Maroon MEMO: Employee News (Mississippi State University)

Robert Kirkland of Starkville, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran who served in Vietnam, admires a new monument to U.S. veterans of World War II after a formal unveiling at the G.V. “Sonny” Montgomery Center for America’s Veterans at Nusz Hall last week. PHOTO: Grace Cockrell | Public Affairs

Buys selected for academic affairs administrative fellowship
A faculty member in Mississippi State University's Department of Food Science, Nutrition and Health Promotion is adding a new role to his responsibilities this fall. Associate Professor David Buys, who also serves as state health specialist with the MSU Extension Service, has started a one-year appointment as an administrative fellow in the Office of the Provost and Executive Vice President. In this role, Buys is working with Harold Jones, MSU's interim associate vice provost for health sciences, and Terry Dale Cruse, associate vice president and MSU-Meridian head of campus, to enhance development and coordination of the university's health sciences programs.

SEC Academic Leadership Development Program honors four MSU faculty and administrators
Four Mississippi State administrators and faculty members—Santanu Kundu, Melanie Loehwing, Karen Cordes Spence and Robert M. West—are selections for the 2023-2024 Southeastern Conference Academic Leadership Development Program Fellows. Established in 2008, the professional development program has worked to identify, prepare and professionally advance over 500 academic leaders within the SEC’s 14 member institutions and beyond. The initiative consists of three components—individual university development programs, workshops and a competitive fellowship program. The honorees participate in fall and spring SEC-wide workshops at Texas A&M University and University of Missouri, respectively.

Institute for the Humanities Fellows delve deeper into history, humanities research at MSU
Natural history, American history and celebrity culture are part of the detailed research studies underway with the newest cohort of Mississippi State University’s Institute for the Humanities Fellows. Awarded to three associate professors annually to assist in their research goals, the fellowship includes a $1,000 stipend and one course release in the spring to allow dedicated time for humanities-related research and writing. This year’s Institute for Humanities Fellows, and their respective projects, are Associate Professor of History Jim Giesen, “The Land of Cotton: Culture and Environment in the American South;” Associate Professor of History Peter Messer, “Dictated by Nature: Science, Theology, and Politics in Early American Natural History;” and Associate Professor of English Bonnie O’Neill, “The Good News from Plymouth Church: The Faith, Politics, and Celebrity of Henry Ward Beecher.”

Longest Student Health Center providing flu shot clinics this fall
Mississippi State’s Longest Student Health Center will provide flu shot clinics across campus and in-house this year. Walk-ins are welcome, but recipients may also make appointments. To schedule a visit, call 662-325-2431 and select Option 1. Shots are $30—cash, card and checks are accepted—and can be filed to insurance at the time of service. LSHC flu clinics are scheduled every Thursday in October and November, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Other campus flu clinics will be held 1-4 p.m. on Wednesdays at various locations.

Nomination period open for 2024 MSU Online Teaching Award
The nomination window for the 2024 Mississippi State Online Teaching Award is open now until 5 p.m. Jan. 7. In its sixth year, the award acknowledges and rewards an MSU online instructor who employs best practices to engage, inspire and support students in an online environment. Potential nominees include faculty members, instructors or lecturers of a Campus 5 course taught in the current academic year. The winner will receive a $500 award along with registration to attend an online education-related conference similar to OLC, UPCEA or USDLA. The winner will be notified in April.

ITS releases new website builder for faculty
Mississippi State Information Technology Services is announcing the release of a new website builder that will allow faculty members to create personal, professional websites without having to learn how to code. sample of what can be created can be seen at https://www.faculty.msstate.edu/awl22. For more information on what the content editing process looks like, visit https://www.drupal.msstate.edu/guides/faculty-website. All sites will be hosted on an ITS-supported server using Drupal as the content management system. Everything from the server and the operating system to Drupal and the website theme will be maintained by ITS. Faculty can use their time on their content.

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 dedicates WWII monument at Center for America’s Veterans
Mississippi State is honoring World War II veterans, including a number of former students who gave all they had to defend freedom around the world in the early 1940s. The university unveiled a new WWII monument outside Nusz Hall, home of the G.V. “Sonny” Montgomery Center for America’s Veterans on campus during a formal ceremony last Monday [Oct. 2]. President Mark E. Keenum said the monument dedication is one way for the university to say “thank you” to veterans and all who have served. Vice President for Strategic Communications Sid Salter also represented families of WWII veterans during the program and shared memories of his late father, Leo Salter, who survived D-Day at the Battle of Normandy, where many close comrades died in high numbers.

Arrest made in bomb threat hoax that disrupted university activities; MSU will seek ‘appropriate punishment’
Mississippi State University last Friday [Oct. 6] announced the arrest of a Columbus man on charges of false report of a bomb on Aug. 25 on the Starkville campus. MSU Police Chief Kenneth Rogers said Isaac Terrell Pryor, 36, of Columbus was taken into custody last Thursday [Oct. 5] without incident. The arrest came after an extensive investigation by MSU Police, the Mississippi Office of Homeland Security’s Analysis and Information Center, the Oktibbeha County Sheriff’s Office and the Starkville Police Department. Rogers said persons convicted of false report of a bomb face a fine of up to $10,000 and 10 years in prison. The chief said Pryor may face additional charges as the investigation continues.

$15M to MSU-led Fish Innovation Lab extends global food security pursuits through aquatic systems
Mississippi State University has received a five-year, up to $15 million extension for the Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Fish to address global food security challenges through aquatic food systems. The Fish Innovation Lab is funded by USAID as part of Feed the Future, the U.S. government’s global hunger and food security initiative. The Fish Innovation Lab works to reduce poverty and improve nutrition, food security and livelihoods in partner countries by supporting research on sustainable aquatic food systems. It is led through the university’s Global Center for Aquatic Health and Food Security.

Central Mississippi Research and Extension Center welcomes new leadership
A Mississippi State research and extension center welcomes a new department head who brings extensive knowledge, experience and strong university roots to the job. Curt Lacy, extension professor and interim associate director for county operations, steps into his new role at the Central Mississippi Research and Extension Center in Raymond Oct. 16. Lacy’s history at MSU goes back more than three decades, beginning with his bachelor’s degree in agricultural and extension education and—years later—his master’s and doctoral degrees in agricultural economics. Lacy explained that he looks forward to engaging with the center’s faculty and staff, as well as regional stakeholders and producers, and learning more about the needs and opportunities for research and commercial production in central Mississippi.