Maroon MEMO: Employee News (Mississippi State University)

Devon Brenner, professor and Office of Research and Economic Development assistant to the vice president for education initiatives, leads a faculty workshop titled "Diversifying Your Curriculum" earlier this month. The workshop is part of a series of events sponsored by MSU's Center for Teaching and Learning and Office of Institutional Diversity and Inclusion aimed at promoting diversity and inclusion in the classroom. Additional sessions are scheduled for October and November. PHOTO: Megan Bean | Public Affairs

McCurdy honored for early-career achievements
A turfgrass specialist at Mississippi State University is receiving a major national accolade. Jay McCurdy is the latest young professional recognized by the Crop Science Society of America for making significant contributions to the field within seven years of completing a final academic degree. He will accept the CSSA 2017 Early Career Award and accompanying $2,000 stipend late next month at the organization’s annual meeting in Tampa, Florida. College Dean George Hopper said McCurdy “has been a wonderful asset to our golf and sports turf management program.

Akers graduates from advanced FEMA training
The leader of a Mississippi-based, national initiative to help families and communities prepare for disasters has earned an additional certification from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Ryan Akers, an associate Extension professor in the Mississippi State University School of Human Sciences, just graduated from an in-depth course provided by FEMA. The curriculum addressed advanced concepts in disaster management, agency organization, community response and emergency professions.

MSU Benefits Day coming up this week
The Department of Human Resources Management’s “Benefits Day” is a come-and-go event for all benefits-eligible employees at Mississippi State on Thursday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Colvard Student Union's Foster Ballroom. MSU vendors representatives will be exhibiting brochures and pamphlets, providing important information about plans, and engaging with employees throughout the day to help with your questions. You may also attend any workshops if you’re interested in specific plans information.

Chambers memorialized by endowed scholarship
A recent commitment from Janice E. “Jan” Chambers, MSU Giles Distinguished Professor in the College of Veterinary Medicine and director of the university’s Center for Environmental Health Sciences, has endowed a scholarship in memory of her late husband and former MSU faculty member Howard Chambers. The Dr. Howard Chambers Endowed Scholarship will provide support to full-time undergraduate students. Preference will be given to Mississippi residents enrolled in life and physical science or math related majors.

DiGiulio to discuss ‘Information Overload in the Roman World’
A Mississippi State University visiting assistant professor will speak Tuesday about how Roman citizens juggled information overload in their era. Scott DiGiulio’s university presentation will explore the Roman practice of literary compilation and the techniques they developed to help navigate the quantity of available literature in their society. Titled “Literary Compilation and the Challenges of Information Overload in the Roman World,” the 4 p.m. event in the Coskrey Auditorium of Memorial Hall is free and open to all.

New opportunities with the Maroon Volunteer Center
The Maroon Volunteer Center at Mississippi State details a number of volunteer opportunities for the campus community on its website and in its newsletter this week, including Boys & Girls Club volunteer orientation, campus voter registration drive, MSU Community Garden, Habitat for Humanity home build, Emerson's Fresh Start Garden, BEST Robotics, hurricane relief efforts, and more.

Policy reminders from University Health Services
University Health Services at Mississippi State reminds the campus community of several important policies for its patients to keep in mind when seeking treatment, parking, refilling a prescription, privacy and more.

This Week in Mississippi State Sports, 09/25/17
Men's Golf starts play Monday in the Bearcat Intercollegiate ... Volleyball hosts Ole Miss at 8 p.m. on Wednesday and Kentucky on Sunday at 2 p.m. ... Cross Country competes Friday at the Paul Short Invite in Allentown, Pennsylvania ... Soccer hosts Auburn on Friday at 7 p.m. ... Women's Golf hosts the Magnolia Invitational at Old Waverly with play beginning Sunday ... Women's Tennis opens play at the Riviera/ITA All-American Championships on Saturday in Los Angeles ... Men's Tennis opens play Saturday at the ITA/All American Championships in Tulsa ... Football plays Auburn on the road Saturday with kickoff set for 5 p.m.

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Proposal Services celebrates new location with ribbon cutting, open house
Mississippi State officials and staff members participated in a ceremonial ribbon cutting for the university’s new Office of Proposal Services last week. Proposal Services plays a significant role in assisting researchers throughout the development of compelling funding proposals. “Whether providing administrative support or helping faculty and staff find the resources they need to make their proposals and grants more successful, our goal is to promote research and creativity here at MSU,” said Jennifer Easley, director of the Office of Sponsored Projects.

Grant will help MSU promote innovation, strengthen regional economy
Spurred by a grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration, Mississippi State University’s Office of Outreach and Corporate Engagement will continue to promote innovation and use its resources to strengthen the regional economy. U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross recently announced MSU was one of 22 colleges and universities to receive a grant under the 2017 University Center Economic Development Program Competition. Jeffrey Rupp, outreach director for MSU’s College of Business, said MSU will receive nearly $600,000 over five years as part of the program.

MSU, UMMC $10.5M grant collaboration takes aim at early childhood health
An innovative partnership between the University of Mississippi Medical Center and Mississippi State University is tackling one of the state’s greatest challenges: the health and development of its youngest children. UMMC’s Center for Advancement of Youth and MSU’s Social Science Research Center are launching the Child Health and Development Project to improve early childhood health in Mississippi through a three-year, $10.5 million grant from the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration. First-year funding is $3.5 million.

MSU to continue major role in testing reliability and safety of Army ground vehicles
Continuing its robust history of research in support of national defense and security, Mississippi State University will play a major role in testing the performance, safety and reliability of U.S. Army ground vehicles. The U.S. Army Tank Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center has named MSU as the contractor for the second phase of the Simulation Based Reliability and Safety (SimBRS) project. “We are very excited to receive the SimBRS 2 contract,” CAVS Executive Director Clay Walden said.

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