenum.

18 graduate from Sponsored Project's Departmental Administrator Working Group program
Eighteen Mississippi State staff members are graduates of the seventh-annual professional development program offered by the university’s Office of Sponsored Projects. A unit of the Office of Research and Economic Development, OSP oversees externally-sponsored programs -- the grants, contracts and similar agreements that help fund research at the land-grant institution. This year’s edition of the Departmental Administrator Working Group -- also known as DAWG -- involved a nine-month curriculum designed to develop participants’ sponsored-project administration skills and foster networking opportunities with campus peers.

Hagerman receives national book award
A Mississippi State sociologist is the recipient of a national award for her groundbreaking book on how children perceive racial inequality. Assistant Professor of Sociology Margaret A. Hagerman is receiving the 2019 William J. Goode Book Award from the American Sociological Association’s Family Section for her 2018 New York University Press work, “White Kids: Growing Up with Privilege in a Racially Divided America.” “Dr. Hagerman is a prolific qualitative sociologist who is changing the ways that we think about racial socialization in the family,” said Nicole Rader, professor and head of MSU’s Department of Sociology.

NSF $2.5 million grant awarded to Jordan, other scientists to study disease-causing pathogen
A Mississippi State biological sciences researcher is a member of a scientific team receiving $2.5 million to study a bacterial pathogen that triggers infectious disease. These five scientists, including MSU Assistant Professor Heather Jordan, are using the four-year award from the National Science Foundation to investigate Mycobacterium ulcerans, which causes Buruli ulcer, an environmental disease third only to leprosy and tuberculosis in chronic, bacterial human infections.