Maroon MEMO: Employee News (Mississippi State University)

A bee makes his way to some gray headed prairie coneflowers at the Black Prairie Pollination Garden located adjacent to the Clay Lyle Entomology Building on the Mississippi State campus. The garden contains 30 types of wildflowers, four trees and nine native grasses that can be found in the Black Belt Prairie. Spaces like this are one reason the university has been named a Bee Campus USA affiliate by the Xerces Society. The MSU Bee Campus committee, consisting of faculty and staff in the College of Forest Resources and College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, led the effort. PHOTO: Megan Bean | Public Affairs

Savage named new director of MSU-Meridian's social work program
A longtime social work faculty member with over 20 years of experience in institutional and community social work will head Mississippi State University-Meridian’s Social Work program beginning July 1. Richard Damms, MSU-Meridian head of the Division of Arts and Sciences and associate professor, has announced Angela Savage, instructor and director of field social work, as the new program director. A native of New Albany, Savage joined Mississippi State in 2012. She succeeds Rhonda Carr, who served as director for nine years until her 2020 retirement. As program director, Savage not only wants to continue to impact the region by producing competent general practitioners who can work in the local schools, non-profit agencies and hospitals, but also educate incoming students and the community about the social work profession.

MSU Riley Center announces 2021-2022 Fall/Winter Performing Arts Series
Meridian’s own Todd Tilghman will kick off the MSU Riley Center’s 2021-2022 Fall/Winter Performing Arts Series Aug. 21 with help from another hometown favorite, the sibling trio Track45. Tilghman shot to stardom last year when he won the TV talent competition, “The Voice.” Ticket prices vary per show. The series offers a range of season-ticket options that include discounted prices and other perks. If subscribers lose or forget their tickets, the Box Office will issue duplicates on the spot. With a simple phone call, subscribers also can arrange to leave their tickets at the Box Office for friends, family members or clients. Tickets and information are available by phone at (601) 696-2200 or in person Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the MSU Riley Center Box Office, 2200 Fifth St. in downtown Meridian. Tickets also can be purchased starting one hour before showtime on the day of a show. For more information, visit www.msurileycenter.com.

International Institute shares passport reminders
Mississippi State's International Institute is encouraging all students and faculty who are considering travel within the next six months to apply or renew (if needed) their passport now. Current U.S. passport processing times are significantly longer than normal, so it is more important than ever that you plan early. First-time passport applications and renewals are taking up to 18 weeks for routine service and up to 12 weeks for expedited service (additional $60). If you aren't sure if you need to renew your passport, check the expiration date and make sure it is valid for six months after the end of your potential travel dates. Additionally, keep in mind that if your travel requires a visa, you often need to send your passport to the embassy to receive your visa prior to travel.

Tours galore: Welcome Center resuming campus visits for individuals and groups
As pandemic restrictions are eased, Mississippi State University’s Welcome Center is resuming personalized individual and group tours of the Starkville campus this summer. Tours are open to all age groups and should be scheduled two weeks in advance. Guided campus tours, as well as historical and children’s tours and self-guided walking tours, are among those available. Each tour is led by a trained student volunteer with MSU’s Maroon VIP program. Tours are conducted Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. To view tour options or schedule a visit, go to visit.msstate.edu, call 662-325-5198 or email visit@pres.msstate.edu. “While the MSU admissions office takes care of scheduling prospective student tours, the Welcome Center is here to enlighten visitors on the historical and visual aspects of our beautiful campus,” said Cristi Stevens, coordinator of MSU’s Welcome Center.

ORED accepting Faculty Leadership Program applications through July 30
Mississippi State University's Office of Research and Economic Development is currently accepting applications for the 2021-2022 Faculty Leadership Program. Interested faculty members that meet eligibility criteria can submit applications through July 30. The Faculty Leadership Program is designed for faculty who have aspirations of becoming an administrator or who simply want to improve their personal leadership skills. Many past participants have been successful and serve in key leadership positions at the university today.

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.

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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University Television Center earns Southeast Emmys for ‘It’s a Journey’ documentary
The talented staff behind the Mississippi State University Television Center-produced documentary “It’s a Journey” are seeing their hard work rewarded with four 2021 Southeast Emmy Awards. MSU’s awards were selected from more than 1,200 entries. The “It’s a Journey” documentary focuses on land conservation efforts in rapidly urbanizing counties on the Gulf Coast. “The University Television Center staff is an important part of Mississippi State’s storytelling apparatus,” said Sid Salter, MSU’s chief communications officer and director of the MSU Office of Public Affairs, which administers UTC. “The Television Center has evolved from simply producing video content for clients to producing unique films that enable MSU to share our research and service missions with the world. These multiple Regional Emmy awards represent professional recognition that is richly deserved. I’m very proud of the work our Television Center does for the university.”

Montiel-Palma awarded prestigious NSF grant
A Mississippi State faculty member is the recipient of a National Science Foundation grant for research that could lead to improved pharmaceuticals for disease-fighting drugs, medical and dental implants, and everyday materials such as specialty plastics. Vicky Montiel-Palma, an assistant professor of chemistry, received the three-year $411,200 grant from the NSF Division of Chemistry Chemical Catalysis Program to investigate catalysts that add silicon to hydrocarbons to form non-toxic building blocks for chemical synthesis. Montiel-Palma is assisted by her team of MSU chemistry graduate students Niroshani S. Abeynayake, Gaby Sanchez-Lecuona, and Luz J. Barrios-Vargas; senior biochemistry major Vish Ramkumar of Jacksonville, Florida, and postdoctoral fellow Saidulu Gorla. They have established a partnership with the Mississippi Migrant Education Service Center, anchored in MSU’s College of Education.

Zhao earns Outstanding Engineer Award from IEEE's Power & Energy Society
Junbo Zhao, an assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering, recently earned the Outstanding Engineer Award from the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers’ Power & Energy Society. Zhao earned the recognition for “dedicated volunteer service to the Chapter and outstanding technical contributions to the electric power industry and PES community.” “Being recognized for service and technical contributions by IEEE PES and its chapter is a remarkable achievement,” said Samee Khan, the electrical and computer engineering department head within the Bagley College of Engineering. “Dr. Zhao continues to shine bright through world-class research, teaching and service.” The award was created in 1994 by the PES Executive Board and recognizes outstanding technical, professional and society contributions to the power engineering professions.

Young named assistant dean of College of Business
A longtime academic coordinator in Mississippi State’s College of Business is now an assistant dean. In his new role since June 1, Vincent L. Young is overseeing the College of Business Academic Advising Center. Past MSU positions have given him experience in advising current and prospective students, evaluating academic records, coordinating student events and collaborating with college administrators, advisors, students and parents. He also has worked professionally in the real estate industry. “In this new position as assistant dean, Vincent Young will play a critical role in supporting undergraduates in the College of Business and contribute to MSU’s emphasis on student success. He has substantial experience working with business undergraduates and is a valuable addition to the college’s leadership team,” said Kevin Rogers, associate dean and professor of finance and economics.