Maroon MEMO: Employee News (Mississippi State University)

President Mark E. Keenum (right) welcomed Mississippi State's new head baseball coach Brian O'Connor to historic Lee Hall for a visit last week. The university formally introduced O'Connor as the program's 19th head coach during a celebration featuring fans, alumni, donors and Diamond Dawg letterwinners Thursday evening [June 5] at Dudy Noble Field. PHOTO: Emily Grace McCall | Public Affairs

Marshall's new book explores complex legacy of Cassius Marcellus Clay
A Mississippi State University administrator and faculty member reckons with the contradictions of America’s antislavery movement in a forthcoming biography of U.S. Civil War figure Cassius Marcellus Clay. Anne Marshall, executive director of MSU’s Ulysses S. Grant Presidential Library and associate professor of history, is the author of “Cassius Marcellus Clay: The Life of an Antislavery Slaveholder and the Paradox of American Reform.” The biography, set for publication by the University of North Carolina Press in September, sheds new light on Clay, a 19th century Kentucky reformer often misremembered as a radical abolitionist.

Nadorff aims to break cycle of nightmares, insomnia with upcoming book
A Mississippi State University faculty member is reaching national audiences with an upcoming book that tackles a deeply human challenge -- the fundamental need for restful sleep. MSU Psychology Professor Michael R. Nadorff, in collaboration with co-author and board-certified psychologist Courtney Worley, offers a research-based workbook to help readers overcome chronic nightmares and insomnia. Nadorff and Worley help readers reclaim their sleep with “The Nightmare and Sleep Disorder Toolkit: A Workbook to Help You Get Some Rest Using Imagery Rehearsal Therapy and Other Evidence-Based Approaches” to be published by New Harbinger Publications Oct. 1.

First university in Mississippi, MSU offers Global Seal of Biliteracy
Mississippi State Department of Classical and Modern Languages and Literatures now offers the Global Seal of Biliteracy to MSU students, becoming the first university in Mississippi to sponsor the internationally recognized credential. “CMLL has begun sponsoring the Global Seal of Biliteracy to help MSU students see language education as an opportunity for professional development -- not merely as a requirement to check off,” said Robert M. West, professor and CMLL department head. “We wanted to help students attain a meaningful, internationally recognized credential that can help them get good jobs and advance professionally in an increasingly interconnected, multilingual world."

Little’s Spanish courses earn international Quality Matters certification
Mississippi State’s Spanish II and III courses taught by Instructor Chris Little in the Department of Classical and Modern Languages and Literatures are now internationally recognized Quality Matters-certified curricula. The QM certification mark is a symbol of online and blended course design quality and represents Little’s ongoing commitment to creating learning environments that provide students with a clear pathway to success. With an initial credential for his Spanish I course last year, this receipt of two additional QM certifications means he now has the most recognized and reviewed MSU online courses.

Airport shuttle departure schedule adjusted to meet airline baggage check changes
A 45-minute cutoff for checking baggage with Delta and American airlines has changed the express shuttle times offered by Mississippi State Transportation to Golden Triangle Regional Airport. The GTRA express shuttle now departs The Mill at MSU two hours before flight time and arrives at the airport one and a half hours before flight time. This is 30 minutes earlier than the previous schedule. Shuttle pickups from the Starkville campus and hotels along Highway 12 also can be scheduled with MSU if reservations are made at least 24 hours prior to the requested departure time from these locations. This service is available by emailing GTRShuttle@transportation.msstate.edu or calling 662-325-5204.

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 now 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.

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PR offices recognized with top honors during annual College Public Relations Association of Mississippi awards
Mississippi State’s Division of Strategic Communications is touting numerous awards after the recent College Public Relations Association of Mississippi annual conference and awards ceremony. Among the accolades, the university’s Office of Public Affairs, Alumni Association and Foundation secured a Grand Award for the second consecutive year for Alumnus Magazine and its lead creative team, Susan Lassetter, managing editor, and Heather Rowe, publications and digital design editor. “Our division is indeed fortunate to have a truly talented team of communications and marketing professionals who take pride in advancing MSU,” said Vice President for Strategic Communications Sid Salter.

MSU Crisis Action Team, SOSD, local first responders practice emergency preparedness with training exercise
Mississippi State’s Crisis Action Team, MSU Police and collaborating local first responders have conducted training last Friday [June 6] with an emergency preparedness exercise on a hypothetical scenario coordinated by MSU Emergency Management. The exercise was conducted at Partnership Middle School, located on the north side of campus. The school is not in session, and leaders from the Starkville Oktibbeha School District were part of the exercise. “The Mississippi State University Crisis Action Team meets regularly to train for emergencies. However, today’s full-scale exercise allowed us to work through a realistic scenario and focus on response efforts, such as emergency notifications, evacuations and medical care. The exercise also emphasized the importance of coordination and communication during a crisis,” said MSU Emergency Manager Brent Crocker.

MSU hosts nation's first S.A.F.E. training exclusively focused on spray drones
Mississippi State University made agricultural aviation history last week by hosting the nation’s first Self-Regulating Application and Flight Efficiency (S.A.F.E.) training program exclusively focused on spray drones. The five-day training at MSU’s Agricultural Autonomy Institute marks a significant milestone in bridging the gap between traditional aerial application and emerging drone technology. “Everything that we’re doing with spray drones, we want the traditional crop dusters to be involved in.” said Madison Dixon, associate director of the MSU Agricultural Autonomy Institute and training participant. “We want to build inroads between the spray drone community and the traditional crop duster community and, more importantly, ensure the mutual safety of all agricultural aviators as spray drone adoption increases.”

Newly renamed Department of Communication, Media and Theatre earns national accreditation
Mississippi State University’s newly renamed Department of Communication, Media and Theatre is now nationally accredited by the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications for its undergraduate programs in broadcast and digital journalism, public relations and print and digital journalism. “ACEJMC accreditation is a mark of excellence that signifies our program meets high academic standards,” said Terry Likes, department head. “The value of ACEJMC accreditation includes several factors such as a systematic, rigorous program review, exposure to best practices across the professions and visibility. Accredited programs enjoy an enhanced reputation benefiting their institutions, graduates and communities.”