Maroon MEMO: Employee News (Mississippi State University)

Mississippi State Human Resources Management is now accepting applications for the 2022-23 Leadership Development Program (LDP). LDP is a nine-month program designed for professional staff who are committed to developing their leadership skills. Applications and details about the program are available at www.hrm.msstate.edu/learn-grow/leadership-development. For more information or to discuss the program, please contact Brad Skelton at 662-325-3869 or bskelton@hrm.msstate.edu.

Bicentennial year of Ulysses S. Grant celebrated with USGA meeting, special activities in March
The Ulysses S. Grant Association and the U.S. Grant Presidential Library at Mississippi State University are kicking off a celebration of the 18th president’s bicentennial year with an annual meeting March 3-5 at the Starkville campus. The event, customarily for association members, is commemorating Grant’s April 27, 1822 birthday this year through several events that are free and open to the public. Also part of the bicentennial commemoration, MSU Libraries has developed a traveling exhibit about Grant’s life. Comprised of eight retractable banners, the presentation outlines Grant’s humble Ohio beginnings to his ascent to the presidency. His biography is told through text and historic images, and the exhibit will be accompanied by replicas of objects from the Grant Library. After its unveiling during the annual meeting, the display will be in Mitchell Memorial Library through March before traveling to other historic sites across the country.

MSU Class Ring Days this week
The class ring tradition is a great way to show the world how you are a proud alumnus or alumna of Mississippi State University. The unique design makes it an easily recognized symbol that links all generations of Bulldog graduates, whether from two or sixty-two years ago. This year's MSU Ring Days are coming up Tuesday [Feb. 22] through Thursday [Feb. 24] from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Hunter Henry Center. If you are unable to purchase your ring in person during Ring Days, you are welcome to place an order for your ring at any time by contacting the MSU Alumni Association. If you have any questions or would like to order your MSU Class Ring today, please contact Sykes Zimmerman at szimmerman@alumni.msstate.edu or 662-325-7000.

Virtual Fulbright information session Wednesday
The Office of Prestigious External Scholarships in the Judy and Bobby Shackouls Honors College invites the MSU community to an interactive group presentation to learn about student opportunities for U.S. citizens to pursue graduate or professional study, conduct research or teach English through the Fulbright program. During the session, attendees will find out about the types of Fulbright awards, application components, tips, and get questions answered. Following the program overview, attendees will enter a breakout room with their Fulbright Program Adviser(s) (FPA) to learn more about applying through their institution. The event will take place from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday [Feb. 23].

Friday deadline for Community-Engaged Learning Fellows applications
Applications are now available for Mississippi State University's 2022-2023 Community-Engaged Learning (CEL) Fellows program. The CEL Fellows program supports instructional faculty and staff in integrating community-engaged learning into their formal or non-formal teaching. Sponsored by the Office of the Provost and Executive Vice President and the Center for Community-Engaged Learning, CEL Fellows learn community-engaged learning theory, course design and pedagogy. Community-engaged learning is a high impact educational practice that improves student engagement, learning and development, social responsibility, and active citizenship. Applications are due by Friday [Feb. 25].

ORED launches seed funding and internship programs to grow research success
The Office Research and Economic Development is pleased to announce the launch of two new pilot programs designed to grow research success at Mississippi State University: the Advancing Collaborative Research Program (ACR) and the Faculty Leadership Internship Program (FLIP). Consistent with ORED goals to spur interdisciplinary research and establish new partnerships within and beyond the institution, ACR is meant to encourage both internal and external collaborations; enable new teams and/or new lines of research; and advance high-potential, high-impact activities to the next level. As part of developing talent and leadership within the MSU research enterprise, ORED is piloting the FLIP -- a six-month program designed to provide faculty with an in-depth, first-hand experience that broadens and deepens understanding of how research administration operates.

Inaugural Research Week coming up in April
Mississippi State will showcase the innovative research taking place across campus with the inaugural annual Research Week April 11-14. Sponsored by the Office of Research and Economic Development, Research Week will celebrate the MSU faculty, staff, and students advancing their fields and making an impact in Mississippi and across the globe. Research Week will foster knowledge of the wide variety of scholarly and creative activities happening on our campus and promote awareness of the many resources that support research at MSU. Units and organizations across campus are encouraged to host events in conjunction with Research Week. To submit an event or lean more information about Research Week, visit www.research.msstate.edu/initiatives/research-week.

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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Alumna returns to university as new Career Center executive director
A Mississippi State alumna with almost 15 years of experience in higher education career services is the new executive director of the university’s Career Center. Bethany Mills, former director of career development and programs at the University of Georgia and a Licensed Professional Counselor, now is leading operations of the MSU division that helps students sharpen their workforce readiness skills. The center also works to connect employers with students and alumni who may be potential employees. David Shaw, MSU provost and executive vice president, said after completion of the national search, “Mississippi State is pleased to welcome Bethany as both a highly qualified leader for our Career Center and as an alumna. She understands our university’s needs in this position and our efforts in interdisciplinary collaboration as the center works to create career success stories across campus.”

$5M award addresses state’s early education
The Mississippi State University Extension Service has been awarded $5 million to directly impact early-childhood education in the state by developing a new curriculum for children from birth through age 5. The funds will be used to develop “My Mississippi Adventures,” a developmentally appropriate, integrated curriculum to be used in licensed child care facilities. It will focus on people, places and things indigenous to Mississippi. Michael Newman, director of the MSU School of Human Sciences, said faculty members in human development and family science have a history of providing Extension programing aimed at improving conditions for children and families in Mississippi through early-childhood programs. “This project has the opportunity to impact both future teachers still in our college classrooms and existing teachers already working in the field as child care providers,” Newman said.

College of Arts and Sciences ‘strategic research initiatives’ help foster faculty success
A dozen faculty members in the College of Arts and Sciences are receiving funds this year from the college’s Strategic Research Initiative programs -- SRIs -- designed to foster research productivity and achievement throughout the college. “Our intention for investing in these SRI programs is to increase arts and sciences capacity and facilitate faculty research success in obtaining external competitive funding, expanding peer-reviewed publications and increasing Ph.D. production. We are extremely proud of the quality of proposals we receive. Even more, we are proud of the impact our faculty and their efforts have in the disciplines as well as on society—a truly significant multifaceted return on investment,” said Giselle Thibaudeau, College of Arts and Sciences associate dean for research.

Amazon grant to promote undergraduate diversity in Bagley's cyber security program
Mississippi State University has earned a grant from Amazon to support diversity in the university's Department of Computer Science and Engineering. The grant will help promote undergraduate diversity in cyber security through the Amazon Cyber Security Scholarship and the Amazon Security Support Fund. Shahram Rahimi, the computer science and engineering department head, is excited for the opportunities the two funds will offer Bagley College of Engineering students. “This is a testament of our achievements in the area of cyber security research and education and our interest in recruiting and increasing the enrollment of minorities and women at Mississippi State University,” Rahimi said.