Maroon MEMO: Employee News (Mississippi State University)

The Mississippi State University Alumni Association honored the 2024 Alumni Fellows during a campus visit spanning three days in October. These alumni offered current MSU students invaluable professional insights before the distinguished Bulldogs were recognized during the MSU vs. Arkansas football game. Pictured are front row, left to right, MSU President Mark E. Keenum and honorees Lea Ann Macknally, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences; second row, Dr. Katrina Poe-Johnson, College of Arts and Sciences; third row, Jimmy Taylor, College of Forest Resources; Dr. Mirae Cade Wood, College of Veterinary Medicine; Johnny L. “Ty” Crane III, College of Architecture, Art and Design; and fourth row, James M. Robinson, College of Business; Ronnie Allen Martin, Bagley College of Engineering; and John Duke Passons, College of Education. PHOTO: Beth Wynn | Public Affairs

Avila awarded Outstanding Scientist for Brazilian Weed Science Society
A Mississippi State University associate professor in the Department of Plant and Soil Sciences and Dr. Glover B. Triplett Endowed Chair of Weed Science was recently honored by a weed science organization in South America. Luis De Avila, a scientist with the university’s Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station, or MAFES, recently received the Outstanding Scientist Award from the Brazilian Weed Science Society, or BWSS, for his contribution to the field. “I am deeply honored to receive this award which is based on my contributions to weed science within the BWSS. This organization has provided a platform for me to grow alongside amazing colleagues. I do not take that for granted and I do my best to offer the same opportunity to others -- the students,” said Avila.

MSU, Habitat for Humanity dedicate 15th Maroon Edition home
It’s been more than a year since the groundbreaking of Twana Hubbard’s Habitat home -- still, she can hardly believe it’s happening. “This is so overwhelming. I get choked up every time I walk up to this house,” she said. “I’m so thankful; I’m just thankful they chose me.” Mississippi State representatives and Starkville Habitat for Humanity officials gathered off 16th Section Road last week to dedicate the nearly completed home. Regina Hyatt, MSU vice president for student affairs, celebrated the occasion and congratulated the family on behalf of the university and MSU President Mark E. Keenum. “Today marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter in your life,” she said. “This house isn’t just a building. It’s a place where memories will be made, where dreams will grow and where your family’s future will unfold.”

Bully Tartan now part of Scottish Register
The Bully Tartan, a design by alumna Elizabeth Costa that celebrates Mississippi State University’s beloved live mascot, now is registered officially with the Scottish Register of Tartans. The Scottish Parliament voted in 2008 to establish this independent tartan register, the most prestigious database promoting and preserving information on historic and contemporary tartans from Scotland and throughout the world. The Bully Tartan Collection features a thoughtful design, created by Costa in 2017 as part of an MSU Fashion Design and Merchandising program student competition. A portion of proceeds from Bully Tartan sales directly support MSU’s Fashion Design and Merchandising program, providing valuable resources for future generations of students.

New website provides support, resources for free speech
Mississippi State has launched a new website dedicated to supporting and promoting freedom of speech and expression within our university. You can access the website at www.freespeech.msstate.edu. This platform has been created to provide accessible resources and guidance to foster a campus environment where open dialogue, respectful debate and diverse perspectives can thrive. All members of the MSU community -- students, faculty and staff -- are encouraged to explore this site and take advantage of the materials and opportunities it offers. Whether you are seeking to deepen your understanding of free speech principles, enhance your ability to engage in thoughtful dialogue or learn more about your rights and responsibilities, this resource is here to support you.

Application window open for university teaching awards
Mississippi State is accepting applications for the 2025 Grisham Master Teacher, Donald Zacharias Early Career Undergraduate Teaching Excellence and the Alumni Association Graduate and/or Professional Teaching Excellence awards. Visit www.provost.msstate.edu/announcements/2024/09/university-teaching-awards for more information and to download documents associated with the submission process. Interested faculty must submit an electronic application in PDF form to the Office of the Provost and Executive Vice President via email to grishamaward@provost.msstate.edu by Oct. 27 if their teaching can only be observed in the fall 2024 semester or by Jan. 5 if their teaching can be observed in the spring 2025 semester. All current full-time faculty members at MSU with the required years of service, regardless of rank, are eligible to apply for these awards. Late applications will not be accepted.

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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MSU enrollment another all-time high, state’s only public university to grow 9 of last 10 years
Mississippi State once again is celebrating an all-time high in enrollment with 23,150 students, surpassing 2021’s record of 23,086. Mississippi’s land-grant research university is the only public higher education institution in the Magnolia State to grow in overall numbers for nine of the last 10 years, increasing 11%. The university’s growth over the last decade speaks to Mississippi State’s commitment in helping students realize life-changing opportunities through a combination of quality academics, campus experience, support services and hands-on, innovative learning, explained MSU President Mark E. Keenum. “We’re focused on higher education at MSU being unequivocally accessible and are dedicated to ensuring every Bulldog student is on their path to a degree,” Keenum said, “including those who start at a community college or who have been out of college for a while.”

Leading international STEM group renews accreditation for 12 Bagley College of Engineering programs
Mississippi State University’s Bagley College of Engineering is celebrating the accreditation renewal of 12 bachelor’s degree programs by a leading international educational organization. ABET, the quality-assurance group focused on college and university programs in science, technology, engineering and math disciplines, has reaccredited MSU’s aerospace, biomedical, biosystems (formerly biological engineering), chemical, civil, computer, electrical, industrial, mechanical, petroleum and software engineering and computer science programs. “I am proud of our faculty, staff and students during this accreditation process and commend the hard work they put into our reaccreditation to ensure we continue to produce high-quality engineering graduates who are prepared to solve the problems of today and tomorrow, improving the quality of life for all,” said Interim Dean Robert Green.

Echols taking on governmental relations duties in new assistant vice president role
A longtime Mississippi State research administrator is taking on new responsibilities in government affairs. Katie Echols, the Office of Research and Economic Development’s executive director for research initiatives and innovation, has been promoted to assistant vice president of research/associate director of government relations. “Dr. Echols’ immense experiences in the university’s research enterprise and coordinating large, multi-institutional collaborative projects uniquely qualify her to join the government relations team as we seek to fortify and grow our federal partnerships that help drive the research and innovation that Mississippi State University is known for,” said Lee Weiskopf, MSU chief of staff/director of government relations.

MSU receives $1.2 million NSF grant to promote AI competency among high school students
A Mississippi State interdisciplinary research team is receiving a $1.2 million National Science Foundation grant to promote AI competency among high school students in the Magnolia State and prepare them for the workforce. The three-year grant project will offer innovative, hands-on machine learning experiences to high school computer science teachers and students -- focusing on underrepresented populations in STEM and rural areas across the state. The team is led by Principal Investigator Yan Sun, associate professor in MSU’s Department of Industrial Technology, Instructional Design, and Community College Leadership in the College of Education. Sun is joined by Project Coordinator Lisa Thomas from the same department and Department of Computer Science and Engineering Assistant Professors Jingdao Chen and Zhiqian Chen in the Bagley College of Engineering.