Maroon MEMO: Employee News (Mississippi State University)

Student presenters, faculty and staff smile for a group photo during last Wednesday's [Aug. 2] Summer Undergraduate Research Showcase. Open to all undergraduate students, the annual event provides a chance to showcase faculty-guided, cutting-edge research and creative discovery. Students from diverse departments, colleges and research centers across campus, and even some from other universities, participate in poster and oral presentation sessions and receive feedback to further improve their studies. PHOTO: Grace Cockrell | Public Affairs

DAWG professional development program returns
The Mississippi State University Office of Research Development is pleased to announce the return of the DAWG program. The Departmental Administrator's Working Group (DAWG) is a year-long professional development and training opportunity for unit-level support personnel who have responsibilities related to sponsored projects. DAWG members are guided through the proposal lifecycle and grants administration processes to gain a better understanding of pre and post award functions. The deadline for applications is Aug. 15.

Starkville-MSU Community Band seeks new members ahead of fall rehearsals
Amateur Bulldog instrumentalists and musically inclined Golden Triangle residents are invited to join the Starkville-MSU Community Band ahead of fall rehearsals. Spots are available to local residents and MSU faculty, staff and students who are at least 15 years old and have previous school band experience. All skill levels are welcome, including musicians who haven’t played in a while. “We had a great spring with our community musicians and are looking forward to having them back together again,” said Band Director Johnny Folsom. “It’s great to see folks get out their instruments and enjoy playing them again.” Beginning Sept. 11, the band will meet 6:30-8:30 p.m. each Monday at the Kent Sills Band Hall.

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, with new season tickets going 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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University continues support of federal cyber workforce with $4.1M in new NSF CyberCorps funding
Mississippi State University has a longstanding history of sending Bulldogs to the front lines of federal cybersecurity efforts, and that tradition will continue as MSU receives $4.1 million over five years from the National Science Foundation to renew its CyberCorps: Scholarship for Service Program. The NSF program helps bolster the federal cyber workforce. MSU’s CyberCorps program is among the oldest in the nation, graduating 141 cyber professionals over more than 20 years. Andy Perkins, professor and associate head in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering, will serve as the principal investigator on the grant. Sudip Mittal, assistant professor in the department, and Reed Mosher, director of the MSU Institute for Systems Engineering Research, are serving as co-principal investigators.

New nursing master’s degree program at MSU-Meridian adds faculty
Mississippi State is welcoming four Meridian campus employees to the university’s new, innovative Master of Science in Nursing entry licensure program, the first of its kind in the state. Currently under development, the 12-month accelerated program recently hired Mary Stewart as dean, now joined by faculty members Kayla Carr, Katherine Rigdon, Matthew Byrd and LaDaryl Watkins. MSU-Meridian Associate Vice President and Head of Campus Terry Dale Cruse said, “I couldn’t be more impressed with the credentials of our new nursing faculty. Dr. Stewart has done an excellent job recruiting highly reputable educators with a passion for improving health outcomes in our state.”

ISER’s Duett inducted into ERDC’s Waterways Experiment Station Gallery of Distinguished Civilian Employees
A Mississippi State University staff member was recently celebrated for her years of service to the federal government. Patti Duett, associate director for MSU’s Institute for Systems Engineering Research (ISER), was inducted into the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Waterways Experiment Station (WES) Gallery of Distinguished Civilian Employees during an induction ceremony July 27 at the U.S. Army Engineer and Research Development Center (ERDC) Auditorium in Vicksburg. Duett retired from the ERDC Information Technology Laboratory (ITL) in 2021 after 30 years of service. She dedicated her career to ensuring ITL and ERDC were at the forefront of technical achievements, and her work played a vital role in the laboratory's success and continues to serve as the foundation for its future.