Maroon MEMO: Employee News (Mississippi State University)

Dr. Michael Pesato, assistant clinical professor of pathobiology and population medicine, explains the examination of a cow to 13-year-old Georgia Dugdale of Ruston, Louisiana. Dugdale is participating in one of the six Vet Camps hosted by the College of Veterinary Medicine this year. PHOTO: Tom Thompson | CVM

Field day Tuesday to showcase trial gardens at Truck Crops Branch Experiment Station in Crystal Springs
Gardeners can enjoy a half-day horticulture event at the Mississippi State University Truck Crops Branch Experiment Station in Crystal Springs on Tuesday [June 21]. The First Day of Summer Field Day begins at 8 a.m. and concludes at noon. It is free and open to the general public. However, preregistration is encouraged for program planning purposes. Register on the Extension registration portal at http://msuext.ms/t78nq. MSU Extension Service agents and researchers with the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station will deliver the seminar topics, which include urban tree care, secrets to raised-bed gardening and low-maintenance landscape design.

MSU announces GreenPoint Ag relationship
Mississippi State Athletics and its multimedia rightsholder, LEARFIELD's Bulldog Sports Properties, announced an integrated relationship with GreenPoint Ag. Notably, GreenPoint Ag will be the title sponsor of the 2022 Ag Day football game at Davis Wade Stadium on November 5, when the Bulldogs host the Auburn Tigers. GreenPoint Ag also will provide fans with the opportunity to win prizes and experience packages throughout the season on Mississippi State's official digital channels. This includes a weekly predictor game on the Hail State App where fans can guess the outcome of upcoming games and a social media enter-to-win contest for a 2022 Ag Gameday Experience Package.

Faculty and staff invited to candidate presentations for State Chemist/Mississippi State Chemical Lab director
Faculty, staff and students are invited to participate in three upcoming candidate presentations for the position of State Chemist and director of the Mississippi State Chemical Laboratory. The three finalists for the position will give presentations that are open to the MSU community on June 14, June 24 and June 27 in the Bost theatre. Each presentation will take place at 2 p.m. and will be livestreamed. MSCL is a state-funded agency housed on the MSU campus. The lab works in cooperation with the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce to develop regulations for and conduct analysis of animal feeds, fertilizers, pesticides, agricultural limes and petroleum products sold in Mississippi. The lab assures the quality of retail foods, fuels, livestock feeds, crop protection products and more.

Apply today: Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program
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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MSU Alumni Association names Hardin associate director
Mississippi State University Alumni Association is announcing longtime staff member Orly Hardin as the organization’s new associate director. Having served as the assistant director of alumni engagement and recruitment programs the past four years, she now oversees the coordination and direction of professional staff and provides leadership for young alumni programs and alumni outreach. “We are thrilled to have Orly bring her expertise and dedication to this role,” said Jeff Davis, executive director of the MSU Alumni Association. “Orly has not only strengthened our team during her time with the association, but she has worked hard to ensure that MSU alumni stay connected to our university through engagement and recruitment programs. We cannot wait to see the great things she will do for our alumni base.”

Faculty, staff, students honored for excellence in ag, life sciences
Mississippi State faculty, staff and students in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station have been honored for excellence in teaching, research and service throughout the 2021-22 academic year. Scott Willard, CALS dean and MAFES director, said the individuals recognized exemplify a dedicated team aimed at fulfilling the university’s land-grant mission. “Our faculty and staff are the engine that makes our enterprise work as they meet and exceed the needs of our students and stakeholders. CALS/MAFES is exceptional at experiential learning and our hands-on approach trains nearly 2,100 undergraduates, 340 master’s students and 125 doctoral students annually who will become tomorrow’s leaders in agriculture and life sciences. In research, our faculty generated well over $35 million in grants and contracts in 2021 alone,” Willard said.

Researchers receive three global TechConnect Innovation Awards
Mississippi State University researchers are once again being recognized at a leading global technology conference for their innovation. Three MSU projects last week received the Innovation Award at the TechConnect World Innovation Conference and Expo, held in Washington, D.C. An MSU research team also was recognized with an Innovation Award in 2021. The individuals recognized at the 2022 conference include Collen Scott, assistant professor of Chemistry for “NIR-II Dye for Biological Imaging and Optoelectronic Devices”; NSPARC Assistant Research Professor Tony Luczak and Erin Parker, a graduate student in industrial and systems engineering, for “Athlete Engineering - Baseline Ecosystem: Innovative Technologies to Enhance Human Performance;” and Fashion Design and Merchandising Associate Professor Charles Freeman, Swalm School of Chemical Engineering faculty members Bill Elmore and Santanu Kundu, graduate student Katherine Elmore and former postdoctoral researcher Rangana Wijayapala for “Cottonseed Oil Polymer.”