Celebrating a ribbon cutting ceremony for Azalea Hall, Mississippi State’s newest and largest student residence hall, are from left, front row: Julia Bryant, Residence Hall Association president; Vice President for Student Affairs Regina Hyatt; Executive Director of Housing and Residence Life Dei Allard; MSU President Mark E. Keenum; Luckyday Foundation Chair Jamie Houston; back row: James Jankowski, resident district manager for MSU Dining Services; P.J. Pearson, HPM project manager; Ches Fedric, MSU director of Planning, Design and Construction Administration; Student Association President Cameron Cummings; Saunders Ramsey, executive director of MSU Campus Services; Jule Markle, Wier Boerner Allin Architecture principal and senior project architect; and Gwynn Zivic, Mackey Mitchell Architects lead designer. PHOTO: Grace Cockrell | Public Affairs
Student-focused events set to welcome new and returning Bulldogs to campus
Mississippi State is rolling out a slate of events this month to welcome new and returning Bulldogs for the upcoming academic year. From hosting move-in days to community-building activities and introducing students to a wealth of support resources, MSU welcomes the new freshman class and transfer students as they acclimate to their new home. “The energy that fills our campus during the start of the year is truly unmatched,” said MSU Vice President for Student Affairs Regina Hyatt. “From New Maroon Camp to MVNU2MSU to Dawg Days and beyond, these events are more than just traditions -- they’re the first steps students take in finding their place at Mississippi State. We want every student to feel connected, supported and excited about the journey ahead."
Phi Theta Kappa Transfer Honor Roll recognizes MSU for eighth consecutive year
Mississippi State continues its reputation as a top university for transfer students with its just-announced selection to the 2025 Phi Theta Kappa Transfer Honor Roll. John Dickerson, MSU associate vice president for enrollment services, said, “As the leading institution for transfer students, we are proud to partner with our community college colleagues to help ensure these students become a significant part of our campus community. I commend our admissions staff, faculty, academic advisors, student affairs team and so many more for fostering an environment meant for student support and success.” MSU enrolled 1,912 new transfer students for the 2024 fall semester, almost 35% of new undergraduate enrollment.
Stafne named American Society for Horticulture Science fellow
The American Society for Horticultural Science is recognizing Mississippi State Professor Eric Stafne with its highest honor: election as a fellow. Stafne is an extension and research professor in the MSU Department of Plant and Soil Sciences and a Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station scientist and horticultural Extension specialist housed at the MAFES South Mississippi Branch Experiment Station in Poplarville. In more than 25 years of service to the nationally recognized society, he has served as president of its Southern region in 2019 and chaired a national ad hoc committee in 2023 to discover opportunities for supporting groups within the organization. Stafne joined ASHS in his first full year of graduate school in 1998.
Dykes named MSU Extension wildlife specialist
The Mississippi State University Extension Service named Jacob Dykes the new wildlife specialist and co-director of the MSU Deer Lab. Dykes specializes in white-tailed deer and has held a similar position at Texas A&M University since 2022. He was appointed to the MSU position in March, replacing Bronson Strickland, who retired on June 30, 2025, after serving in that position for several years. “As an Extension wildlife specialist, my goal is to bridge the gap between wildlife research and management,” Dykes said. “I work directly with landowners, land managers, hunters and the public to ensure they have the latest science-based information to implement practices on their properties that benefit wildlife.”
DAFVM Spotlight Employee: Bailey Poindexter
For Bailey Poindexter, being a first-generation college graduate shaped not only her educational journey, but also her entire approach to helping students navigate theirs. Now serving as Student Services Coordinator for the School of Human Sciences at Mississippi State University, Poindexter draws deeply from her own experience to support others. With 14 years of service to MSU -- four and a half of them in her current role -- she has become a trusted guide for students navigating both academic and personal growth. “I love connecting with our students and watching them become the adults they hope to be,” Poindexter said. “Collaborating with faculty and students who are actively working to improve lives through education, research and community engagement is incredibly motivating.”
DAFVM Spotlight Employee: Nell Valentine
At Mississippi State University, being family-oriented isn’t just a core value -- it’s often part of the journey. For Nell Valentine, Project Manager at the Social Science Research Center (SSRC), it’s been both. Valentine met her husband on campus when they were graduate students working on a survey project. What began as a collaboration turned into something much more. “His calm and supportive demeanor was valuable for the survey’s success that year and for our 22 years together,” she said. Today, both still work at MSU, and the university remains central to their family life. At SSRC, Valentine has built a career out of problem-solving, team-building, and turning data into impact. Her work extends into university service as well -- she serves on MSU’s Institutional Review Board for the Protection of Human Subjects in Research, helping ensure ethical standards in projects involving people.
Next week's part-time jobs fair links students to positions across campus, community
The Mississippi State Career Center is sponsoring a part-time jobs fair for students seeking positions on campus and in the surrounding community. The event, scheduled for 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Aug. 22 in Colvard Student Union’s Foster Ballroom, will feature employers seeking students for part-time, volunteer and research positions. If you or any of your reporting units are anticipating an opening for a student worker, research assistant or graduate assistant, please consider participating in this event. More than 800 students attended last year’s event looking for employment, which serves as a great way to connect to the university’s QEP efforts. The deadline to register is Aug. 13. Departments can register by visiting https://msstate-csm.symplicity.com/events/PartTimeFA25.
Airport shuttle departure schedule adjusted to meet airline baggage check changes
A 45-minute cutoff for checking baggage with Delta and American airlines has changed the express shuttle times offered by Mississippi State Transportation to Golden Triangle Regional Airport. The GTRA express shuttle now departs The Mill at MSU two hours before flight time and arrives at the airport one and a half hours before flight time. This is 30 minutes earlier than the previous schedule. Shuttle pickups from the Starkville campus and hotels along Highway 12 also can be scheduled with MSU if reservations are made at least 24 hours prior to the requested departure time from these locations. This service is available by emailing GTRShuttle@transportation.msstate.edu or calling 662-325-5204.
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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