Maroon MEMO: Employee News (Mississippi State University)

De'Ana Neal (left), a senior Mississippi State criminology major from Columbus, confers with Magda Hernandez (right), a lecturer in the Department of Classic and Modern Languages and Literatures, during the recent CMLL-hosted Language Expo. The event featured posters created by high school students and judged by MSU students; the World Language Experience, in which students received a "passport" and traveled to various tables learning about culture and language; as well as a Carnevale and Study Abroad Showcase. PHOTO: Megan Bean | Public Affairs

$4.8 million grant, three dozen national experts take on threats to sweet potato seed program through CleanSEED Project
A $4.8 million multi-state project led by Mississippi State is bringing together more than 30 national experts to address problems jeopardizing seed programs of a U.S. crop currently valued at $680 million. University research and extension scientists from major sweet potato states are partnering on the multi-million CleanSEED Project to solve the industry’s most important issues of viruses, pests and disease, all threatening sustainability of sweet potato seed programs. The research is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture. “The threat of viruses, pests and disease in sweet potatoes was identified as a top priority by the National Stakeholder Advisory Committee at the U.S. Sweet Potato Convention in 2020,” said Mark W. Shankle, an MSU plant and soil sciences research professor and project director.

ORED hosting March 21 Symposium on Public Health and Health Sciences Research
The university's Office of Research and Economic Development will host a Symposium on Public Health and Health Sciences Research on March 21 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. in Ballroom M of the Colvard Student Union. Mississippi State is poised to be a major contributor to important research and outreach priorities among Public Health and Health Sciences funders. Please join ORED, a panel of distinguished guests, and our MSU faculty research colleagues, for a discussion about research in Public Health and Health Sciences. The goals of the event are 1) to be a catalyst for future conversations around the current issues and challenges around several sub-topics central to "health," and 2) to coalesce interest among MSU stakeholders and identify institutional capacities to pursue funding in these areas.

MSU International Institute to host Fulbright virtual campus visit
The Mississippi State International Institute is excited to share that the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program recently opened its 2024-25 competition with more than 400 awards in 135 countries. Included in the awards are opportunities for teaching, researching and conducting professional projects ranging from a few months to one year. For faculty interested in learning more about this year's cycle, the International Institute is hosting a Fulbright staff member for a virtual campus visit on March 28 from 1-2 p.m.

Nominations for Zacharias Distinguished Staff Awards due April 1
Mississippi State’s Staff Council is seeking nominations of outstanding employees for the annual Zacharias Distinguished Staff Awards through 11:59 p.m. April 1. Twelve selected honorees will be announced at the annual Junction luncheon, scheduled for 11 a.m. May 19. They will receive a plaque of recognition along with a $1,000 check from MSU President Mark E. Keenum. The honors are a memorial to the university’s 15th president Donald W. Zacharias. To be eligible for the award, nominees must be classified as a professional or support staff employee, be in good standing, work at least half-time, have a minimum of three years service and have never been a recipient of the award.

Center for Teaching and Learning accepting proposals for 2023 Ottilie Schillig Special Teaching Projects Program
Proposals for the 2023 Ottilie Schillig Special Teaching Projects Program will be accepted through March 22. This program provides financial support to encourage new ideas for improving undergraduate teaching. The awards are restricted to projects related to undergraduate instruction and learning with a maximum award of $3,000. Guidelines for submitting a proposal may be found on the MSU Center for Teaching and Learning website at www.ctl.msstate.edu/resources/ottilie-schillig-special-teaching-projects-grants. Proposals must be submitted electronically as a PDF to the CTL by email at SchilligAward@msstate.edu no later than March 22.

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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Breckenridge leading Information Technology Services as interim CTTO
An alumnus of Mississippi State’s Bagley College of Engineering now is providing interim oversight of the university’s Information Technology Services division William B. “Trey” Breckenridge III, who currently directs MSU’s High Performance Computing Collaboratory, is the institution’s acting chief technology transformation officer. Created by MSU in 2021, the relatively new position provides forward-thinking leadership development and implementation for ITS’s technology improvement initiatives, while advising university leadership on plans and directions for these projects. “With more than 30 years at MSU and a proven record in advancing high performance computing and support, Trey has his finger on the pulse of the ever-changing, critical role technology plays at a national research university,” said David Shaw, provost and executive vice president.

VanHorn named Fraternity and Sorority Life director
A student affairs professional at Mississippi State has been promoted to director of the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life, an area that has seen substantial growth in student chapter membership as the overall university enrollment has increased. John Michael VanHorn, who has served for over nine years within the same office, became its director in November. He previously worked as associate director. “We are thrilled for John Michael to take on this new role as director in the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life. He has proven to be an effective leader that is always looking for innovative ways to support the success of our students in a growing Greek community,” Assistant Dean of Students Jackie Mullen said.

Graduate students win regional weed science honors, Dodds earns Educator Award
Three Mississippi State weed science graduate students and a faculty member received awards at the 2023 annual meeting of the Southern Weed Science Society held recently in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Darrin Dodds, professor and head of MSU’s Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, was honored with the Outstanding Educator Award, recognizing an individual who has made distinctive contributions to the society and weed science through efforts in the classroom, outreach and published research. “I’ve been blessed to work with excellent graduate students, and this award is as much of a reflection of them as it is of anything I have done,” Dodds said. “It also speaks to the university’s support of the research, teaching and extension activities we do as faculty.”

Producers prioritize top needs for MSU support
Dozens of agricultural producers met last month with Mississippi State University professionals to offer direction on priorities MSU research and outreach should pursue in 2023 and beyond. The event was the annual Central Mississippi Producer Advisory Council meeting, held at the MSU Central Mississippi Research and Extension Center in Raymond. The half-day event was a listening session for MSU and an advising session for producers and those interested in starting ag businesses. Keith Coble, vice president of the MSU Division of Agriculture, Forestry and Veterinary Medicine, participated in the sessions and gave a division update. “We are building a new leadership team in the ag division, and it is going to be a hardworking, hard-listening team,” Coble said.