Maroon MEMO: Employee News (Mississippi State University)

Song and reflection filled The Mill at MSU as Mississippi State University’s Black Voices Gospel Choir performed during the 2026 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Unity Dinner earlier this month. Sponsored by the Division of Access, Opportunity and Success, the annual event honors King’s legacy by bringing the community together in unity, remembrance and a shared commitment to service. PHOTO: Grace Cockrell | Public Affairs

Rader earns second national award for landmark book on ‘fear of crime’
Mississippi State Professor Nicole E. Rader is the 2025 recipient of the Robert Jerin Book Award for her influential 2023 publication “Teaching Fear: How We Learn to Fear Crime and Why It Matters.” Published by Temple University Press, “Teaching Fear” examines how fear of crime is learned, reinforced by families, schools and media, and ultimately influences behavior, perceptions of safety and broader social outcomes. Rader, who serves as head of the Department of Sociology, said, “I am honored that my book, ‘Teaching Fear,’ was selected for the 2025 Robert Jerin Book Award. This award is especially meaningful to me because my book was recognized by my peers and colleagues who study my subfield of victimology.”

DAFVM Spotlight: Anna Toler
A native of the Mississippi Delta, Anna Toler is grateful for the opportunity to serve the community she calls home through her role as a nutrition educator with Mississippi State University Extension. “It’s exciting to contribute to Extension’s mission of extending knowledge and changing lives in a place so close to my heart,” Toler said. In her role, Toler helps individuals and families make healthier choices by teaching practical nutrition, healthy eating and lifestyle strategies. By sharing this knowledge within the community, she aims to empower people to develop sustainable habits that support long-term health and wellness. “I’m thankful to work in a department that fuels my passion for health and helping others,” Toler said.

DAFVM Spotlight: Alyson Thompson
Behind the scenes at the Mississippi State University Animal Health Center, Alyson Thompson ensures that clinical services for small animals, large animals, and specialty care are accurately documented and billed. As a Client Accounts Assistant, she audits charges so the hospital can focus on providing high-quality patient care. Although her work doesn’t place her directly in exam rooms, Thompson sees the impact of MSU’s College of Veterinary Medicine every day through the gratitude of clients. One of her favorite parts of the job is hearing updates from pet owners long after a visit. “I know we’ve done our job to the fullest when owners keep us in the loop like we’re part of the family,” she said.

MSU supports state nursing workforce, announces Mississippi Hospital Association’s Hoover in inaugural university Senior Nurse Fellowship role
Mississippi State is laser-focused on meeting the state’s critical workforce needs through innovative programs -- with special concentration on healthcare professions at MSU-Meridian. As Mississippi faces a nursing shortage, the university’s School of Nursing is driving sustainable improvements in healthcare, and a prestigious new fellowship is connecting perspectives from registered nurses in hospital and clinical settings, hospital administrators and statewide professional associations. MSU’s inaugural Senior Nurse Fellow Kim Welch Hoover is helping identify and develop new solutions to persistent nursing workforce challenges. Generous and consistent support from The Riley Foundation has helped make the Senior Nurse Fellowship possible.

Growing Leaders: MSU Applied Leadership programs advancing careers
Brian Lesley credits Mississippi State’s new Applied Leadership courses with equipping him to take the next step in his career. Launched this past summer through MSU’s College of Professional and Continuing Studies, the Applied Leadership Graduate Certificate is a fully online, four-course program designed to prepare professionals for leadership roles across military, nonprofit, faith-based, athletic and corporate settings. The college also recently introduced a Master of Applied Science in Organizational Leadership degree. Lesley, a senior financial advisor and vice president at Renasant Bank in Starkville, is entering a new role as regional manager. Sean Owen, associate dean of the College of Professional and Continuing Studies, said the strong response to the programs reflects a demand for flexible, practical leadership education.

MSU Riley Center unveils 2026 Spring/Summer Performing Arts Series
A dynamic lineup of iconic and acclaimed artists will take the stage as Mississippi State’s Riley Center for Education and Performing Arts announces its 2026 Spring/Summer Performing Arts Series. The five-show season, which runs March through June, features artists whose influence spans genres and generations. The series includes legendary hitmaker Billy Ocean, blues and rock duo Tab Benoit’s Swampland Jam & Samantha Fish, pop icon Air Supply, bluegrass legend Alison Krauss & Union Station and a powerhouse evening with Atlanta Rhythm Section, Firefall, Orleans and Pure Prairie League. “Building on the strong response to our fall and winter season, this spring/summer series reflects the continued evolution of the Riley Center,” said Morgan Dudley, center director.

MSU AI Community: Join the conversation!
Mississippi State University is taking steps to advance artificial intelligence adoption across campus. Whether you’re a researcher, educator, or staff member, these resources are designed to help you learn, collaborate, and stay informed about AI initiatives at MSU. The AI Innovation Hub SharePoint Site is your one-stop hub for AI-related learning opportunities, workshops, user guidance, industry news, tips, and updates. It's available at https://mstate.sharepoint.com/sites/AIInnovationHub. You can also connect through the MSU AI Community Teams Site. If you have any questions about AI at MSU, please contact Senior Advisor for AI and Data Governance Julie Jordan at julie.jordan@msstate.edu.

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.

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.

American Council on Education, Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching recognize MSU with national community engagement distinction
Mississippi State is being nationally recognized for its commitment to integrating community engagement with teaching and learning strategies and is reaffirming its commitment to building robust, sustainable partnerships that create lasting impact. The American Council on Education and the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching are applauding MSU for its designation with the 2026 Carnegie Elective Classification for Community Engagement. “Outreach and engagement are a vital part of our land-grant mission and something that has been part of our DNA throughout the university’s 148-year history,” said MSU President Mark E. Keenum. “This Carnegie Community Engagement classification is an esteemed honor, and it demonstrates the collective, universitywide effort across every college and unit to strengthen our state, region, nation and world through meaningful, collaborative partnerships.”

MSU-Meridian announces new leadership structure that facilitates streamlined operations, sharpens academic focus
Mississippi State University Provost and Executive Vice President David R. Shaw announced Jan. 15 changes at MSU-Meridian that reflect more than two years of planning and implementation to streamline operations and sharpen the university’s focus on its nursing and health-related academic programs. Effective Feb. 1, Morgan Dudley, whose administrative oversight responsibilities have included successful management of the Riley Center, will become Executive Director for MSU-Meridian Operations. David Buys has served as the interim Head of the MSU-Meridian campus for the past year and, in that capacity, has been instrumental as the institution worked to determine the optimal administrative organization including the new position’s function and role. Buys will continue to serve as the Associate Vice Provost for Health Science Partnerships, based in Starkville.

Gholson elected to national water resources board
Drew Gholson, associate professor at Mississippi State, has been elected to serve on the board of directors for the University Council of Water Resources, or UCOWR. Gholson, who is an associate professor in the Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, said the appointment will help him further his goals to address critical water issues and support the next generation of water resource professionals. Gholson, who also serves as an irrigation specialist with the MSU Extension Service and a scientist in the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station, said his selection by the organization’s representatives from member institutions across the country is an honor that recognizes the importance of the work taking place at MSU.

Newest Institute for the Humanities Fellows explore rhetoric, military history, Southern family formation
Mississippi State’s Institute for the Humanities announces its newest cohort of Faculty Fellows whose scholarship spans rhetorical practice, early modern French military history, and educational and workforce experiences of early married young adults in Mississippi. Elizabeth Ellis Miller, associate professor in the Department of English; Julia Osman, associate professor in the Department of History; and Rachel Allison, associate professor in the Department of Sociology each are receiving a $1,000 stipend and one course release this semester designed to give the scholars focused time to advance major research and writing projects. “Entering its fifth year, the Institute for the Humanities Faculty Fellowship has now supported nearly a dozen MSU faculty in the completion of books, articles and the kind of deep thinking necessary for meaningful scholarship,” said Morgan Robinson, institute director and an associate professor of history.