Maroon MEMO: Employee News (Mississippi State University)

Mississippi State University staff members (left to right) Chris Bryant and Lisa Sollie of the Office of Public Affairs, along with Marsha Curry, an academic advisor at MSU-Meridian, and Morgan Dudley, the director of conferences, events and operations at the MSU Riley Center, were on hand for Meridian Day activities at the Neshoba County Fair last Wednesday [July 26]. They shared information about MSU-Meridian’s many innovative academic programs and cultural events with fairgoers on the fairground’s historic Founders Square. PHOTO: Harriet Laird | Public Affairs

Miller garners international award for innovative leadership in research administration
A Mississippi State University staff member is being recognized by a global society for her contributions to the advancement of research with a "Future of the Field" award from the Society of Research Administrators International, or SRAI. Ashley Miller, a senior contract and grant specialist in the College of Arts and Sciences, will receive her award at the SRAI annual meeting this fall in Seattle, Washington. The Future of the Field program highlights the global “up-and-comer" among research administrators, who support researchers as they pursue funding opportunities, develop grant proposals and manage awards.

Workforce training for meat processors answering immediate need
Consolidation of the meat packing and processing industry has left U.S. production and supply with a critical problem: vulnerability to periodic and unforeseen disruptions in availability and pricing of consumer products. Mississippi State University scientists are confronting the issue with immediate training programs to build a capable workforce for innovation within and operation of the supply chain, a need the U.S. Department of Agriculture has called “paramount.” The MSU program is led by Derris Devost-Burnett, associate professor in the Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences, who pointed out that while most large, consolidated plants are automated, smaller plants require a more hands-on approach and MSU is well positioned to provide technical training for this niche workforce.

Outreach project grows community bonds, memorializes local youth
An artistic sign made recently as part of a collaborative outreach project by a Mississippi State landscape architecture team stands outside the J.L. King Center in Starkville, denoting a new community garden and remembering a special child who used to attend afterschool care at the center. “Wyatt Garden” memorializes a young child from Starkville, Wyatt Rodgers, who was tragically killed in an automobile accident in 2020 when he was 8 years old. But the community garden also will benefit many children attending the center currently and in the future. It started as part of an MSU junior-level landscape architecture design course taught by Professor Bob Brzuszek and Associate Professor Chuo Li.

MSU Lyceum Series: New season tickets now on sale
Five acts spanning a variety of genres will entertain fans with live performances during the Mississippi State Lyceum Series’ upcoming 76th season. The 2023-24 event year begins with a performance by Kings Return, a Grammy-nominated acapella vocal group, at 7 p.m. Oct. 4 in Lee Hall’s historic Bettersworth Auditorium. Drawing from R&B, jazz, gospel and pop influences, the group defies the constraints of a single musical genre and explores a myriad of sonic shades and textures. The renewal period for season ticket holders concluded July 30, and new season tickets go on sale July 31. Mini-series tickets will be available Aug. 22, with individual event tickets on sale Sept. 12.

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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Mechanical Engineering's Li awarded TVA grant
Mississippi State University mechanical engineering assistant professor Like Li has been awarded a $150,000 grant from the Tennessee Valley Authority to design, develop and demonstrate a lab-scale thermal energy storage reactor. Li said the project design would enable high-efficiency and low-cost energy storage and can effectively accommodate renewable energy intermittency. He explained that the solution of thermochemical energy storage reduces the consumption of fossil fuels and increases the utilization of renewable energy sources such as solar and wind. The thermochemical aspect of the TCES system reduces the strain on the grid since it allows for indefinite thermal storage, meaning it can be discharged on demand, unlike conventional sensible heat or latent heat storage systems.

Computer Science and Engineering's Swan wins second Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers award
It’s a rare achievement to receive a once-in-a-career award and even rarer still to receive two once-in-a-career awards, but that’s exactly what Mississippi State University’s Ed Swan did this past academic year. Swan, a professor in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering, was awarded the Visualization and Graphics Technical Community (VGTC) Virtual Reality Service Award by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). One such award is given each year, recognizing extraordinary community service. For Swan, the award was given in recognition of his dedication, support, and many years of service contributions to the VR/AR academic community in operational capacity and in numerous leadership roles.

EXCITE grant furthers adult vaccine education
Mississippi adults will continue to be offered science-based vaccine information by the Mississippi State University Extension Service with help from a national grant. MSU Extension received the Extension Collaborative on Immunization Teaching and Engagement, or EXCITE, grant to provide adult vaccine education in Mississippi. MSU was one of 37 institutions chosen for this award. Holli Seitz, an MSU associate professor of communication, said the effort is a cross-college collaboration between MSU Extension and the Department of Communication, the Social Science Research Center, and the Department of Food Science, Nutrition and Health Promotion.