Maroon MEMO: Employee News (Mississippi State University)

Kimberly Wood, an assistant professor in the Department of Geosciences and an expert in tropical cyclones, recently gave a hurricane season briefing to discuss storm imagery for the tropical storm that developed into Hurricane Dorian. With research interests in land impacts of tropical cyclones, extratropical transition of storms and satellite-derived estimates of storm characteristics, Wood will hold biweekly briefings with Mississippi State meteorology students throughout the remainder of the hurricane season. PHOTO: Logan Kirkland | Public Affairs

Tang wins award from National Institute for Justice
Bo Tang, an assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering within Mississippi State University’s Bagley College of Engineering, was recently recognized by the National Institute for Justice. He is the recipient of the NIJ’s New Investigator/Early Career Award for his work in helping to identify and track contraband wireless devices that are smuggled into correctional facilities. Tang worked alongside Mississippi State faculty members John Ball and Maxwell Young.

New ag economists join MSU Extension
The Mississippi State University Extension Service welcomed two new agricultural economists last month. Will Maples will be located on the main MSU campus in Starkville, while Brian Mills will be stationed at the Delta Research and Extension Center in Stoneville. Maples earned three degrees in agricultural economics: a bachelor’s degree from the University of Arkansas, a master’s degree from MSU and a doctorate from Oklahoma State. Mills holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in agricultural economics from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He earned a doctorate in agricultural economics from Oklahoma State.

Association of Retired Faculty names officers
The Mississippi State University Association of Retired Faculty elected officers for 2019-20 at its summer meeting on Aug. 29. Leading the group for the coming year are Marty Wiseman, past president; Gloria Reeves, president; Joe Street, treasurer; Sue Minchew, secretary; and Albert (Chico) Allen, vice president.

Allison guest speaker for PRAM Central Chapter
The Public Relations Association of Mississippi’s Central Chapter welcomed Lydia Allison, left, Mississippi State University Bagley College of Engineering outreach coordinator, as its August guest speaker in Jackson. She is pictured with PRAM Central President Liz Densmore.

DAFVM Spotlight Employee: Barbara Collins
For eleven years, Barbara Collins has served as the office associate at the MSU Extension office in Montgomery County. Throughout her day, she answers phones, greets clients, answers client questions when possible or puts them in touch with the experts they need. She also assists county agents with preparations for their programs. “This job is a perfect fit for me because I enjoy meeting new people,” she said. “With my responsibilities at the Extension office, I get to see new faces nearly every day.”

DAFVM Spotlight Employee: Melissa Kinslow
Melissa Kinslow works in Wayne County teaching nutrition education to grade school children and adults. “My favorite part of my job is the privilege I have working with children,” she said. “Each day is different, every child is different and there is never a dull moment working with them.” Her favorite memory in her last 12 years is when the children referred to her as “food lady” because they could not remember her name.

Applications sought for teaching excellence awards
Mississippi State University faculty who are interested in submitting applications for the 2020 Grisham Master Teacher Award, the Alumni Association Early Career Undergraduate Teaching Excellence Award or the Alumni Association Graduate and/or Professional Teaching Excellence Award have until Oct. 15 to do so. All current full-time faculty members at MSU with the required years of service, regardless of rank, are eligible to apply for these awards.

Reminder: University policy addresses employee political activity
With political campaigning for local and statewide races currently underway, Mississippi State's Office of General Counsel offers the following reminder of the university’s policy on political activities. There are several guidelines that employees of the university should keep in mind when engaging in any form of political activity. The Office of General Counsel encourages each employee to review this policy in its entirety to make certain you are fully aware of your rights and responsibilities.

The Park Cafe opens in Cochran Research Park
A new dining option has opened in the Thad Cochran Research, Technology and Economic Development Park. The Park Cafe is open for lunch weekdays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., and it’s located in the II-VI Building at 60 Technology Blvd., Suite 100. Additional information is available at www.facebook.com/theparkcafe19.

The Office of Public Affairs provides Maroon MEMO as a general information
resource for Mississippi State University employees.

Web links are subject to change. Submit news, questions or comments to Jim Laird.

Mississippi State awarded $27.9M federal grant to support college access and readiness
Mississippi State University has been awarded a seven-year, $27.9 million grant to prepare low-income students to enter and succeed in postsecondary education. The funding is through the U.S. Department of Education’s Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP) grant program. The principal investigator for the grant is Carol Cutler White, assistant professor in the MSU College of Education’s Department of Educational Leadership. MSU’s Research and Curriculum Unit is the lead center for the grant, overseeing the implementation and staffing for all professional learning services.

Engineering on the Coast program adds industrial to electrical and mechanical options
Mississippi State University and Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College are expanding their Engineering on the Coast partnership. MSU President Mark E. Keenum and MGCCC President Mary S. Graham last week announced a joint industrial engineering program will be added to the electrical and mechanical engineering majors already available at Gulf Coast’s Jackson County Campus in Gautier. MSU Dean of Engineering Jason Keith said the existing electrical engineering and mechanical engineering programs have had tremendous success.

Mochal-King named inaugural Terri Nusz Endowed Equine Professor
A Mississippi State board-certified equine surgeon is the inaugural Terri Nusz Endowed Equine Professor in the university’s College of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Cathleen Mochal-King, associate clinical professor and equine service chief, also was recently honored as the North American Veterinary Conference VMX 2019 Equine Speaker of the Year. The professorship is possible with a gift from 1982 MSU graduates Tommy and Terri Nusz of Houston, Texas. Earnings from the endowment they established will provide the faculty holder a salary supplement and support in teaching and research.

Avery named president of World Aquaculture Society
The president of the World Aquaculture Society is the latest in a long line of Mississippi State University connections to this organization. MSU Extension Service aquaculture professor Jimmy Avery was elected president of the organization at its annual convention earlier this year and will serve until June 2020. Based at the MSU Delta Research and Extension Center in Stoneville, Avery has served as the MSU Extension aquaculture specialist since 1999. He is also the director of the U.S. Department of Agriculture Southern Regional Aquaculture Center.