Maroon MEMO: Employee News (Mississippi State University)

The College of Business celebrated the opening of the Market Innovation Lab and Observatory (MILO) with a ribbon-cutting last Friday [March 25]. Pictured are, from left, Mike Breazeale, associate professor of marketing and MILO director, Kathy St. John, MSU alumna and project supporter, and Robert Moore, professor of marketing and Hunter Henry Fellow. PHOTO: Megan Bean | Public Affairs

Tseng honored by premier weed science association
A faculty member in Mississippi State’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences is an honoree of the nation’s premier weed science association. Associate Professor Paul Tseng in the MSU Department of Plant and Soil Sciences is the recipient of the 2022 Outstanding Early Career Weed Scientist Award from the Weed Science Society of America. Founded in 1956, the WSSA encourages and promotes the development of knowledge on weeds and their impact on crops and the environment. Each year, the WSSA selects one researcher as the Outstanding Early Career Weed Scientist who showcases originality and creativity, has made a notable contribution to weed science, and demonstrates potential for continued excellence.

Cleveland honored as National Alumnus of Year
Mississippi State University is honoring Randy J. Cleveland with its highest alumni honor. In a campus ceremony on April 29, the longtime Fort Worth, Texas, resident will be recognized formally as the university’s 2022 National Alumnus. A 1983 petroleum engineering graduate and Newton County native, Cleveland was a successful leader in the oil and gas industry for more than 35 years. At MSU, Cleveland has a strong history of support and service. He is a member of the MSU Foundation board of directors, where he leads the fundraising committee as chairman, and also serves on the dean’s advisory council for the James Worth Bagley College of Engineering. He earlier was recognized as the Bagley College Alumnus of the Year in 2019 and as one of the college’s Distinguished Engineering Fellows in 2008.

20th annual Southeast Severe Storms Symposium welcomes weather experts to campus this weekend
Mississippi State’s Department of Geosciences is welcoming some of the country’s top professionals in meteorology in April for the 20th annual Southeast Severe Storms Symposium, the first in-person severe weather meeting on campus since 2019. Held Saturday [April 2] and Sunday [April 3] on the first floor of Old Main Academic Center, the conference brings together meteorologists, students and weather experts to discuss and learn how severe weather impacts the Southeast region. Approximately 100-150 participants are expected to attend the event organized by the MSU student-led East Mississippi chapters of the National Weather Association and American Meteorology Society.

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.

Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program underway
Mississippi State has a long association with the Fulbright Scholar Program with over 50 MSU faculty from a variety of disciplines having received Fulbright U.S. Scholar awards since 1954. MSU has also welcomed many international scholars to our campus through the Fulbright Visiting Scholar Program. The Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program recently opened its 2023-24 competition with over 400 awards in 130 countries featured in the Catalog of Awards, which includes teaching, researching and professional project opportunities. The MSU International Institute welcomes questions from faculty who are interested in applying. If you have questions, please email Fulbright scholar liaison Cathy Curtis at ccurtis@international.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. The complete policy is available at www.policies.msstate.edu/policy/91301.

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Meet MILO: New lab puts MSU at forefront of biometric marketing and human behavior research
A new lab in Mississippi State University’s College of Business places students and faculty members at the leading edge of biometric marketing and human behavior research. College leaders celebrated the grand opening of the Market Innovation Lab and Observatory (MILO) with a ribbon cutting and open house last week in McCool Hall. “This new lab puts our students at the forefront of the marketing industry, further increasing their job prospects as companies look for marketing and business leaders that can better understand the people that every business is built around,” said College of Business Dean Sharon Oswald. “MILO also represents an opportunity for area businesses to take their marketing to the next level by getting incredibly detailed feedback on how consumers perceive their messaging."

Demarais named MSU’s 2022 SEC Faculty Achievement Award winner
Mississippi State Professor of Wildlife Ecology and Management Steve Demarais is being honored as the university’s 2022 Southeastern Conference Faculty Achievement Award recipient. Demarais, the Taylor Chair in Applied Big Game Research and Instruction in MSU’s Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Aquaculture, also is co-director of the MSU Deer Ecology and Management Laboratory. He is one of 14 faculty members from SEC universities to receive the prestigious annual award. “Dr. Demarais’ international, national, regional and local influence is unparalleled in his field. He is a renowned scholar, author, teacher, mentor and leader who has significantly impacted the lives of his students and the global wildlife community,” said MSU President Mark E. Keenum.

Jordan named to Oak Ridge Associated Universities board of directors
Mississippi State University Vice President for Research and Economic Development Julie Jordan has been named to the Oak Ridge Associated Universities board of directors. Jordan will begin serving on the board of directors in June, providing leadership to ORAU, a 152-member university consortium that provides innovative scientific and technical solutions to advance national priorities in science, education, security and health. MSU is a longstanding member of ORAU, and Jordan currently serves as the university’s member councilor for the organization. “In my time as an ORAU Councilor, I have seen ORAU play a valuable role for members by identifying synergies and otherwise unseen possibilities for partner institutions,” Jordan said.