Maroon MEMO: Employee News (Mississippi State University)

Sunrise illuminates Mississippi State's campus and the Old Main Academic Center on a late July morning. OMAC's design recalls Old Main Dormitory, believed to be the United States' largest dormitory in its time. The 150,000-square-foot OMAC features 90,000 square feet of classroom and student study space, along with two lower levels that comprise 60,000 square feet of parking garage. PHOTO: Beth Wynn | Public Affairs

Human Resources Management announces 2021-2022 Leadership Development Program participants
Mississippi State University’s Human Resources Management is announcing the 2021-2022 Leadership Development Program participants. The following staff have been selected to participate in the nine-month program designed to improve and promote leadership skills among professionals across the university: Ashley Glenn, Marian Chancellor, Pamela Redwine, Tyrel Jernigan, Heather Woodall, Nicole Boyett, Alicia Musselwhite, Yan Campbell, Ashley Patterson, Kara Herman, Eddie Rangel, Natalie Guyton, Kylie Crosland and Annika Campbell.

Register today for New Faculty Orientation
Mississippi State University's Office of the Provost and Executive Vice President is hosting New Faculty Orientation on Aug. 17 at The Mill Conference Center, 100 Mercantile St., Starkville. Parking is available in the parking deck behind the center. Attendance is mandatory for all new full-time instructors, clinical, tenured and tenure-track faculty. Business casual attire is recommended. This face-to-face orientation will be livestreamed for those uncomfortable attending in person and/or who are not located on main campus. The orientation session will begin at 7:45 a.m. with a light breakfast. Lunch will be served at noon, and orientation will conclude around 3 p.m. This face-to-face orientation will be livestreamed for those uncomfortable attending in person and/or who are not located on main campus. Please click here to register.

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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Hardin named director of Cobb Institute of Archaeology
Mississippi State’s College of Arts and Sciences is announcing veteran archaeologist and associate professor Jimmy Hardin as the new director of the Cobb Institute of Archaeology. Specializing in the Bronze and Iron Age cultures of ancient Syria-Palestine, Hardin has served as interim director of the Cobb Institute since 2019 and has more than two decades of experience at MSU. “The mission of MSU’s Cobb Institute of Archaeology is to support research and outreach endeavors related to the Middle East and to Native Americans of the American South. As an expert in Middle Eastern archaeology and as a close observer of Mississippi archaeology, Dr. Hardin is perfectly positioned to lead the Cobb Institute,” said Rick Travis, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, noting Hardin and the institute offer substantial research and study abroad opportunities.

Mohammadi-Aragh receives NSF CAREER award to transform computing education
An assistant professor in Mississippi State’s Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering has earned the prestigious Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) award from the National Science Foundation. Jean Mohammadi-Aragh is receiving nearly $1 million to develop better ways of teaching programming and other computing skills to undergraduate students across the country. The project, titled “CAREER: Creating a Model of Programming Skill Development to Improve Undergraduate Computing Education,” aims to reduce barriers to entering the computing workforce.

Franklin named assistant athletic director for development
Alvin Franklin of Jackson has joined the Mississippi State University Foundation staff as assistant athletic director for development. In his new role, Franklin serves as a liaison between MSU Athletics and the MSU Foundation as he works to secure major gifts for both organizations. He began his duties on July 1 alongside veteran fundraisers and associate athletic directors of development Stephen Foshee and Rob Jenkins. Franklin served as a graduate assistant for Bulldog Athletics while pursuing his master’s degree in kinesiology and sport administration at MSU from 2015-2016. “Alvin’s experience as a student athlete combined with his fundraising skills makes him a perfect fit for this role,” said Jack McCarty, executive director for development for the MSU Foundation. “We are so proud to welcome him back home to Mississippi where he will be working with the generous alumni and friends of MSU athletics.”