Mississippi State University Provost and Executive Vice President Judy Bonner and President Mark E. Keenum, seated left and right, recently marked National Nutrition Month with the signing of a proclamation announcing the annual campus observance of the March event. Pictured at the signing with Bonner and Keenum, standing from left, are SDA adviser Mandy Conrad, food science, nutrition and health promotion majors Lauren A. Parker, Samantha E. Hawkins, Sumner R. Stayer, Samantha M. Sockwell, Allie Cowles, Mary Charles Anderson, Katie N. Hubbard, Associate Extension Professor Brent Fountain and Emily E. Swortzel. PHOTO: Logan Kirkland | Public Affairs
NRTC current, former directors receive national honors for work in blindness field
Two Mississippi State University leaders are being recognized with prestigious honors from the American Foundation for the Blind for their impactful work in the blindness and low vision field. Elton Moore, retired MSU College of Education associate dean and professor who also is a former director of the MSU-based National Research and Training Center on Blindness and Low Vision and Michele McDonnall, current NRTC director and MSU research professor, accepted two of the organization’s highest awards during its recent leadership conference.
Moore elected Student Athletes Chair for NACADA
The director of the University Academic Advising Center at Mississippi State is assuming a leadership role with a national professional organization. Lynda Moore has been elected as the Student Athletes Chair for NACADA: The Global Community for Academic Advising. She will assume this leadership role at the end of the 2019 NACADA Annual Conference, which will be held in Louisville, Kentucky, in October, and then serve in the position until October 2021. NACADA has over 14,000 members consisting of faculty members, professional advisors, administrators, counselors, and others in academic and student affairs concerned with the intellectual, personal, and vocational needs of students.
Power Generation Plant test yields success
A successful test of Mississippi State’s Power Generation Plant this week is helping university leaders plan and prepare to operate in case of a prolonged area-wide power outage. Last week's test of the 26 Megawatt turbine system through various generation modes was conducted by MSU Campus Services to verify the system’s proper operation during an extended outage. “We plan and prepare for all emergency scenarios that might interrupt our normal university operations,” said MSU President Mark E. Keenum. “The Power Assurance Test at the MSU Generation Plan helps us prepare for weather-related or accident-related interruptions of electrical power to our campus and to make sure we’ve done everything possible to ensure the safety and security of our students, faculty, staff and visitors to our campus.”
Women’s History Month events provide chances for entertainment, empowerment
Mississippi State University is celebrating Women’s History Month with a variety of programs on the Starkville campus. Events include “Girl, You Deserve Better” in historic Lee Hall’s Bettersworth Auditorium on March 26 at 6 p.m. During this program, Christy Pickering will share personal experiences from an abusive relationship and discuss how she eventually found happiness. A Biloxi certified public accountant, Pickering has received numerous awards over the years for service to her local community and state. Her talk is sponsored by the President’s Office, Holmes Cultural Diversity Center, MSU Athletics, Delta Gamma Sorority, the Center for Student Activities, and Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life.
University earns 'Voter Friendly Campus' designation
Mississippi State University now holds the “Voter Friendly Campus” designation from the nation’s leading student affairs organization and the Fair Election Center’s Campus Vote Project. The designation recently was announced by NASPA - Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education. MSU was the only Mississippi university, and one of only two Southeastern Conference universities, to receive the honor. In 2018, MSU students and staff members led several voter registration and voting initiatives leading up to last fall’s midterm elections. MSU Vice President for Student Affairs Regina Hyatt said these efforts increased students’ awareness of the voting process.
Phi Beta Kappa in focus for Association of Retired Faculty's spring meeting
Mississippi State University's recently awarded chapter of the prestigious Phi Beta Kappa honor society will be the focus of the spring meeting of the MSU Association of Retired Faculty at 2 p.m. on March 26 in Parker Ballroom of the Hunter Henry Center on campus.
English Professor Robert West, who has led the PBK application process since 2007, will discuss the long effort to secure a chapter and the current status of its establishment.
Center for Distance Education announces inaugural Online Teaching Award
The Center for Distance Education at Mississippi State will recognize an exceptional online teacher with its inaugural Center for Distance Education Online Teaching Award. “We created this award as a way to identify and recognize an outstanding online teacher who exemplifies excellence and innovation in online teaching and course development,” said Susan Seal, executive director for MSU’s Center of Distance Education.
Local Habitat for Humanity accepting applications for future homeowners
The Starkville Habitat for Humanity is accepting applications through March 30 for future homeowners. Basic requirements for homeowners include: Be a current resident of Oktibbeha County. Have a need for better housing. Be willing to partner for a new home. Be able to manage mortgage payments. Meet income requirements. Example: For a family of four, maximum income of $43,900 per year; must have minimum total income of $1,500 per month.
The Office of Public Affairs provides Maroon MEMO as a general information
resource for Mississippi State University employees.
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