Maroon MEMO: Employee News (Mississippi State University)

Starkville Chick-fil-A presented Mississippi State’s T.K. Martin Center students and staff a donation of almost $1,500 raised during the restaurant’s “Cookies with Care” campaign in January. Pictured from left are local restaurant Executive Director of Support Melissa Rogers, Owner and Operator Jonathan Rogers and the university’s Mississippi Institute on Disabilities Executive Director Kasee Stratton-Gadke. The T.K. Martin Center for Technology and Disability provides comprehensive, multi-disciplinary evaluations and services to remove limitations through the application of assistive technology, evidenced-based practice, training and educational supports.

Humanities series highlighting power of local journalism Thursday
The Institute for the Humanities, part of Mississippi State University’s College of Arts and Sciences, continues its annual lecture series this month with “Building Community: The Humanities as Social Glue.” “This academic year, the Institute for the Humanities is exploring the idea of community and the role of the humanities in strengthening social ties,” said Morgan Robinson, institute director and associate professor of history. “Local journalism is a crucial avenue for social and political engagement, and our spring semester discussions will focus on the work of journalists on campus, in Mississippi and beyond.” On Thursday [Feb. 27], the institute hosts the panel discussion “As It Happens: Covering the News in Mississippi,” 3:30-5 p.m. in Old Main Academic Center Room 3070.

Global adventures await for local families through new MSU Bulldog Explorers Program
Families in the Starkville community can embark on a fun, educational journey without ever leaving town, thanks to an exciting new initiative led by Mississippi State Associate Professor Kelly Moser -- the Bulldog Explorers Program. Through this program, families can visit the Starkville Public Library the last Friday of each month, beginning Friday [Feb. 28], to pick up a specially designed suitcase filled with interactive activities introducing them to different cultures around the world. The initiative aims to make language learning and cultural exploration engaging, hands-on and accessible to all and is sponsored by MSU’s Department of Classical and Modern Languages and Literatures.

MSU celebrates Black History Month with arts events, Shackouls lecture
From art exhibits and line dancing to a lecture on artificial intelligence’s future roles in the humanities, Mississippi State is celebrating Black History Month with numerous events throughout February. Event sponsors include MSU’s African American Studies Program, Department of Art, Holmes Cultural Diversity Center, Judy and Bobby Shackouls Honors College and Office of Inclusive Excellence.

Website provides support, resources for free speech
Mississippi State offers a 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.

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 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.

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College of Agriculture and Life Sciences embarks on strategic reorganization
The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, or CALS, at Mississippi State University is announcing a strategic reorganization of its departments. Led by Scott Willard, CALS dean and director of the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station, or MAFES, in conjunction with MSU Extension Service Director Angus Catchot, this initiative aims to enhance training of the next generation of leaders while growing interdisciplinary research, teaching and outreach in agriculture and life sciences. “Our goal is to build upon our rich legacy of more than 120 years of excellence while positioning CALS and MAFES to be at the forefront of agricultural research and education,” Willard said.

Arbor Day enhances Partnership Middle School
Mississippi State University administration, faculty and students planted 225 trees at the Partnership Middle School last Friday [Feb. 21] in celebration of Arbor Day. The event marked MSU’s 12th consecutive year of recognition with the Tree Campus Higher Education designation by the Arbor Day Foundation. “Trees and the forests they comprise are central to our Mississippi landscape, covering more than 60% of our state. They are a remarkable renewable natural resource, producing food, fiber and fuel from which we all benefit,” said Wes Burger, dean of MSU’s College of Forest Resources and director of the Forest and Wildlife Research Center. “Forest lands and the products they produce are a key component of the Mississippi economy contributing to the prosperity and quality of life for Mississippians.”

Poole recognized for family advocacy
Callie Poole, project manager at Mississippi State’s Social Science Research Center Systems Change Lab, will be honored by Families as Allies Monday [Feb. 24] during its Community Partnership Celebration. Poole is receiving the organization’s Helen Reddy Johnson Award, presented in memory of the cherished board member to someone who “exemplifies valuing every child and family,” for her advocacy of families and early childhood development. Families as Allies is a Mississippi nonprofit organization run by parents of children with behavioral health challenges, supporting and advocating for these families. Poole works closely with Families as Allies through the Mississippi Early Childhood Development Coalition.

Pelaez earns statewide humanities recognition
Mississippi State Associate Professor Sol Pelaez is the university’s 2025 Mississippi Humanities Council Teacher of the Year. This prestigious recognition celebrates Pelaez’s outstanding contributions to scholarship and teaching in the humanities, as well as her significant impact on advancing the humanities mission across the state. The MHC-sponsored award includes an honorarium and a complimentary ticket to the annual Public Humanities Awards ceremony, where Pelaez will be formally recognized next month in Jackson. A faculty member in the Department of Classical and Modern Languages and Literatures, Pelaez will deliver a public lecture at MSU on her humanities work on March 4 at 3 p.m. in Mitchell Memorial Library’s John Grisham Room.