Maroon MEMO: Employee News (Mississippi State University)

Junior Omar Garcia, a marketing major from Senatobia, enjoys a warm spring afternoon in front of the new Hilbun Hall fountain with senior Olivia Dickerson, a biochemistry major from Gautier, and sophomore Julia Rutherford, a human development and family sciences major from Trinity, Alabama. The 5,600-gallon fountain is funded through a gift from Dean and Lauran Wingo, while the new landscaping -- including a 40-ton rock garden -- is funded with a gift from Dr. Edward P. Scott and his wife Claudia. PHOTO: Emily Grace McCall | Public Affairs

Dodds named Western Illinois University Distinguished Agriculture Alumnus
Darrin Dodds, associate director of the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station, has been honored as a Distinguished Agriculture Alumnus by his alma mater, Western Illinois University, or WIU. The award recognizes graduates who have made significant contributions to agriculture. Dodds, a Rushville, Illinois native, holds a bachelor’s degree in agriculture from WIU, where his academic journey began. His passion for agriculture has since taken him across the country, from earning a master’s degree at Purdue University to completing his Ph.D. at Mississippi State. He said each step in his journey was shaped by mentors and supporters who invested in his growth -- and now, he strives to pay forward in his career.

MSU-led study reveals $4 billion impact of U.S. aquaculture, wins top award
A research team led by Mississippi State University scientist Ganesh Kumar received the Editor’s Choice Award from the Journal of the World Aquaculture Society for conducting the most comprehensive economic study of U.S. aquaculture farming to date. Kumar, a scientist in the university’s Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station, collaborated on the study with researchers from the Universities of Florida, Maryland and Alaska, as well as Virginia Tech, Texas State, Texas A&M, Purdue and Auburn. Their findings show that aquaculture farming contributes $4 billion annually to the U.S. economy and supports over 22,000 jobs, many in economically disadvantaged rural and waterfront communities.

Novotny unravels wonders of ‘Quantum Science and Technology’ in prestigious Giles Lecture
Mark A. Novotny, a Mississippi State University William L. Giles Distinguished Professor of Physics and Astronomy, will explore the complex world of quantum mechanics and its rapidly expanding technological advancements in a public lecture Tuesday [April 1]. The 2025 Giles Distinguished Professor Lecture featuring Novotny is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. in Old Main Academic Center, Room 1000. Novotny’s lecture “International Year of Quantum Science and Technology (IYQ): From UNESCO to MSU” is part of the global celebration of the IYQ, which this year marks 100 years since the birth of quantum mechanics and highlights the field’s growing cutting-edge breakthroughs in quantum computing, communication and encryption.

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.

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Summer fun: More than 6K expected for MSU camps, activities
Mississippi State is hosting a variety of camps and activities -- from athletic competitions to computer coding exercises -- this summer that will provide fun and enjoyment to participants of all ages. Approximately 6,000 people participated in Bulldog summer camp activities in 2024, and more are expected this year. Upcoming events include immersive learning opportunities, recreational and social activities, and field trips designed for elementary students through post-college adults, with some designed specifically for participants with special needs. “Summer at Mississippi State is full of fun and enrichment,” said MSU Vice President for Student Affairs Regina Hyatt. “We love welcoming families and students to campus for programs and events that spark learning, creativity and connection.”

Ownership of Grant collection transferred to Mississippi State
Ownership of the archives and collections of the Ulysses S. Grant Presidential Library and Museum was formally transferred to Mississippi State University this month. The agreement between the university and the Ulysses S. Grant Association, the collection’s founder, paves the way for MSU to better curate and present the treasured offerings, both to scholars and the public. The agreement takes effect July 1. “Mississippi State University is widely recognized for our collaborative culture and successful partnerships,” MSU President Mark E. Keenum said. “The Ulysses S. Grant Association is one of our greatest partners, and we are honored to work with the USGA team. With this new agreement, we are investing in the long-term success and impact of the Ulysses S. Grant Presidential Library and Museum. Generations of scholars, students and visitors will benefit.”

Semmes' book explores Ulysses S. Grant’s global vision
Ryan P. Semmes, historian and Mississippi State Ulysses S. Grant Presidential Library research director examines the far-reaching implications of Reconstruction in his first book “Exporting Reconstruction: Ulysses S. Grant and a New Empire of Liberty.” The 2024 University of South Carolina Press publication is part of the organization’s “Reconstruction Reconsidered” series. In “Exporting Reconstruction,” Semmes presents an innovative interpretation Grant’s domestic and foreign policies as a unified effort to expand the ideals of liberty, equality and citizenship beyond the U.S. “Grant’s approach to Reconstruction was more than a domestic policy -- it was an international movement,” Semmes said.

Lukasik unpacks complexities of Coptic Christian migration in debut book
Mississippi State Assistant Professor Candace Lukasik has published her first book “Martyrs and Migrants: Coptic Christians and the Persecution Politics of U.S. Empire” (NYU Press). The book examines how Coptic Christian migrants from Egypt navigate religious identity through the lens of American political and religious frameworks. Drawing on extensive fieldwork, Lukasik explores how American evangelical narratives of global Christian persecution have reshaped Coptic collective memory, positioning Copts in a complex space between glorification and racialization. Lukasik, who joined the MSU Department of Philosophy and Religion as a faculty member in 2022, said she wanted to offer a new perspective on Middle Eastern Christians.