Maroon MEMO: Employee News (Mississippi State University)

Stephen Brain, associate professor of history at MSU, detailed the extensive history linking Russia and Ukraine during a lecture last week. Brain, MSU’s Humanities Teacher of the Year in 2016, specializes in Soviet/Russian history. As a 2013-14 Fulbright recipient, Brain traveled to Rostov-on-Don, Russia, where he and his family lived and worked 30 miles from the Ukraine border. In 2005-06, Brain was awarded a Fulbright fellowship to Moscow, Russia, where he worked in the State Archive of the Russian Federation, Russian State Economic Archive, Moscow Oblast Regional Archives, and the Archive of the Communist Party. PHOTO: James Carskadon | Public Affairs

DAFVM Spotlight Employee: Zoliswa “Zoe” Nhleko
Zoliswa “Zoe” Nhleko, a conservationist and native of South Africa, has wanted to play a part in saving wild animals since she was in grade school and learned about the extinct dodo. “I vowed then that when I grew up, I would work to make sure no other animals went extinct,” she explained. “When I finally got to college, I enrolled for a zoology degree, and that’s when I had a clearer idea of the kinds of careers in conservation. As a postdoctoral research associate in the Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Aquaculture in the Forest and Wildlife Research Center, her research will provide information for state biologists to better manage wild turkeys in Mississippi. She most recently worked for the park service in South Africa where she focused on rhino conservation and large mammal management.

DAFVM Spotlight Employee: Jackie Pullen
Thirty years ago, Jackie Pullen was a stay-at-home mother of three young children. Her youngest child was about to start school, and she was looking for a part-time job. Then, one day, she heard an advertisement on the radio for a position with the Extension Service. “I filled out an application, did the interview, and the rest is history,” she said. Along the way, her part-time position turned into a full-time position with the Extension Service Office of Nutrition Education. As a nutrition educator, she has been helping Mississippians learn how to lead healthier lives ever since. Her outreach to the community teaches participants how to improve their diets, stretch their food dollars, handle food safely, and increase their physical activity levels.

Inaugural Research Week kicks off April 11
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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Brain details Russia-Ukraine history, which dates back more than a millennium
As the armed conflict between Russian and Ukraine enters its second month, Mississippi State Associate Professor of History Stephen Brain detailed more than 1,000 years of history involving the two countries during a public lecture last week. The event was hosted by MSU’s Institute for the Humanities. During the lecture, Brain explained that the shared history between Russia and Ukraine dates back to the 800s and the establishment of Kievan Rus, an early version of the Russian state that was based in Kiev, the current capital of Ukraine. Brain said Russian President Vladimir Putin views Ukraine’s independence, which first began after the fall of the Soviet Union, as a 20th century invention.

Clary honored by Mississippi Academy of Sciences with Fellow status
Mississippi State Geology Professor Renee Clary is being honored this week as a new Fellow of the Mississippi Academy of Sciences. Clary, who also is director of the university’s Dunn-Seiler Museum, inducted during the 86th MAS Annual Meeting March 30-April 1 at the Mississippi Coast Convention Center in Biloxi. MAS President and Fellow Raja Reddy, an agronomy research professor in the MSU Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, said of Clary’s latest honor, “Carrying the letters FMAS indicates nationwide respect for comprehension of professional issues and accomplishments as a scientist. Renee will not only contribute to the mission of the Fellows, but will help provide recommendations on the future direction of the academy.”

Kobia and Freeman receive international recognition for small business retail research
Mississippi State School of Human Sciences faculty members were recognized by a national collegiate retailing association for their work on a multi-institutional research project. Caroline Kobia, assistant professor in fashion design and merchandising in the School of Human Sciences, led a research project titled, “Cultivating Rural Entrepreneurship for Community and Economic Vitality: A Case Study of Small Fashion Business in MS.” Kobia, along with co-author Charles Freeman, associate professor in fashion design and merchandising, are also scientists in the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station. The paper was recognized at the 2022 American Collegiate Retailing Association (ACRA) conference held in March in New Orleans.

MSU announces leadership updates in agriculture teaching, research units
Scott Willard, dean of Mississippi State’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and director of the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station, is announcing several new CALS and MAFES administrative assignments. “CALS consistently ranks as a top tier school nationally for agriculture and life sciences, while MAFES is a research engine helping farmers and industry across Mississippi and the globe find easier, more effective ways to feed, clothe and fuel the world. This team, which draws from talent across departments, will continue to advance our important work as we train tomorrow’s leaders in both agriculture and life sciences,” Willard said. Darrell Sparks now is serving as CALS associate dean with Cory Gallo as interim assistant dean. Jamie Larson is interim associate director of MAFES research, while Angus Catchot is associate director of MAFES operations. Additionally, Wes Schilling is serving as interim head of the Department of Poultry Science.