Stephen Brain, associate professor of history at MSU, detailed the extensive history linking Russia and Ukraine during a lecture last week. Brain, MSU’s Humanities Teacher of the Year in 2016, specializes in Soviet/Russian history. As a 2013-14 Fulbright recipient, Brain traveled to Rostov-on-Don, Russia, where he and his family lived and worked 30 miles from the Ukraine border. In 2005-06, Brain was awarded a Fulbright fellowship to Moscow, Russia, where he worked in the State Archive of the Russian Federation, Russian State Economic Archive, Moscow Oblast Regional Archives, and the Archive of the Communist Party. PHOTO: James Carskadon | Public Affairs
DAFVM Spotlight Employee: Zoliswa “Zoe” Nhleko
Zoliswa “Zoe” Nhleko, a conservationist and native of South Africa, has wanted to play a part in saving wild animals since she was in grade school and learned about the extinct dodo. “I vowed then that when I grew up, I would work to make sure no other animals went extinct,” she explained. “When I finally got to college, I enrolled for a zoology degree, and that’s when I had a clearer idea of the kinds of careers in conservation. As a postdoctoral research associate in the Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Aquaculture in the Forest and Wildlife Research Center, her research will provide information for state biologists to better manage wild turkeys in Mississippi. She most recently worked for the park service in South Africa where she focused on rhino conservation and large mammal management.
DAFVM Spotlight Employee: Jackie Pullen
Thirty years ago, Jackie Pullen was a stay-at-home mother of three young children. Her youngest child was about to start school, and she was looking for a part-time job. Then, one day, she heard an advertisement on the radio for a position with the Extension Service. “I filled out an application, did the interview, and the rest is history,” she said. Along the way, her part-time position turned into a full-time position with the Extension Service Office of Nutrition Education. As a nutrition educator, she has been helping Mississippians learn how to lead healthier lives ever since. Her outreach to the community teaches participants how to improve their diets, stretch their food dollars, handle food safely, and increase their physical activity levels.
Inaugural Research Week kicks off April 11
Mississippi State will showcase the innovative research taking place across campus with the inaugural annual Research Week April 11-14. Sponsored by the Office of Research and Economic Development, Research Week will celebrate the MSU faculty, staff, and students advancing their fields and making an impact in Mississippi and across the globe. Research Week will foster knowledge of the wide variety of scholarly and creative activities happening on our campus and promote awareness of the many resources that support research at MSU. Units and organizations across campus are encouraged to host events in conjunction with Research Week. To submit an event or lean more information about Research Week, visit www.research.msstate.edu/initiatives/research-week.
Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program underway
Mississippi State has a long association with the Fulbright Scholar Program with over 50 MSU faculty from a variety of disciplines having received Fulbright U.S. Scholar awards since 1954. MSU has also welcomed many international scholars to our campus through the Fulbright Visiting Scholar Program. The Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program recently opened its 2023-24 competition with over 400 awards in 130 countries featured in the Catalog of Awards, which includes teaching, researching and professional project opportunities. The MSU International Institute welcomes questions from faculty who are interested in applying. If you have questions, please email Fulbright scholar liaison Cathy Curtis at ccurtis@international.msstate.edu.
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.
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