Maroon MEMO: Employee News (Mississippi State University)

Students from Henderson Ward Stewart Elementary were abuzz over beehives when MSU Extension and Research Professor Jeff Harris demonstrated beekeeping at the Mississippi State Insect Fair on World Bee Day last month. The fair teaches students about invasive species, pollinator habitats, aquatic insects, insect rearing and more. The Mississippi State Insect Fair is an outreach component of Mississippi Bug Blues, a Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station educational program. PHOTO: David Ammon | Agriculture and Natural Resources Marketing

Freeman elected to council of international textile organization
A Mississippi State faculty member in the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences’ School of Human Sciences has been chosen to serve on the council of a premier international academic association for the textile industry. Charles Freeman, Jr., associate professor of fashion design and merchandising, was elected Vice President of Planning for the International Textile and Apparel Association (ITAA). Freeman, who is approaching 10 years as faculty at MSU, joined ITAA in 2010, when he was a graduate student. He will begin the three-year position in January 2023. Over the last 12 years, Freeman has experienced the rewards of being a seasoned member of an organization that includes scholars from all over the world representing a diverse range of textile, apparel and merchandising disciplines.

Banerjee selected for prestigious policy institute
Vasabjit Banerjee, an associate professor within Mississippi State’s Department of Political Science and Public Administration, has been selected from a nationwide pool of applicants to attend this summer’s prestigious International Policy Summer Institute. Held in Washington, D.C., by the Bridging the Gap Project, the five-day professional development event in June helps scholars better create and disseminate policy-related academic research. Banerjee’s primary research interests include the local political economies of state formation in developing societies and domestic influences on the foreign policies of developing countries, among others. His research has appeared in numerous publications, including the International Political Science Review, the Journal of Asian and African Studies and Public Opinions and Parties.

DAFVM Spotlight Employee: Norma Hendrix
Norma Hendrix loves her job. As a custodian at the College of Veterinary Medicine, she makes sure employees there have a clean, comfortable working environment. “I love my job and coming in to work,” she said. “I enjoy seeing everyone. I like communicating with people.” She is responsible for making sure all the building’s areas are clean, including bathrooms, offices, and common spaces. Attitude is everything, Hendrix said. “You have to have a good personality and know how to deal with people in this job,” she said. “Things aren’t always great every day, but you never let anyone know it. You just keep smiling.”

DAFVM Spotlight Employee: BreAnn Hunt
BreAnn Hunt enjoys her job and her coworkers. As the business coordinator for the Delta Research and Extension Center, BreAnn Hunt handles all duties associated with purchasing. She places all online orders for faculty and staff, handles shipping and receiving, maintains records for audit, and ensures all purchases made with the business account have the appropriate documentation and abide by MSU procurement policies. “I get to shop every day,” she said. “Who wouldn’t love that?! The people here at DREC are the best and are so much fun to work with.”

Arts and Sciences recognizes 2022 graduate students of the year
The College of Arts and Sciences at Mississippi State University recognized two graduate students -- the Graduate Teaching Assistant of the Year and the Graduate Research Assistant of the Year -- at the annual end-of-year Graduate Student Awards program on campus in April. Angel Jimenez, a Ph.D. student in the Department of Geosciences, and Ernesto Borrego, a Ph.D. student in the Department of Chemistry, were selected for their diligent work in the classroom and in the research field. Jimenez received the award for Graduate Teaching Assistant of the Year. Borrego received the award for Graduate Research Assistant of the Year.

HRM now accepting Leadership Development Program applications
Mississippi State's Human Resources Management is now accepting applications for the 2022-2023 Leadership Development Program. The application deadline is June 17. To meet eligibility requirements, applicants must be preparing for a mid- to senior-level leadership role; direct major tasks, projects and initiatives; have at least an overall 3.0 on their most recent performance appraisal; have the support of their immediate supervisor; be able to attend all sessions, including graduation; and have at least one year of service in their current position. Visit www.hrm.msstate.edu/learn-grow/leadership-development to download the application packet.

Emeritus recommendations due to the Office of the Provost and Executive Vice President by June 20
It is time for submission of Emeritus recommendations. If deans and department heads wish to recommend anyone for Emeritus status, that person should be identified as soon as possible. These recommendations should proceed from the Department Head through the Dean to the Provost. Please see OP 13.01: Emeritus Appointment. Each letter of recommendation should state the justification for the request, including the number of years of service to Mississippi State University. These recommendations will be forwarded to the President for approval. The deadline to submit a recommendation to the Office of the Provost and Executive Vice President is June 20.

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.

The Office of Public Affairs provides Maroon MEMO as a general information
resource for Mississippi State University employees.

Web links are subject to change. Submit news, questions or comments to Jim Laird.

Television Center garners prestigious national James Beard Media Award nomination, Regional Murrow Award
The Mississippi State University Television Center is one of only three finalists in the country for the prestigious James Beard Media Award in the Documentary/Docuseries Visual Media category. The center’s “The Hungriest State” series secured the broadcast media award nomination, which is competing for the honor alongside two other national programs. UTC also is the winner of a Regional Edward R. Murrow Award and has been nominated for 14 Southeast Regional Emmys. “MSU’s University Television Center continues to be an integral part of the university’s storytelling apparatus,” said MSU Chief Communications Officer Sid Salter. “I could not be prouder of their work."

Robichaux-Davis named director of Quality Enhancement Plan to further improve student experiences, learning
Mississippi State has named Professor Rebecca Robichaux-Davis in the College of Education’s Department of Curriculum, Instruction and Special Education as the director for the university’s next Quality Enhancement Plan. QEP is an intensive five-year plan addressing an important issue for student success created during the institution’s reaffirmation of accreditation through the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. “This assignment is vital to Mississippi State’s core mission of facilitating student success and is one of our highest priorities,” said MSU President Mark E. Keenum. “Dr. Robichaux-Davis is a proven leader who has earned the respect of our outstanding faculty. Under her guidance, I am assured that the Quality Enhancement Plan will provide the necessary structure to effectively advance the university and build a transformational student experience.”

CELA honors Artunç with President’s Award
A Mississippi State University professor and landscape architecture department head was honored for achievement by a premier international organization dedicated to supporting higher education in the landscape architecture field. Sadik Artunç received the Council of Educators in Landscape Architecture (CELA) President’s Award at the 2022 annual conference. “In my presidency, which occurred at the height of the pandemic, I set out to accomplish three pivotal things,” said Artunç. “I sought to make the organization more accessible, accountable and increase achievement, which includes establishing a scholarship for landscape architecture students.”

Ward now leading national language association
Mississippi State Associate Professor of English Jervette R. Ward is the new president of a national language association devoted to serving the academic, scholarly and professional interests of African American collegiate scholars. The College Language Association installed Ward as its 42nd president during the recent annual meeting. “Having a Mississippi State faculty member serving as the president of the CLA is an incredible honor,” said Dan Punday, professor and head of MSU’s Department of English. “The CLA is incredibly important to the history of Black literature and literary studies in the U.S. and around the world. In particular, Professor Ward has shown incredible leadership at a time of uncertainty and change, and her ability to guide the association through years of disruption around COVID is remarkable.”