Maroon MEMO: Employee News (Mississippi State University)

Campus was full of activity as students returned for the start of the new academic year and first day of fall classes last Wednesday [Aug. 16]. Above, students cross the historic Drill Field during a morning class change. Activities continue this week with Convocation coming up Tuesday [Aug. 22] at Dudy Noble Field. MSU’s calendar of events, academic calendar and other important dates for students, faculty and staff are available online at www.msstate.edu/calendars. PHOTO: Grace Cockrell | Public Affairs

Young alum Blackmon headlines convocation Tuesday at Dudy Noble Field
A Mississippi State alumnus and emerging star in the legal field will be the featured speaker at MSU’s fall convocation ceremony on Tuesday [Aug. 22]. Stanley E. Blackmon, partner at Bradley law firm, will welcome new MSU students at convocation, the annual event that kicks off a new academic year. This year’s convocation will take place at Dudy Noble Field beginning at 6:30 p.m. In addition to Blackmon, MSU President Mark E. Keenum and other senior leaders will welcome the newest Bulldogs to campus. Blackmon is a 2012 magna cum laude MSU graduate who earned a degree in biological sciences while attending the university on a presidential endowed scholarship. He received his law degree in 2015 from the University of Alabama School of Law, where he was the articles editor for the Alabama Law Review. He served as a clerk to Judge Carl E. Stewart of the U. S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit from 2015-2016 before joining Bradley.

ORED open house, networking social Wednesday
Mississippi State University Vice President for Research and Economic Development Julie Jordan invites faculty and staff to an open house on Wednesday [Aug. 23] to meet members of the MSU Office of Research and Economic Development support units, representatives of many university centers and institutes, and the ORED leadership. Join us for food and fellowship, and get to know the professional research administrators and personnel who work to advance the MSU research enterprise and support your work. The open house will take place 3-5 p.m., and refreshments will be served. An after-hours networking social will follow from 5-6:30 p.m. ORED is located in the Thad Cochran Research, Technology and Economic Development Park at 301 Research Blvd.

Mississippi State launches its most anticipated College Vault mark
Mississippi State Trademark Licensing, in conjunction with its exclusive licensing agency, CLC, announced last Tuesday [Aug. 15] the launch of the university’s most anticipated mark in its College Vault merchandise collection. This vintage-inspired merchandise program pays tribute to the university’s historical trademarks and traditions through fashion-forward apparel and non-apparel products. To meet fan demand over the last five years, Mississippi State has brought back a curated collection of vintage logos, including Walking Bully -- a fan-favorite from the early 1970s; the Bully Flying Flag -- a vintage mark formerly used by both athletics and the university; and the Flying M -- a mark used in the 1960s and 70s to reinforce Mississippi State’s strong connection to the space program and the success in producing engineering talent. It now adds the Interlocking MSU. The classic Interlocking MSU logo, which harks back to the 1990s, embodies the spirit of Mississippi State's enduring legacy.

Likes shares ‘Cowbell Culture’ audio documentary exploring iconic university symbol
Just in time for Mississippi State’s season opener in football -- September 2’s MSU vs. Southeast Louisiana game -- a veteran journalist at MSU is releasing an audio documentary looking in depth at the influence of the iconic university tradition, the cowbell. Terry Likes, head of the Department of Communication, has produced an audio report titled “Cowbell Culture: Small instrument—big impact... the cowbell as a fixture in American music, sports, and popular culture.” WMSV-FM will air the program during its 5 p.m. newscasts on Aug. 28 and Aug. 31. “In the Magnolia State, the cowbell is part of the culture, dating back nearly 100 years at Mississippi State University home football games,” Likes said. “‘More cowbell’ was one of Saturday Night Live’s Top 10 skits of all time, but the cowbell also plays a role in some of American music’s most popular songs. For artists like the Rolling Stones, Kiss, Led Zeppelin and Van Halen, the cowbell, in certain songs, is an iconic piece of rock-and-roll percussion. This report explores the use of the cowbell at that intersection of music, sports and popular culture,” said Likes.

Ribbon cut for CVM's Animal Emergency & Referral Center in Flowood
The ribbon was cut for the Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine’s newly renovated and expanded Animal Emergency & Referral Center last Thursday [Aug. 17]. Located in Flowood, the AERC now offers 4,929 square feet of renovated space along with a 14,156-square-foot addition to the previous facility, allowing for all services rendered by the clinic to be located under one roof. The new facilities provide additional patient examination and treatment areas, expanded surgery suites, and in-house physical rehabilitation services, as well as improved waiting spaces and more parking for clients. The project also has allowed for the expansion of surgical care with a full-time veterinary surgeon now stationed at AERC. In addition, the remaining portion of the project -- the second floor of the new addition which is slated to be completed this fall -- will offer housing for DVM students during their fourth-year clinical rotation at the clinic and meeting space for various outreach programs and events.

Degree options in two high-demand communication fields added by College of Arts and Sciences
Mississippi State University now offers students new ways to combine multiple interests with two additional College of Arts and Sciences degrees. Begun this semester, a new concentration in entertainment technology has been added as a Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies, or BSIS, option and political communication now is offered as a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts, or BALA, choice. Entertainment technology trains students to technically advance their artistic goals in jobs such as stage robotics, scenic automation, entertainment production, sound engineering, technical direction and lighting for live theater events, concerts, theme parks and sporting events. For students with multiple interests in liberal arts fields, the university also is offering a political communication concentration, a degree program offering career options in the political or public administration arenas.

Emergency response training available this fall
Several emergency preparedness sessions are scheduled for the upcoming semester. All sessions will be held at 3 p.m. in the Colvard Student Union’s Fowlkes Auditorium on their corresponding date. Visit hrm.msstate.edu/learn-grow/training/upcoming-workshops for a list of upcoming training events and to register for sessions. MSU will conduct a Maroon Alert test at noon Friday [Aug. 25]. During an emergency, the homepage will be updated to show the most recent message or any updates that have been released. For more information about emergency response or to schedule training, email Brent Crocker, MSU’s emergency manager, at brent.crocker@msstate.edu or call 662-325-4521.

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.

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.

Fall MSU Golf Course memberships now available
Fall 2023 memberships to the MSU Golf Course are now available. Current students, faculty and staff can now have unlimited green and golf car fees for $600 for the semester. A green fee-only option is available for $325. Memberships begin Aug. 14 and end Dec. 10. Sign-up forms are available at the golf shop during regular business hours, and student-charge forms are also available. For more information, call 662-325-3028 or email Tim Basel, PGA head golf professional, at tlb30@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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Salter promoted to university's vice president for strategic communications
Veteran Mississippi State administrator Sidney L. “Sid” Salter has been promoted to Vice President for Strategic Communications at the land-grant research university as part of the ongoing university transformation initiatives. Salter brings more than four decades of experience in Mississippi print, broadcast and digital journalism and multimedia management to the task in addition to experience in public affairs, marketing, corporate governance and crisis management. Since 2012, he served as Director of Public Affairs and Chief Communications Officer at MSU during a period of unprecedented growth under the leadership of President Mark E. Keenum. “Communication is a team enterprise. I’m honored to serve my alma mater along with an incredibly talented group of communicators in the Office of Public Affairs and marketers across this vital university,” said Salter. “I’m excited about the challenges before us as we continue to strive every day to advance Mississippi State and grateful to Dr. Keenum for this opportunity.”

Reddy honored nationally by Soil Science Society of America for systems modeling research
Raja Reddy, a Mississippi State researcher and William L. Giles Distinguished Professor in the Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, is being recognized for more than four decades of modeling the effects of environmental stressors -- extreme heat, drought and insects, to name a few -- on agricultural production crops. The Soil Science Society of America is recognizing the far-reaching impact of Reddy’s work, naming him this year’s recipient of the L.R. Ahuja Ag Systems Modeling Award. Since 2007, this award has honored agronomists and soil and crop scientists whose system models have considerably advanced agricultural research. “In my judgment, Dr. Reddy is the ‘best of the best’ environmental crop physiologist and crop modeler,” said MSU Provost and Executive Vice President David Shaw, also a Giles Distinguished Professor. “His accomplishments spanning many years have helped answer pressing questions in agricultural production and environmental sustainability under a changing climate.”

Tian wins Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers early career award
Wenmeng "Meg" Tian, a Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering associate professor, was recently awarded the Manufacturing and Design Division Outstanding Young Investigator Award from the Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers. "I was very honored to receive this award," Tian said. "We have a lot of industrial engineering professors, young professors who are talented and working on manufacturing and design, so this award is very competitive. It means so much to win it, and I feel humbled and honored." Each year the Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers presents the Outstanding Young Investigator award to a professional who has made high-impact scientific contributions. Tian, nominated by Kari Babski-Reeves, head of the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, was the second Mississippi State faculty member and the first female to win the award.

Ahmed now leading Building Construction Science
A longtime university educator is the new head of Mississippi State’s Department of Building Construction Science. Syed M. Ahmed comes to MSU from South Dakota State University, where he served as head of the Department of Construction and Operations Management within the engineering college. He is the founding editor and organizer of an international series of conferences, Construction in the 21st Century. Since the start of CITC in 2002, more than 1,500 peer-reviewed conference articles have been published by hundreds of authors from more than 50 countries. Angi Elsea Bourgeois, dean of MSU’s College of Architecture, Art and Design, said Ahmed brings tremendous experience and expertise to his new role. “He not only brings a vast global network of professionals and educators in construction, but he is also a seasoned administrator who can engage our faculty, students, alumni, advisory board and industry partners to lead the department into the future,” she said.