Maroon MEMO: Employee News (Mississippi State University)

Representatives of Mississippi State University, Mississippi Department of Transportation, City of Starkville and project managers celebrated the grand opening of the College View Connector, a one-mile multi-use path linking campus to the Highway 182 area, last Friday [Sept. 1]. Pictured, left to right, are Nic Parish, Burns Dirt Construction general contractor; Jeff Wages, MDOT District 1 assistant local planning area engineer; Travis Wampler, MDOT District 1 local planning area engineer; William Samford, Neel Schaffer Engineering project engineer; Northern Transportation Commissioner John Caldwell; Mayor Lynn Spruill; MSU President Mark E. Keenum; Ward 7 Alderman Henry Vaughn; Matt Dunn, MDOT District 1 engineer; Lee Frederick, MDOT state local planning area engineer; and Les Potts, MSU interim vice president for finance and administration. PHOTO: Grace Cockrell | Public Affairs

Merkl elected to pesticide safety board
A Mississippi State University Extension Service specialist has been elected to the executive board of the American Association of Pesticide Safety Educators. Gene Merkl, program manager for pesticide safety education for the state of Mississippi, will serve as president-elect for the nationwide organization. His service on the board is a three-year commitment. Merkl’s duties as president-elect of the organization include serving as chair of the Issues and Evaluation Committee. The committee monitors and responds to legislative and regulatory issues and policies that affect the pesticide safety profession and its members. Merkl is program manager for the pesticide safety education program through MSU Extension in conjunction with the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce.

University Florist announces location change
The merging of two campus traditions is happening at Mississippi State as the 90-year-old University Florist soon will share space with the MAFES Sales Store, home to an MSU icon for 85 years -- MSU cheese. The University Florist, operated by MSU, is moving from 100 Lee Blvd. to the A.B. McKay Food Research and Enology Lab located at 205 Technology Blvd. The florist will move to delivery only for floral arrangements and gifts beginning Sept. 5, and on Sept. 20 will open with grab-and-go floral bouquets, McCartys Pottery and popular MSU merchandise in the pop-in shop within the MAFES Sales Store at 925 Stone Blvd. Aramark, MSU’s dining service, will be repurposing the former florist space on Lee Boulevard for facility expansion.

DAFVM Spotlight Employee: Shelby Bearden
August 14, 2023, marked 29 years that Shelby Bearden has worked as an Extension agent with Mississippi State University. For the first two years of his career, Bearden served the Choctaw Indian Reservation. When the position opened in Copiah County, Bearden took the opportunity to work just one county over from where he grew up in Claiborne County. “It’s the best. I didn’t think I’d ever move home, but it’s great to return to where you grew up,” said Bearden. “I really enjoy what I do -- meeting producers and helping them troubleshoot problems. It's something new every day.” In addition to being a resource to producers in Claiborne County, Bearden also works as the large producer sales coordinator for the state, which includes coordinating the Southern Producers Replacement Heifer Sale in Hattiesburg each year.

DAFVM Spotlight Employee: Julie Snow
Julie Snow has been on staff at Mississippi State University for seven and a half years, but more recently, she started a new role with the agricultural economics department in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. “I couldn’t pass up the chance to work with these good people in the Ag Econ department,” said Snow. “They are the best! You couldn’t ask for a better group to work beside every day.” Since starting her new position as an administrative assistant six months ago, Snow has enjoyed learning about all the work behind the scenes. Prior to her current position, Snow worked in financial aid for seven years where she was able to assist students.

University introduces new Morphic software for a more digitally inclusive environment
Mississippi State students, faculty and staff soon will have access to a new assistive technology tool on all university computers with the implementation of Morphic, a free open-source software designed to simplify users’ computer experiences. Designed to make computers more accessible to all, Morphic will be pushed to all computers supported by the university Information Technology Services on Sept. 6 as the software becomes a part of MSU’s standard computer image. ITS Director of User Services Teresa McMurray said the university’s T.K. Martin Center for Technology and Disability first requested Morphic, and upon investigation ITS staff thought it could be a useful asset throughout the university.

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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Keenum notes record-breaking MSU successes, recommits to faculty support in fall address
As record-breaking freshman enrollment, fundraising and research propel Mississippi State into the new academic year, President Mark E. Keenum last week committed to his top annual legislative priority: seeking additional funding to support faculty wages. Keenum outlined many recent university successes and his vision for the 2023-2024 academic year during the Fall General Faculty Meeting, noting the university’s momentum in the three key areas and the state’s continued streak of strong revenue collections. This year, Keenum said he has a new perspective on university life, as three of his and MSU First Lady Rhonda Keenum’s children are part of the record-setting freshman class. “They’re now settled into their residence hall rooms, busy with campus activities and getting to know their fellow classmates,” Keenum said of his children. “You can certainly feel the energy and excitement [the freshman class brings] to our campus community.”

MSU CAVS-Extension recognized with Instant Impact Award from AccelerateMS
Mississippi State University is in the spotlight for its quick action to address Mississippi workforce needs. MSU’s Center for Advanced Vehicular Systems-Extension received the Instant Impact Award from AccelerateMS at the organization’s 2023 Mississippi Horizons and Innovation Strategy Symposium. The award was based on CAVS-E’s creation of the Industry 4.0 Skills Accelerator Program, which helps train industry personnel for working in high-tech environments and raises the visibility of advanced manufacturing career opportunities in the state. “I am extremely proud of our team and the work we do in providing engineering training and technical assistance across the state,” said CAVS-E Director Tonya McCall. “This project is a great representation of our ability to rapidly respond to industry needs with solutions which position our state’s manufacturers and workforce for success in an ever-changing environment.”

Hoffman selected by Fulbright for U.S.-Germany International Education Administrators Program
The Fulbright Scholar Program has selected a Mississippi State associate professor of cultural anthropology as the university’s newest recipient of the competitive and prestigious Fulbright International Education Administrators Award. David M. Hoffman, who also serves as director of the Office of Prestigious External Scholarships and a mentor for the university’s presidential scholars, travels to Germany for two weeks this October for the U.S.-Germany International Education Administrators, or IEA, Program. "I take great pleasure in seeing Dr. Hoffman participate in this U.S.-Germany IEA Program, and I expect that he will both enjoy his time abroad and bring a greater cross-cultural, collaborative perspective to share with MSU colleagues and students upon his return,” said MSU Provost and Executive Vice President David Shaw, who received an IEA Award in 2017. “Having personally participated in the Fulbright IEA program in France, I can attest firsthand that he will have an experience that will greatly benefit both Dr. Hoffman and Mississippi State,” Shaw added.

Bhowmik receives National Science Foundation CAREER award
A Mississippi State University assistant professor from the Department of Computer Science and Engineering in the Bagley College of Engineering has received a CAREER award from the National Science Foundation. Tanmay Bhowmik was MSU’s latest recipient of the NSF CAREER award, which grants the winner funds over five years to be dedicated to all aspects of their research. The two-time MSU computer science graduate, who received his bachelor’s in computer science and engineering at the National Institute of Technology in Durgapur, India, said he was honored to be selected as a 2023 recipient of the NSF CAREER award. “I'm very happy and very fortunate that I have received this award,” Bhowmik said. “This award is the result of a lot of effort from many people, not just me.”

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