Maroon MEMO: Employee News (Mississippi State University)

Under a sunny sky with temperatures in the low 90s, Mississippi State ice cream fans lined up at the MAFES Sales Store last Friday [June 12] to sample MSU’s newest flavor — blueberry. The new blueberry ice cream is crafted with Mississippi-grown blueberries and is available in 4 oz. cups and 3-gallon containers. In addition to delicious MSU-made ice cream, the MAFES Sales Store is home to the university’s famous cheese, along with a variety of other products and gifts. It’s located on the Starkville campus at 925 Stone Blvd. PHOTO: Emily Grace McCall | Public Affairs

DAFVM Spotlight: Jill Hudnall
Jill Hudnall did not set out to build a career studying marine mammals and sea turtles. What began as a student job in the College of Veterinary Medicine’s diagnostic laboratory at Mississippi State University laid the foundation for a career focused on aquatic animal health, parasitology and conservation. “I tell people I stumbled into this field. What started as a student worker opportunity quickly turned into a passion and career path that I truly enjoy,” Hudnall said. “I like to tell people what I don’t do instead of trying to explain all the details of my work,” Hudnall said. In short, Hudnall supports funded research projects focused on the health of marine mammals and sea turtles in the Mississippi Sound, though what that looks like day to day depends heavily on the time of year.

DAFVM Spotlight: Monroe Walker
After spending more than 20 years as a research technician in catfish research, Monroe Walker had the opportunity to step out of the fish pond and into a new role. He now supports researchers as a purchasing coordinator at Mississippi State University’s Delta Research and Extension Center, or DREC, located in Stoneville. Early in his career, Walker frequently worked in ponds collecting water samples and learning about DNA and microbes alongside researchers. As his experience grew, he began helping graduate students learn the same skills he had developed over the years. While he enjoyed the research side of his work, life eventually presented an opportunity for change. Today, he works with agricultural retailers to compare prices, secure deals and help save researchers both time and money.

Patterson recognized nationally for bull fertility research
A Mississippi State doctoral student has received national recognition from the Society for the Study of Reproduction. Megan Patterson, a doctoral candidate and graduate research assistant in the Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences, has been selected as a Trainee Research Finalist for the 2026 SSR Annual Conference and is the recipient of the USDA Merit Award. “These findings are among the first to demonstrate that nutritional supplementation can significantly alter the semen and reproductive tract microbiome in livestock,” said Professor Caleb Lemley, a scientist in the university’s Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment and Patterson’s advisor. “Megan’s recognition highlights the scientific significance and impact of her work within the field of reproductive biology.”

Fulbright Networking: Coffee & Conversations with the International Institute
Mississippi State University faculty and staff are invited to join the International Institute's Research Development Office for an informal Fulbright networking opportunity June 26, from 10:30–11:30 a.m. in Walker Hall Room 233. This come-and-go gathering will provide an opportunity to connect with Fulbright alumni and current recipients, learn more about Fulbright opportunities at MSU, and engage in conversation about how to get involved. Whether you are just beginning to explore Fulbright or preparing to apply, this session offers a relaxed space to ask questions, hear experiences and connect with colleagues. Coffee and light refreshments will be provided. For more information about the event or other Fulbright opportunities at MSU, please contact Masey Smith, deputy director of MSU's International Institute, at mls524@msstate.edu or visit www.international.msstate.edu.

Standing committee and council chairs encouraged to review and update info
Mississippi State faculty, staff, and students bring a wealth of talent and expertise to the university in a broad range of subjects. Collectively, the people of our university offer a valuable knowledge resource the university can draw on in making decisions on a wide array of issues and in planning for an increasingly complex future. The structure that allows this reservoir of human potential to be applied to specific problems is the university's system of standing committees and councils. Information about MSU's standing committees and councils is available at https://www.msstate.edu/directory/standing-committees. Committee and council chairs are encouraged to review committee information to ensure accurate details and current membership are posted. Please send updates or corrections to Jim Laird at jim.laird@msstate.edu.

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 is now a website at aihub.msstate.edu. This site is a starting point for AI-related learning opportunities, workshops, user guidance, and updates. 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.

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.

MSU sweeps CPRAM Grand Awards at public relations annual conference
Two Mississippi State offices are now displaying the senior division Grand Awards they won during the College Public Relations Association of Mississippi’s annual conference this past month. CPRAM is a consortium of public relations professionals employed at Mississippi’s public and private colleges and universities. During the conference, MSU’s Office of Public Affairs, which includes the MSU TV Center and radio station WMSV The Junction, and the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences' Office of Agriculture and Natural Resources Marketing brought home honors across multiple digital, print and broadcast categories.

MSU, partners receive East Mississippi Sentinel Landscape Designation
Mississippi State University, along with several state and military partners, are announcing that the East Mississippi Sentinel Landscape (EMSL) has officially been selected for designation by the federal Sentinel Landscapes Partnership, recognizing the region’s national importance to military readiness, working lands conservation, and long-term landscape resilience. “Mississippi State University is proud to support the East Mississippi Sentinel Landscape and the partnerships that made this designation possible,” said MSU President Mark E. Keenum. “Through our Office of Research and Economic Development, College of Forest Resources, Division of Agriculture, Forestry, and Veterinary Medicine, and MSU Extension Service, we look forward to helping landowners, communities and partner agencies implement science-based solutions that strengthen working lands, conservation, and military readiness across East Mississippi."

Gabitov, Owens to represent MSU as Fulbright U.S. Scholars in Austria, Brazil
Two Mississippi State associate professors are the university’s latest selections as Fulbright U.S. Scholars, a prestigious honor among researchers, administrators and established professionals involved in scientific discovery around the world. The College of Arts and Sciences’ Rinat Gabitov and College of Forest Resources’ Frank Owens will use their Fulbright participation to conduct research and teach in Austria and Brazil, respectively. Gabitov’s tenure with MSU’s Department of Geosciences began as an assistant professor more than 13 years ago, while Owens completed his Ph.D. in the Department of Sustainable Bioproducts in 2017, immediately joining its faculty as a research professor and then assistant professor. Gabitov and Owens said they are eager to share their expertise and mentorship with students in the classroom and are ready to collaborate with peers to expand research opportunities and develop more global perspectives.

Collins amplifies disabled writers’ voices in new anthology
Mississippi State faculty member Christie Collins’ new co-edited anthology features essays by 17 authors and educators living with disabilities, chronic illnesses and neurodivergence, helping address a longstanding gap in creative writing scholarship. Collins, an English department lecturer, and co-editor Saul Lemerond, an assistant professor of English at Hanover College in Indiana, have compiled “Divergent Writers: Disability, Illness, Neurodivergence, and Ableism in Creative Writing.” Released this spring by Bloomsbury Publishing, the collection brings together contributors from five countries who share firsthand experiences navigating ableism and bias in the creative writing profession. Through personal essays, research and professional reflections, the collection advocates for greater visibility, representation and support for disabled writers across the literary community.