In remembrance of 9/11, first responders from the Starkville Fire Department and Mississippi State Police Department climbed the steps of Davis Wade Stadium last Thursday morning. They climbed the steps 11 times to represent the height of the Twin Towers. The flag they carried is a Flag of Heroes, printed with the names of emergency personnel who lost their lives while saving others during the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. PHOTO: Emily Grace McCall | Public Affairs
Storytelling Excellence: MSU faculty members rake in national awards
Mississippi State University’s Department of Communication, Media and Theatre is making waves nationally with Assistant Professors Rex Jones and Marty Lang earning two of the four Best of Show awards in the Broadcast Education Association’s 2025 Creative Media Competition. Jones won top honors in the documentary competition for “The Color of Conservation,” while Lang was recognized in the film and video competition for “Stay With Me.” “Rex Jones and Marty Lang’s creative excellence represents excellence in teaching. They bring professional experience in screenwriting, documentary and film production and will help open doors for students interested in these areas,” said Terry Likes, professor and department head.
Lukasik publishes groundbreaking book on Orthodox Christianity
Mississippi State University Assistant Professor Candace Lukasik is coeditor of a forthcoming book shedding new light on the intersections of theology, politics and ethics in Orthodox Christian communities. "Anthropologies of Orthodox Christianity: Theology, Politics, Ethics," a Fordham University Press publication slated for release in November, is coedited by Lukasik and Northeastern University’s Sarah Riccardi-Swartz. The publication anthropologically explores the entanglement of theology and politics among contemporary Orthodox Christians. Lukasik’s colleague Christopher Sheklian, philosophy and religion assistant professor, also contributed to the volume.
DAFVM Spotlight: Darcie Graham
The drive to keep learning often leads to exciting growth and new opportunities. For Darcie Graham, Business Manager I at the Mississippi State University Coastal Research and Extension Center (CREC), that journey started in science. She began her career as a fisheries biologist and scientist, serving as a principal investigator, or PI, on multiple research awards. Over time, she found herself increasingly drawn to the financial and administrative side of program management. Now, as business manager for Extension programs at CREC in Biloxi, Graham oversees operations for the CREC, the Coastal and Marine Extension Program and the Crosby Arboretum.
“My work allows me to handle the administrative side so that faculty and staff can focus on what they do best -- advancing research and serving communities."
DAFVM Spotlight: Laura Smith
For four decades, Laura Smith has been a steadfast presence at Mississippi State University, serving as the operational heart of research support at the North Farm. As a business manager, her work is the thread connecting every part of the department, from managing fleet operations and finances to overseeing administrative tasks for three farms. She is the one who makes sure every process runs smoothly behind the scenes, allowing her colleagues to focus on their vital work. Her journey began in the fall of 1985 as a student worker, a job she never envisioned turning into a lifelong career. "When I started as a freshman, I had no idea I'd still be here 40 years later," she said. "I've been incredibly fortunate to find a place where I could grow and contribute for so long."
MSU Alumni Association celebrating 2025 Alumni Fellows this week
The Mississippi State University Alumni Association is honoring a new class of distinguished Bulldogs as 2025 Alumni Fellows beginning Thursday [Sept. 18] and continuing through Saturday [Sept. 20] during the Northern Illinois game weekend. This year’s honorees will participate in various activities both on and off campus, reconnect with their alma mater and provide current MSU students with valuable professional insights. Their visit will culminate with special recognition during the Saturday [Sept. 20] football game. “The MSU Alumni Association is proud to bring exceptional alumni from eight of the university’s academic colleges back to our campus to share their experience and wisdom with our students,” said Jeff Davis, MSU Alumni Association executive director.
MSU selected as finalist in National Academies’ Gulf Futures Challenge
A Mississippi State University proposal to use cutting-edge tools to promote healthy marine life and enhance water quality in the Gulf Coast region is a finalist for a $20 million prize from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine’s Gulf Research Program and Lever for Change. MSU’s proposal to the Gulf Futures Challenge brings together partners with key expertise to develop new tools to better understand and track perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances -- commonly known as PFAS -- so that communities, resource managers and health experts can make informed decisions along the Gulf Coast. The MSU-led team is one of 10 finalists receiving an initial project development grant of $300,000. Two finalists will be selected to receive $20 million each to implement their solutions.
MSU-Meridian looks to outreach and research-based grants for community empowerment
As a public health practitioner in East Central Mississippi, Brittney Mosley knows firsthand the power of grant support in transforming communities. “Funding is the catalyst. It sets the tone for developing impact,” said Mosley, who has made Meridian her home for 13 years. “Without funding, the process is harder. It’s more tedious to get to the next level.” A few months into her new position as program manager at MSU-Meridian, Mosley, originally from Clinton, has defined the trajectory of grant writing and proposals that will ultimately benefit communities in Mississippi and beyond. David Buys, associate vice provost for Health Sciences and interim head of campus, said MSU-Meridian’s initiative to create more awareness of potential grants, and to help facilitate grant writing, is an organic step in its growth evolution.
MSU Extension launches Walk Mississippi challenge
A new exercise and nutrition initiative is challenging Mississippians to improve their health and fitness, one step at a time. Walk Mississippi and Live Healthy... One Step at a Time is a six-week wellness program developed by the Mississippi State University Extension Service that encourages youth and adults to be more physically active and adopt healthier nutritional habits. The objective is for everyone who signs up to virtually walk 180 miles (the equivalent of the width of Mississippi), learn strategies and tips from MSU Extension’s Walk-a-Weigh wellness program, and improve dietary and lifestyle behaviors. This no-cost program officially begins Oct. 11 and wraps up on Nov. 21.
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.
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.
