Maroon MEMO: Employee News (Mississippi State University)

A restoration project underway through October at Mississippi State University-Meridian’s Riley Campus will replace custom windows on the campus’ 5th Street side in a continuing effort to preserve the integrity of the 19th-century buildings. Funded through a gift from The Riley Foundation, the $1 million-plus project was authorized by the Mississippi Department of Archives, which approved the custom windows that complement the historic structures. “This project would not be possible without the continued support of the Riley Foundation,” said Morgan Dudley, MSU Riley Center director of conferences, events and operations. “We’re so very appreciative of their vision and continued endeavors for the crown jewel of Meridian.” PHOTO: Marianne Todd | Public Affairs

Morin partnering on $2.1M grant to revive red wolf legacy through groundbreaking research
A Mississippi State University researcher is studying a distinct population of coyotes along the Gulf Coast in hopes of untapping hidden red wolf genetic reservoirs for furthering conservation of disappearing species. Dana Morin, assistant professor in the Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Aquaculture and scientist in the university’s Forest and Wildlife Research Center, is partnering on a $2.1 million grant from the U.S. National Science Foundation and the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation to study red wolf ancestry among wild canines along the Gulf Coast. This research is one of 10 projects receiving funding under the Partnership to Advance Conservation Science and Practice program, a first-of-its-kind collaboration between the NSF and the Allen Foundation.

Equine-Assisted Services moves to Mississippi Horse Park
Amy Knight has seen her 13-year-old son, Cameron, make substantial strides in his speech and core strength since he began horse riding three years ago. He participates in the Equine-Assisted Services’ therapeutic riding program for children with special needs, one of several programs offered through the Mississippi State University Extension Service. Until this fall, EAS activities were based at the Elizabeth A. Howard Therapeutic Riding and Activity Center in West Point. The program’s transition to the Mississippi Horse Park in Starkville will be complete in October. The program currently uses eight horses and serves up to 200 people per year between all its services. MSU Extension EAS coordinator Lori Irvin said the move will enhance the services the program provides.

University hosting Pathways to Resilience Summit Oct. 8 focused on empowering Mississippi through partnerships, innovation, technology
Mississippi State University, in collaboration with the Mississippi Conservation Task Force, is hosting the inaugural Pathways to Resilience Summit Oct. 8 in Starkville. Taking place in the Colvard Student Union, the free summit will explore how multi-sectoral partnerships and innovations in geospatial technologies can make Mississippi more economically, environmentally and technologically resilient to changing environmental conditions. The theme for the summit is “Mississippi’s Gateway to Innovation through Geospatial Strategies.” MSU Associate Vice President Narcisa Pricope said geospatial technologies such as satellite remote sensing, geographic information systems (GIS), global positioning systems -- and the advanced analytics powering them -- not only help the state develop innovative practices, but allow for applications that promote resilience.

DAFVM Spotlight Employee: Nikki Butt
Each month Nikki Butt welcomes hundreds of visitors to the Child Care Resource and Referral Center in Poplarville. As an Extension program associate, Butt helps provide the best possible start for children in their educational journey. “This job is a great blessing,” said Butt. “I've always worked in child care at day cares and head start programs, but this allows me to work with the parents too and give them the resources they need. We want to do the most we can to help children learn.” Operated by Mississippi State University Extension in partnership with the Mississippi Department of Human Services, the center is one of several located throughout the state.

DAFVM Spotlight Employee: Garrett Oswalt
Every year, row crop farmers across the state depend on variety trials conducted by Mississippi State University to make crucial decisions about variety/hybrid selection and crop management. Through his work as an Extension Associate in the Plant and Soil Sciences Department at MSU, Garrett Oswalt supports Mississippi’s second-largest commodity -- soybeans. “I get to meet new farmers every year, develop closer relationships with the same farmers from the previous year, and get to know them and their story and how to better help them -- it's just the best," Oswalt said. Oswalt is working towards his master's degree knowing it will help support him in his role at MSU, and he said he could not do it all without the support of his coworkers and family.

Beloved children’s classic ‘Charlotte’s Web’ opens 2024 Theatre MSU season
Mississippi State’s Theatre MSU -- the production division of the Department of Communication -- is launching its 2024-2025 season with a heartwarming classic, “Charlotte’s Web.” Part of the department’s Theatre for Young Adults program, the play based on E.B. White’s novel will enchant young audiences through the touching friendship between Charlotte, the spider, and Wilbur, the pig. Performances include school shows at the MSU Riley Center in Meridian on Sept. 24 and at the MSU McComas Hall mainstage in Starkville on Sept. 26-27, with a public university Lyceum Series show on Sept. 27 at 7 p.m. Tickets for the show are available at www.events.msstate.edu.

Applications open for annual community engagement awards
Faculty, staff and students are encouraged to apply for a 2024 Mississippi State University Excellence in Community Engagement Award on behalf of a project in the following categories: Community-Engaged Service, Community-Engaged Research and Community-Engaged Teaching and Learning. A $3,000 award will be given in each of those areas to recognize outstanding work and support its continuation. Projects that achieve honorable mention will receive $1,000. Applicants should be aware that the MSU CE Awards are not a grant proposal process but a recognition of existing projects. Submissions are due Oct. 30 at 11:59 p.m. Community Partner feedback forms are due by Nov. 1 at noon.

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.

The Office of Public Affairs provides Maroon MEMO as a general information
resource for Mississippi State University employees.

Web links are subject to change. Submit news, questions or comments to Jim Laird.

MSU named ‘Great College to Work For’ for ninth consecutive year
For the ninth consecutive year, Mississippi State University is being honored as an exemplary employer by the Great Colleges to Work For recognition program. The latest results released last week in a special insert of The Chronicle of Higher Education are based on feedback from MSU employees. MSU’s faculty and staff serve as the backbone of the university. President Mark E. Keenum places great value on being an employer of choice and is grateful for the work employees contribute to the university and its success. “The Great Colleges to Work For designation reflects the voices of our faculty and staff, and that makes this achievement all the more meaningful. I appreciate everyone for taking time to provide feedback and share their thoughts and opinions,” he said.

MAFES Sales Store announces holiday sales, renovations
Holiday sales are open online and in-store for Mississippi State’s cheese. With the holidays fast approaching, the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station, or MAFES, Sales Store has opened holiday sales of its signature cheese products: Edam, cheddar, Vallagret, jalapeno and its Maroon and White gift boxes. The store, which moved into its present location in the 1970s, will undergo significant renovations beginning in mid-December. “We are thrilled to continue our tradition of offering MSU's signature cheeses during the holiday season,” said Jennifer Portera, MAFES Sales Store manager. “While we are eager to enhance our facilities, we are equally committed to ensuring that our customers experience minimal disruption. Our temporary setup in Ballew Hall will provide continued access to our products during the renovation period.”

University selects faculty fellows for community-engaged learning professional development
Six Mississippi State faculty -- Mandy Conrad, Fatima Hilali, Erik Markin, Alisha Milam, Nesma Osman and Neeraj Rai -- are incorporating community-engaged learning into their courses as part of a prestigious professional development program. The Community-Engaged Learning Fellows this summer worked to redesign courses and prepare for integration of this learning philosophy and pedagogy into their teaching and research. The program develops faculty to encourage and mentor their peers and engage with community partners in a university-wide network, while also providing each a $1,000 stipend for course development and research.

$1.2 million NSF grant supports MSU’s advancement of STEM education in rural Mississippi
Mississippi State University faculty members are leading a statewide effort to advance science, technology, engineering and mathematics education in rural school districts with the support of a $1.2 million grant from the National Science Foundation’s Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program. Donna M. Pierce, associate professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy, is leading the five-year grant with MSU colleagues Mohammad Sepehrifar, associate professor in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics, and Dana Franz, professor of secondary mathematics education in the College of Education, who also is director of academic quality and professor with the Office of Institutional Research and Effectiveness.