Maroon MEMO: Employee News (Mississippi State University)

Flowers abound at Mississippi State University throughout the summer, including yellow and maroon daylilies near The Fresh Food Co. PHOTO: Beth Wynn | Public Affairs

Fazio's guide to Mississippi architecture released
"Buildings of Mississippi,” a guide to architecture in the Magnolia State, is a new publication of the University of Virginia Press, completing a decade-long project of now-deceased MSU Emeritus Professor of Architecture Michael W. Fazio and his co-author. Fazio, who died in early 2020 before the book’s printing, partnered with Mississippi Department of Archives and History Chief Architectural Historian Jennifer V. O. Baughn on production of the work which she said Fazio “would be proud of.” “He was such a cheerleader for the book. He said it was really a landmark publication and wanted to make sure it was done right, even if that meant it took a little longer,” she said. “He was such a great man, friend and mentor not just to me, but to every architect around the state. Anyone who studied architecture at Mississippi State or knew him has a Fazio story.”

Financial planning virtual workshops available for faculty, staff on June 23
MSU Human Resources Management is offering a "Planning for Financial Security" workshop for faculty and staff. The virtual workshop will provide a comprehensive financial planning overview on the following topics: cash management, retirement planning, investment planning, tax planning, risk management, and long-term care. Faculty and staff can register for one of four time slots available on June 23. Click here to register with code MSUPWA11AE.

MSU Libraries offering variety of fun, skill-enhancing workshops this summer
MSU Libraries is offering a variety of fun, skill-enhancing workshops for the MSU community this summer. Whether you're looking for information and digital literacy skills development workshops for your students or you want to learn more about the research databases offered through MSU Libraries, we have a session for you! Learn how to use new citation software (such as EndNote, Mendeley or Zotero), learn how to use Adobe Spark, Premiere Pro, InDesign and Illustrator, or brush up on your Microsoft Excel skills.

Applications open for SEC Visiting Faculty Travel Grant Program
Mississippi State faculty members are invited to submit applications for the Southeastern Conference Visiting Faculty Travel Grant Program until June 25. Sponsored by the SEC Academic Consortium, the program is intended to enhance faculty collaboration that stimulates scholarly initiatives between SEC universities. It gives faculty from one SEC university the opportunity to travel to another SEC campus to: exchange ideas; develop grant proposals; conduct research; consult with faculty and/or students; offer lectures or symposia; or engage in whatever activities are agreeable to the visitor and host unit.

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. The complete policy is available at www.policies.msstate.edu/policy/91301.

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Students, employees earn 18 top awards in state public relations competition
Mississippi State University spring graduate Karie R. Pinnix is the 2021 Student of the Year for the Public Relations Association of Mississippi, joining other MSU students and professionals receiving high honors during the annual PRAM awards ceremony. MSU students and employees received 18 awards at the virtual recognition event, including Pinnix’s honor and another for fellow MSU spring graduate Abbie Kate Hancock. “The long list of awards is a testament to the hard work of our talented students and dedicated faculty,” said Terry Likes, professor and head of MSU’s Department of Communication. “Our PR faculty work hard to bring real-world experience to the classroom.”

MSU research featured in new PBS documentary series ‘Mysteries of Mental Illness’
Research by undergraduate students and faculty in Mississippi State’s Department of Anthropology and Middle Eastern Cultures is being featured this month in an episode of the new PBS series “Mysteries of Mental Illness.” The four-hour documentary series, premiering June 22 at 8 p.m. CT, traces the evolution of mental illness in science and society, giving voice to contemporary Americans across a spectrum of experiences. Molly Zuckerman, MSU AMEC associate professor and graduate coordinator, said segments of the series’ second episode were filmed on the Starkville campus in spring 2020. The segments feature two undergraduate students and Zuckerman who, as part of the Asylum Hill Research Consortium, are conducting research on patients who died at the Mississippi State Asylum.

DOE teams with Raspet Flight Research Lab to fine-tune UAS used in atmospheric research
A U.S. Department of Energy facility is partnering with Mississippi State’s flight research laboratory to fine-tune the in-flight performance of unmanned aircraft systems used in atmospheric research. Officials from the DOE’s Atmospheric Radiation Measurement user facility, known as ARM, recently traveled to MSU’s Raspet Flight Research Laboratory, where more than a dozen scientific collection instruments have been integrated into a Raspet unmanned aircraft system, or UAS, and flown. “Raspet deeply values the opportunity for scientific collaboration with the Atmospheric Radiation Measurement team,” said Tom Brooks, Raspet Flight Lab director Alan Martinez is Raspet’s principal investigator for the project.