Maroon MEMO: Employee News (Mississippi State University)

MSU Honor Code Office Student Services Coordinator Montelleo Hobley and Vice President for Student Affairs Regina Hyatt accept a $10,000 donation to the university's new Bully's Closet and Pantry from Kroger Delta Corporate Affairs Manager Teresa Dickerson and Starkville Kroger Store Leader Deco Simmons. Located at 120 Morgan Ave., Bully's Closet and Pantry is part of MSU's Food Security Network and offers nutritious food, professional clothing, toiletries and other basic items free of charge to MSU students. Kroger's donation supports the company's Zero Hunger, Zero Waste plan. MSU is committed to fighting food insecurity locally and is a leader in research to fight hunger around the world. PHOTO: Logan Kirkland | Public Affairs

MSU, Co-Lin sign MOU for Bachelor of Applied Science degree program
Mississippi State University and Copiah-Lincoln Community College signed a memorandum of understanding last week to formalize partnership programs for students enrolled in technical education programs. The agreement between MSU and Co-Lin outlines which courses must be completed at each institution to fulfill degree requirements. An MSU advisor will assist in guiding Co-Lin students through BAS program pathways. Additionally, Co-Lin and MSU-Meridian will work together to provide classroom space for the delivery of synchronous online courses.

Blue Cross Blue Shield awards school district $900,000 grant for health and wellness initiative at Partnership School
The Starkville Oktibbeha School District was awarded a grant from Blue Cross Blue Shield to support the District’s overarching goal to create school environments that emphasize healthy living. The entire $900,000, the largest grant ever awarded to a school district, will be used to implement the Wellness Incentive for Starkville Partnerships (WISP) project, a comprehensive school health and wellness program, at the Partnership School. The initiative also builds on the district’s unique partnership with Mississippi State University, combining university and school district resources to enhance students’ overall education experiences.

Charles H. Templeton Ragtime and Jazz Festival, Gatsby Gala at MSU Libraries this week
Mississippi State University’s Mitchell Memorial Library is bringing the late 19th and early 20th centuries to life during the 14th annual Charles H. Templeton Ragtime and Jazz Festival. Taking place Thursday [Feb. 27] through Saturday [Feb. 29], the festival kicks off Thursday evening with the seventh annual Gatsby Gala in the library’s main lobby. The 6 p.m. fashion show features 1920s apparel designed by MSU School of Human Sciences fashion design and merchandising students and modeled by MSU Fashion Board members. Internationally renowned pianist and seven-year festival artistic director Jeff Barnhart of Mystic, Connecticut, will provide music.

Grad School hosting Mardi Gras Open House
The Graduate School at Mississippi State University is inviting students and other members of the campus community to a Mardi Gras themed open house. The Tuesday [Feb. 25] event takes place 10 a.m.-2 p.m. in Allen Hall, Suite 617 on the sixth floor. Participants can get a taste of New Orleans and receive additional information about the Graduate School, which is online at www.grad.msstate.edu. Registration for the event is encouraged, but not required to attend.

MSU Class Ring Days this week
MSU Class Ring Days will be held Tuesday [Feb. 25], Wednesday [Feb. 26] and Thursday [Feb. 27] at the Hunter Henry Center from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day. During MSU Ring Days, students, alumni, faculty and staff will have the opportunity to view and try on rings and be sized before ordering their ring. Those who purchase an official class ring will receive their order in time to participate in the Class Ring Ceremony at the Chapel of Memories on April 29 at 5 p.m. MSU President Mark E. Keenum will present the rings at the ceremony.

National speaker headlines Mississippi Women for Agriculture conference March 6-7 at MSU
Mississippi women who want to grow their farm and agribusiness skills are invited to an upcoming conference in Starkville. “Small Farm Success in a Global Market,” the 2020 conference of the Mississippi Women for Agriculture organization, will be held March 6 and 7 in the Bost Extension Center on the Mississippi State University campus. Mississippi Women for Agriculture is organized through the MSU Extension Service and provides information and education to help female agribusiness employees and owners build skills.

Registration underway for annual Legal Issues Conference at MSU
Mississippi State will hold its 9th annual Legal Issues Conference April 22-24 on the Starkville campus. The conference is open to all levels of university practitioners and will provide valuable educational and networking opportunities. This year’s keynote speakers include Will Creeley, senior vice president of legal and public advocacy at the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE), W. Scott Lewis, partner at NCHERM Group, a legal and consulting firm that serves K-12 schools and university campuses, and Marisa R. Randazzo, CEO and founder of SIGMA Threat Management Associates.

Nominations sought for Jefcoat and Ammon advising awards
The Office of the Provost and Executive Vice President is seeking nominations for Mississippi State’s 2020 Irvin Atly Jefcoat Excellence in Advising Awards and Wes Ammon Outstanding New Advisor Awards. The deadline for nominations for both awards is March 23. Nominations are to be submitted in PDF form to the Office of the Provost and Executive Vice President via email to nfultz@provost.msstate.edu.

Information needed for 2020 youth summer camps
The MSU summer camp page is ready to be updated with your 2020 camp information. Please login at http://ce.extension.msstate.edu/add-summer-camp to enter information about your upcoming summer camps. Only MSU employees have the ability to access the summer camp information site using their MSU NetID and Net Password. Once submitted, your camp information will be reviewed, approved and posted. If you have any questions or have any trouble entering your information, please contact Amber Shultice at 662-325-1457 or ams257@msstate.edu.

Smoke-free policy enhances healthy environment
Mississippi State University is a smoke-free campus. Official policy prohibits the use of any combustible or vapor products anywhere on campus property including university buildings, university grounds, university vehicles, parking areas and sidewalks. The smoke-free campus policy is part of the university's commitment to creating a healthy environment for all members of the campus community. Use of cigarettes, e-cigarettes, cigars, pipes, hookah or other similar devices are prohibited by this policy.

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Staff graduate from Leadership Excellence for Accomplished Professionals program
Twenty-nine Mississippi State staff members are new graduates of the university’s Leadership Excellence for Accomplished Professionals program. LEAP’s goals and purpose include the advancement of knowledge, enhancement of leadership skills and direct practical work application. Austin Check, learning and development specialist at MSU’s human resources department, said the program reinforces valuable critical thinking skills that participants will use throughout their careers. Director of Athletics John Cohen delivered the keynote address during a recent graduation reception at MSU’s Hunter Henry Center.

Mississippi Academy of Sciences honors Reddy
A Mississippi State University research professor is being honored by the Mississippi Academy of Sciences for three decades of scientific discoveries. K. Raja Reddy, research professor in the Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, is being recognized for his 30-year impact on the scientific community with the organization’s Outstanding Contribution to Science Award. As a researcher in the university’s Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station, Reddy’s work encompasses more than 300 publications. Beyond his extensive research interests, Reddy has proven himself a leader within the community.

Mississippi Humanities Council recognizes CMLL's Clark and History's Giesen
Two Mississippi State faculty members are being recognized by the Mississippi Humanities Council with awards recognizing outstanding work by Mississippians in conveying insights of the humanities to public audiences. Mark Edward Clark, associate professor in the university’s Department of Classical and Modern Languages and Literatures, is MSU’s winner of the 2020 Humanities Teacher of the Year Award, which pays tribute to outstanding faculty in traditional humanities fields at each of Mississippi’s institutions of higher learning. James C. “Jim” Giesen, associate professor in MSU’s Department of History, is the recipient of MHC’s 2020 Humanities Scholar Award for his work as the official scholar for the Mississippi tour of the Smithsonian Institution exhibit, “Waterways.”

Nadorff receives nearly $1 million for local addiction and suicide prevention
Mississippi State faculty member in the Department of Psychology is using nearly $1 million in federal grant funds to prevent alcohol and tobacco addiction in Oktibbeha County and prevent suicide among college students. Michael R. Nadorff, associate professor of psychology and director of the department’s clinical Ph.D. program, recently received a five-year $624,385 grant, titled “Drug Free Starkville Collaboration,” from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.