Maroon MEMO: Employee News (Mississippi State University)

Mississippi State alumna and Mississippi Deputy Attorney General Whitney Lipscomb welcomed new students at Fall Convocation in Humphrey Coliseum last week. Lipscomb, along with university leadership, discussed the importance of campus involvement, Mississippi State traditions and creating a memorable college experience. PHOTO: Jonah Holland | Public Affairs

MSU commemorates All-Steinway School status with public ceremony
Music filled the air last Friday [Aug. 30] as Mississippi State celebrated its achievement of the prestigious All-Steinway School status with a public ceremony. Now among an elite group of institutions holding the acclaimed distinction globally, MSU is one of less than 250 conservatories, colleges, universities and schools solely using pianos designed by Steinway & Sons for practice, instruction and performance. “I am incredibly proud of Mississippi State University's commitment to excellence in the arts,” said Teresa Jayroe, dean of the College of Education. “Achieving All-Steinway School status is a testament to our dedication to providing our students and faculty with the finest instruments for their practice and performances. This milestone reflects the generosity of our donors and the hard work of everyone involved in the All-Steinway Initiative."

Writing Center moves to library, enhances accessibility with central campus hub
The Writing Center -- a campus resource dedicated to helping writers of all levels -- has relocated to the second floor of Mississippi State’s Mitchell Memorial Library. The center, facilitated through the Department of English in the College of Arts and Sciences, held its ribbon cutting in Room 2335 last week with MSU President Mark E. Keenum and English department and MSU Libraries personnel in attendance. “We want to provide all of our students with the resources they need to succeed, and the Writing Center and University Libraries are two of our greatest resources when it comes to supporting student success,” Keenum said. “Having the Writing Center here in this central location on the Drill Field enhances access and will help connect more students with everything else Mitchell Memorial Library has to offer.”

MSU Psychology Clinic cuts ribbon on new, expanded Rice Hall location
Mississippi State University’s Psychology Clinic invites the Starkville and university communities to make use of the wide range of mental health services including therapy, assessment and telehealth options at its new location in Rice Hall. At last Friday’s [Aug. 30] ribbon-cutting ceremony, Emily S.H. Stafford, clinic director and an associate clinical professor of psychology, said the new location represents forward momentum for the university’s pursuit of service. The clinic, she said, is committed to making mental health care accessible to all, with services offered on a sliding-scale fee structure. The MSU Psychology Clinic, a nonprofit mental health service, training and research center operated by the Department of Psychology, is staffed by graduate clinicians under the supervision of licensed mental health professionals.

MSU receives $8 million NSF grant to boost Mississippi science, technology capabilities
Mississippi’s leading research university is receiving $8 million from the National Science Foundation to lead transformative science and technology capacity-building efforts across the state. The four-year NSF award to Mississippi State establishes the Mississippi Research Alliance as a central hub for the state’s research ecosystem, leveraging existing strengths, expanding networks, and creating new opportunities to advance research and development. “Our state has some of the best research institutions and most talented researchers, but they have often been disconnected from one another. This grant will centralize the efforts of four Mississippi universities, resulting in a better statewide research ecosystem. I fought to increase the funding stream that made this grant possible, and I am glad Mississippi State University is leading the way on this effort,” U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., said.

C Spire Foundation, MSU continue commitment to STEM education in Mississippi through grant for online computer science classes
The C Spire Foundation is continuing its commitment to K-12 students in Mississippi through a $180,000 donation to Mississippi State University that further supports STEM and the development and implementation of online computer science classes. The initiative builds on the C Spire Foundation’s $1 million donation in 2021 to help train more than 3,000 K-12 teachers after the Mississippi Legislature passed House Bill 633, requiring all K-12 public schools in the state to teach computer science by the 2024-2025 academic year. To help schools meet the legislative requirement and fulfill the need for qualified computer science teachers, the C Spire Foundation has partnered with the Center for Cyber Education at MSU to provide high schools with free access to quality computer science courses for the 2024-2025 and 2025-2026 school years.

Fall general faculty meeting coming up this week
The Office of the President and the Robert Holland Faculty Senate invite all Mississippi State University faculty to the fall general faculty meeting at 2 p.m. on Wednesday [Sept. 4] in Lee Hall’s Bettersworth Auditorium. Interested members of the campus community are also welcome. The meeting will feature an update from President Mark E. Keenum. The MSU Television Center will provide a livestream of the meeting for those unable to attend in person or who prefer to watch online. The livestream will be available at https://vimeo.com/event/3997666.

Reminder: University policy addresses employee political activity
With campaigning for elected offices underway this year, Mississippi State's Office of General Counsel offers the following reminder of the university’s policy on political activities. There are several basic guidelines that university employees should keep in mind when engaging in any form of political activity. MSU employees are encouraged to review OP 01.14: Political Activities in its entirety and to understand their rights and responsibilities.

Free learning opportunities via LinkedIn Learning available to faculty, staff and students
Sharpen skills. Explore new interests. Increase professional value. These and other results are now available via no-cost learning opportunities to Mississippi State faculty, staff and students through MSU’s new agreement with LinkedIn Learning. A popular, online education platform, LinkedIn Learning’s 20,000-plus courses are available to campus via a quick login using their MSU NetID email addresses. With self-paced learning, courses are presented in various formats, including bite-sized video, audio only and in-depth content. The platform is directly integrated with Canvas, the university’s learning management system. MSU faculty can use it to supplement course material or even develop and load their own content onto the platform.

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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Newest William L. Giles Distinguished Professor, Grisham Master Teachers honored
Mississippi State celebrated four faculty members last week with two of the university’s most prestigious honors. Wes Schilling received the William L. Giles Distinguished Professor distinction, and John E. Ball, Amber Robinson and Rosângela Yazbec Sebba are the newest Grisham Master Teachers. “Mississippi State University is blessed to have world-class faculty who are leaders in their fields and dedicated to their students. Today’s honorees exemplify the very best of what it means to be a teacher, mentor and scholar, and I am grateful for their many contributions to our campus community,” MSU President Mark E. Keenum said. “Students want to be here because of the exceptional classroom instruction, research opportunities and service opportunities they and their colleagues provide.”

Hardin takes helm of Department of Anthropology and Middle Eastern Cultures
A Mississippi State faculty member with more than two decades of experience in anthropology and Near Eastern archeology is now the head of MSU’s Department of Anthropology and Middle Eastern Cultures. Professor James W. “Jimmy” Hardin began as department head on July 1 after previously serving as the interim. “Dr. Hardin is a longtime member of the university faculty and one of the original faculty members of the department,” said College of Arts and Sciences Dean Rick Travis. “Having served as the director of the Cobb Institute since 2019, Dr. Hardin is familiar with the challenges and opportunities of this leadership role. He will be adding the position of department head while continuing his role as institute director. He brings an energy and forthrightness to the position that will benefit all as he takes on this additional leadership role.”

Owens named president of international forest products organization
Frank Owens, an associate professor in the Mississippi State Department of Sustainable Bioproducts, is the new president of the Forest Products Society, a premier international wood products organization. Owens, the fourth MSU faculty member in 60 years to serve as FPS president, has been an integral part of the university for seven years. “I’m continually humbled by the recognition that sustainable bioproducts faculty garner at the national and international levels. Dr. Owens becoming the president of the Forest Products Society is a testament to his great work and dedication to the profession,” said Rubin Shmulsky, head of the Department of Sustainable Bioproducts and Warren S. Thompson Professor of Wood Science and Technology.

Harkess selected for horticulture national council of fellows
A Mississippi State professor is being recognized by a national organization for his outstanding contributions to the field of horticulture. Richard Harkess, a professor in the Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, is a selection for fellow of the American Society for Horticultural Science, an organization established in 1903 and committed to advancing horticultural research and education. “We are extremely proud of Dr. Harkess for being recognized as a fellow in the American Society for Horticultural Science. The award represents a career of sustained contribution and provides credence to the impact he has had on the lives of countless students, as well as contributions to his professional society,” said Darrin Dodds, associate director of MSU’s Mississippi Forestry and Agricultural Experiment Station.