The Mississippi State University Police Department celebrated the first-ever retirement of a police dog from its K-9 unit. Bach, a 10-year-old Belgian Malinois, was retired by MSUPD after nine years of service as a dual-purpose explosive and patrol detector K-9 during an on-campus ceremony last Monday [Oct. 9]. Bach performed pre-event sweeps at the university, answered threatening calls on campus and even patrolled -- all with his handler, former Sergeant Wesley Bunch (left). He also helped with tracking, apprehension and handler protection. MSU Assistant Chief of Police Brian Locke (right) said Bach swept an estimated 400 campus events and responded to over 40 bomb threat calls throughout his career, as well as numerous calls to support local city and county law enforcement. Since its inception in 2014, MSUPD’s K-9 Unit has employed three teams of dual-purpose explosive and patrol detector K-9s and one narcotics K-9 team. PHOTO: Grace Cockrell | Public Affairs
Public celebration of first doctoral program at MSU-Meridian to honor local partners
Enrollment of the first 20 students in the first doctoral program at Mississippi State University-Meridian is being celebrated this fall with a spotlight on those who made the new curriculum possible. A Monday [Oct. 16] public reception will mark the establishment of the Doctor of Psychology in Combined Health Service Psychology, while also saluting three Meridian-based foundations and local clinical support. The 2 p.m. event will be held in the Studio Theater of the MSU Riley Center, 2200 Fifth St., in downtown Meridian. The Paul and Sherry Broadhead, Phil Hardin, and Riley foundations have jointly committed $4.6 million to help the university expand clinical and behavioral health programs at MSU-Meridian.
DAFVM Spotlight Employee: Keith Chenier
With a last name that means “oak grove” in Cajun French, Keith Chenier fittingly boasts a love for the outdoors. Now, as a Mississippi State University Extension associate, he has turned his childhood pastime of woodland exploration and collegiate studies of coastal environments into a career focused on preserving natural resources. “I studied coastal ecology and restoration as an undergraduate, so this was a perfect fit,” said Chenier, of his marine work with MSU’s Coastal Research and Extension Center in Biloxi. “Being a lifelong outdoorsman, I never wanted to stray far from the Gulf of Mexico marshes,” Chenier said. “Combining my coastal science background with the location and work being done at the Coastal Research Center was a no-brainer for me.”
DAFVM Spotlight Employee: Pam Johnson
Greeting clients, sampling soil, tracking schedules, helping kids learn to cook -- Pam Johnson handles all of this and more as an office associate at the Mississippi State University Extension office in Wilkinson County. “During the summer months, I help with cooking classes and sewing classes for elementary-age students,” Johnson said. It is really fun getting to know the kids from our area.” Located in the Southwest corner of the state, the Wilkinson County Extension office in Woodville is one of 82 Extension offices statewide. “One of the things I love about Extension is meeting new people and being able to help answer their questions,” Johnson said.
MSU tech and startup efforts in Vicksburg accelerated by $150K from U.S. Small Business Administration
Mississippi State has been awarded a $150,000 cash prize from the U.S. Small Business Administration to bolster the university’s work in Vicksburg to support the launch, growth and scale of STEM/research and development-focused small businesses. The funding is from the SBA’s 2023 Growth Accelerator Fund Competition, marking the second time this year MSU has been awarded a cash prize in the contest. Winners were selected through a multi-tier review panel process by experts in entrepreneurship, business, innovation, and strategic planning. “It is exciting to see our work in growing Vicksburg’s technology and entrepreneurship sectors once again recognized by SBA with a cash prize,” said Tasha Bibb, senior program manager in MSU’s Office of Technology Management. “This initiative is truly a team effort and the ecosystem we are building here continues to grow.”
‘Trick or Trot’: MSU’s T.K. Martin Center to host 11th annual fun run
Individuals of all ages are invited to “Trick or Trot” during the T.K. Martin Center for Technology and Disability’s 11th annual fun run on Saturday [Oct. 21] at Mississippi State University. The center’s largest annual fundraiser kicks off at 9:15 a.m. with on-site registration, games and activities, with the fun run at 10 a.m. Participants are encouraged to wear child-friendly costumes as they run, walk or stroll the one-mile loop through campus beginning at the center. Cheer stations will be set up along the way to cheer on participants and hand out candy and other goodies. “We’re immensely grateful to our maroon level sponsors, Taylor Foundation, The Rowdy Foundation, and Steel Dynamics,” said Kasee K. Stratton-Gadke, executive director of the Mississippi Institute on Disabilities, which houses the T.K. Martin Center.
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.
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.
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.
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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