Maroon MEMO: Employee News (Mississippi State University)

Cutting a ribbon during last week's dedication of the Jim and Thomas Duff Center are, from left, MSU President Mark E. Keenum, Lynn and Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann, Jim and Tommy Duff, and MSU Provost and Executive Vice President David Shaw. PHOTO: Grace Cockrell | Public Affairs

MSU receives nearly $1M grant to boost rehabilitation counseling workforce in Mississippi
Mississippi State University is meeting a pressing need for more vocational rehabilitation counselors in the Magnolia State with a $942,000 grant from the federal Rehabilitation Services Administration. Awarded to MSU’s rehabilitation counseling master’s program in the College of Education, the five-year funding addresses the workforce shortage by supporting recruitment and preparation of future rehabilitation counseling professionals. Zaccheus J. Ahonle, associate professor and principal investigator, said vocational rehabilitation counselors primarily support individuals with disabilities by helping them return to work and retain employment. Ahonle is joined by Madeline Castle, assistant professor and coprincipal investigator of the grant, which covers full tuition, fees and stipends for 25 students over a five-year period.

Vrantsidis lauded for research on why simple explanations often win
Mississippi State University Assistant Professor Thalia H. Vrantsidis has received the Psychonomic Society’s 2025 Best Article Award for her paper exploring why people often favor simpler explanations, even when more complex explanations may be more accurate. “People often prefer simple explanations -- this is often reasonable -- but there are many factors that push us toward oversimplified reasoning,” Vrantsidis said. “This can be problematic in real-world situations, from understanding economic changes to explaining human behavior. Just because one cause is apparent doesn’t mean there aren’t others at play.” Vrantsidis said her findings highlight the importance of considering absent or unmentioned causes and explicitly considering whether multiple factors might be at play, which can help reduce reasoning errors caused by oversimplification.

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 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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University celebrates Jim and Thomas Duff Center dedication
Mississippi State and its College of Education celebrated the dedication of the Jim and Thomas Duff Center last Wednesday [Nov. 5]. One of MSU’s largest academic buildings, it is the new home of the university’s Department of Kinesiology and key programs of the university’s Mississippi Institute on Disabilities, including the Autism and Developmental Disabilities Clinic and ACCESS Program and Specialized College Services. The three-story, 100,000-square-foot facility on Bully Boulevard is named in honor of brothers Jim and Tommy Duff of Columbia, whose $15 million cornerstone gift made the state-of-the-art center a reality. Today’s dedication celebrates the major hub of MSU’s human physiological research and treatment, which includes laboratories, classrooms, treatment rooms and offices that enable increased hands-on training and services.

Social Science Research Center celebrates 75 years
Mississippi State University’s Social Science Research Center celebrated its 75th anniversary last week, recognizing decades of influential research locally, nationally and around the globe. “Since its founding in 1950 by the illustrious Dr. John K. Bettersworth, the SSRC has been a leader in using research to address the great challenges we face as a state, nation and world,” MSU President Mark E. Keenum said. “Our university is a research powerhouse and major economic engine, and the research that takes place here is such a critical part of that.” Keenum presented SSRC Director Devon Brenner with a certificate honoring the SSRC’s 75th anniversary, commending the center for its outstanding research and exemplary service. In addition, the center’s newest cohort of 20 research fellows was recognized.

Research and Curriculum Unit celebrates 60 years of supporting Magnolia State education
Mississippi State’s Research and Curriculum Unit celebrated 60 years of supporting Magnolia State educational efforts with an open house last week showcasing recent renovations to its Russell Street home. Founded in 1965, the RCU began with a mission to improve career and technical education within the state. Through the years, the unit has grown, and its reach broadened. Now, the RCU supports numerous Mississippi Department of Education efforts. “Our growth through the years shows you the value of the people in the building and what they’ve done to support MDE in its mission of advancing the Mississippi education system,” said RCU Director Betsey Smith. “I’ve had the opportunity to work with so many people and partners that it’s become a family atmosphere here with friendships built over time. Today has been a reflection of the support the RCU has seen over the past 60 years.”

MSU achieves another enrollment record, state’s only public university growing 10 of past 11 years
Mississippi State is seeing another record-breaking enrollment this fall and a 12.6% surge in first-time students, positioning the university as the state’s only public higher education institution to grow 10 of the past 11 years. “Every day, we’re placing strong efforts in developing new programs and revising existing ones to ensure Mississippi State is a university that creates futures for students,” MSU President Mark E. Keenum said. “We’re working to create the programs students want and need, while at the same time, partnering with more and more employers to meet their workforce needs.” For the second year, the Bagley College of Engineering is the largest with its record enrollment of 5,099. This year also marks the largest enrollments in history for the colleges of Veterinary Medicine, Agriculture and Life Sciences and Architecture, Art and Design.