Maroon MEMO: Employee News (Mississippi State University)

Mississippi State President Mark E. Keenum, right, presents junior Evan Garrison with a commemorative cowbell to celebrate him becoming the university’s 21st Truman Scholar last week. Garrison, an aerospace engineering and mathematics major with a minor in artificial intelligence, political science and global engineering leadership, is a Louis A. Hurst Jr. Presidential Scholar in MSU’s Judy and Bobby Shackouls Honors College. Garrison credits immense opportunities at MSU for helping build the groundwork for his academic career. PHOTO: Beth Wynn | Public Affairs

Barnes earns SBA Veteran Small Business honor
The U.S. Small Business Administration’s Mississippi District Office has named a Mississippi State University Extension professor as the state’s 2026 Veteran Small Business Champion of the Year in recognition of his work mentoring veteran entrepreneurs. MSU Extension economist James Barnes will be honored May 28 during the SBA Mississippi District Office ceremony in Jackson for his work helping veterans and military spouses as a national instructor for SBA’s Boots to Business programs, or B2B. The B2B and B2B Revenue Readiness curricula develop sustainable small businesses through education, marketing strategy and individualized support.

CALS, MAFES honor faculty, staff and students for excellence
Mississippi State’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station recently honored faculty, staff and students for outstanding dedication and impact in teaching, research and service. CALS Dean, MAFES Director and Interim Vice President for Research and Economic Development Scott Willard presented the CALS Dean’s Award, a special honor, to Kenneth Graves, longtime facilities manager in the Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences. Graves, a CALS alumnus, began working at the dairy as a student and has been an integral part of the MAFES Bearden Dairy Research Center for nearly 30 years. Darrell Sparks, who serves as acting CALS dean and acting MAFES director while Willard fulfills his interim vice presidential duties, said this year’s honorees exemplify the spirit of embracing change and seizing opportunity required for success in higher education.

MSU earns $3 million NSF award to advance smart agriculture, rural energy innovation
A team of Mississippi State faculty has been awarded a $3 million National Science Foundation Research Traineeship grant to build the workforce needed to support resilient rural energy infrastructure. Joining principal investigator Tonya Stone, an associate professor in MSU’s Michael W. Hall School of Mechanical Engineering, are co-principal investigators Carley Morrison, School of Human Sciences; Jay McCurdy, Department of Plant and Soil Sciences; and Gang Li and Jian Zhao, Hall School of Mechanical Engineering. Other core participants include Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station scientists Leyla Rios de Alvarez, assistant professor, animal and dairy sciences; Jesse Morrison, associate research professor, plant and soil sciences; Xiaofei Li, associate professor, agricultural economics; IDEELab Director Dalton “Ross” Smith, assistant professor of practice, mechanical engineering; and John Davis, program manager, Industrial Training and Assessment Center.

DAFVM Spotlight: Amanda Alford
Amanda Alford’s career has always been about serving others. After more than two decades in health care, she continues that calling with the Mississippi State University Extension Service in Neshoba County where she works as an office associate. “Here I can continue helping people through involvement in agriculture and 4-H, it just looks different than health care,” Alford said. Whether someone walks into the office, sends an email or makes a phone call, Alford’s goal is the same -- to make sure every person feels welcomed, respected and supported. She enjoys learning and finding new ways to improve processes to keep the office running smoothly. A major aspect of her role involves organizing the Neshoba County Fair.

DAFVM Spotlight: Addy Panzram
Surrounded by Bulldogs growing up and now as part of the Bulldog family at Mississippi State University, Addy Panzram is often one of the first friendly faces visitors see at the Animal Health Center. During her childhood, her mother raised English Bulldogs, and Panzram helped care for them -- while, of course, playing with them too. That early connection sparked a lifelong love of animals and a path that would one day bring her to MSU, home of the Bulldogs. She credits those early experiences with inspiring her to work at a veterinary clinic when she was younger. Though she later stepped away from animal care to become a swim coach, her love for animals never faded.

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.

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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Keever named executive director of high performance computing
A veteran information technology and research computing administrator is taking the helm of Mississippi State University’s nationally recognized high performance computing initiatives. Following a national search, Mark Keever has been named executive director of high performance computing, bringing more than 20 years of higher education HPC experience to the role. Keever, who joined the university earlier this month, most recently served as executive director of Advanced Research Computing Services at Oregon State University. “Mark brings a strong track record of leadership and technical knowledge as we look to grow MSU’s capabilities in the fast-changing world of high-performance computing,” said Scott Willard, interim vice president for research and economic development.

Computer Science and Engineering names Perkins new department head
Mississippi State University’s Department of Computer Science and Engineering has named Andy Perkins its newest department head. In this role, Perkins, who holds the Gloria and Douglas J. Marchant Endowed Chair, will provide strategic leadership for the department’s academic programs, research initiatives and student success efforts, building on a strong foundation of excellence and innovation. Dean of the Bagley College of Engineering, Dave Ford, emphasized the significance of this appointment and the leadership Perkins brings to the department. “Computer science plays a critical role in shaping the future, and Dr. Perkins is exceptionally well-positioned to lead our department in that space,” said Ford.

CVM Dean Frank honored among Purdue alumni
Dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine at Mississippi State Dr. Nicholas Frank was among honored alumni at Purdue University this month at a special recognition event. Frank was one of five Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine graduates featured in the inaugural Dean’s Dinner of Distinction, “an event designed to recognize graduates who have demonstrated leadership, innovation and service across veterinary fields.” Frank earned his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree at Purdue before spending two years in private equine practice. He later returned to the university for a residency and Ph.D. Before joining MSU as CVM dean in 2023, Frank held faculty and administrative roles at the University of Tennessee and Tufts University.

Gadke a two-time recipient of national Trainers of School Psychologists Presidential Appreciation Award
Mississippi State’s Daniel Gadke is now a two-time recipient of the national Presidential Appreciation Award from the Trainers of School Psychologists. Head of MSU’s Department of Counseling, Higher Education Leadership, Educational Psychology, and Foundations, Gadke recently was recognized during the organization’s annual conference. “Dr. Gadke’s continued recognition by the Trainers of School Psychologists reflects not only his individual excellence, but also the strength of Mississippi State’s commitment to advancing the field of school psychology,” said Teresa Jayroe, MSU College of Education dean. Gadke also serves as associate dean of research for the College of Education and co-director of the university’s Autism and Developmental Disabilities Clinic.