NEWSLETTER FEBRUARY 2025

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THE GRADUATE SCHOOL NEWSLETTER

grad.msstate.edu

UPCOMING EVENTS Ask Me Anything: Image Of Research Feb. 6 11 am – 12 pm

Join us for an informative session about the Image of Research competition.

Location: To be announced.

Online Thesis and Dissertation Formatting Workshop Feb. 8 10:30 am – 12 pm

This online workshop covers the submission process for format review and demonstrates how to use the automated templates to format MSU theses and dissertations.

Location: Online

Graduate Research Symposium Feb. 15 8 am - 4 pm

The Graduate Student Research Symposium, or GSRS, is an interdisciplinary forum designed to highlight the quality and diversity of graduate-level research comprised of oral and poster presentations. The GSRS serves as an opportunity for graduate students to gain experience giving presentations and to receive meaningful feedback from an evaluative panel of established MSU faculty members and researchers in a conference-style venue.

First Generation Graduate Student Social: Games with Peers Feb. 17 2 – 3:30 pm

Connect with fellow first-generation graduate students over games and light refreshments.

Location: To be announced.

Thesis and Dissertation Formatting Workshop Feb. 20 1 – 2:30 pm

This hybrid workshop covers the submission process for format review and demonstrates how to use the automated templates to format MSU theses and dissertations.

Location: Giles Electronic Classroom, Mitchell Memorial Library

GSA General Body Meeting Feb. 20 6 pm

Join the Graduate Student Association for free food and speakers throughout the semester!

Meet other students and learn about resources available for graduate students on campus.

Location: Old Main 2240

Open House: Mardi GRAD March 4 11 am - 1 pm

Celebrate Mardi Gras with the Graduate School at our Mardi GRAD Open House.

Location: Allen Hall Lobby

GSA General Body Meeting March 20 6 pm

Arts and Sciences Defense Deadline (Spring 2025) March 17

Last day for thesis/dissertation defense for students in the College of Arts and Sciences to qualify for May 2025 graduation.

Defense Deadline (Spring 2025) March 21

Last day for thesis/dissertation defense to qualify for May 2025 graduation.

Initial Submission Deadline (Spring 2025) April 4

Last day for initial submission of theses/ dissertations to the Library for May 2025 graduation. Student must be enrolled in LIB 9010 and complete the entire initial submission process to qualify.

Graduate Appreciation Week April 5 - 11

GSA General Body Meeting April 17 6 pm

First Generation Graduate Student Social: Free Coffee and Refreshments April 21 2 – 3:30 pm

Enjoy free coffee and refreshments while building community with fellow firstgeneration graduate students.

Location: To be announced.

Deadline for Obtaining Format Approval (Spring 2025) May 2

Last day for obtaining approval of formatting and to complete the requirements for May 2025 graduation.

For more event dates and times check out: https://www.grad.msstate.edu/ events?page=0

Official Mississippi State University Academic Calendar:

https://www.registrar.msstate.edu/calendars/ academic-calendar/2025/spring

TABLE OF CONTENTS S AY H E L L O !

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT NEWS EVENTS

A Special Thanks to Our Newsletter Team

WELCOME NOTE FROM INTERIM DEAN

This newsletter wouldn’t be possible without the

Dear Colleagues,

creativity, hard work and passion of our team. From

I am amazed at how fast the fall semester flew by this year. With so much

writing and editing to

to learn working with our outstanding Graduate School professionals, our

design and making sure

Graduate Student Association, and all of our college and department graduate

everything comes together

faculty and coordinators, it is only when I look back that I can really take

smoothly, we’re lucky to

note of all that I’ve learned and all that we all have accomplished. I would like

have such a dedicated

to take this opportunity to thank everyone who took the time to meet with

group behind the scenes.

me and provide feedback on aspects of graduate education and the support

A huge thank you to Dr.

offered by the Graduate School to all stakeholders. Also, being a part of the

Lindsey Shelton, Eric

Doctoral Hooding Ceremony for the first time was especially gratifying for me

Abbott, Lauren Benton, our entire Graduate School team, and the Mississippi State University campus partners who help support and showcase our graduate community.

Your contributions make

and celebrated the great accomplishments of our dedicated students, as well as highlighted the support and efforts of our world-class faculty. December’s ceremony was our largest to date, honoring the accomplishments of nearly 90 doctoral students across our campus. It was, as always, a truly incredible celebration of graduate education at MSU! The Spring semester may have brought colder temps, but it will also usher in exciting changes for us in the Graduate School. We are preparing for our

this newsletter and our

upcoming move to Magruder Hall. In addition to providing much-needed

community stronger.

additional space, Magruder Hall will also provide space for a graduate student lounge, helping us to continue to build a sense of community that can complement the support that our graduate students have within their

DO YOU HAVE NEWS TO SHARE?

departments and programs. We plan to move operations in February, and we

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!

Dr. Angi Bourgeois Interim Dean The Graduate School

Please contact

Lauren Benton lbenton@grad.msstate.edu

look forward to the opportunity to show off our new space soon.

Here’s to a great spring semester for us all!

SAY HELLO Staf f Spotlight

Meet

DR. AMANDA BAINE For Amanda Baine, every day is an opportunity to ensure the Graduate School at Mississippi State University runs like a well-oiled machine. As Business Manager II, she balances everything from managing budgets to coordinating

Graduate

Assistantship

processes, always with one goal in mind: to support the success of her colleagues and the students they serve.

“Graduate Assistantship processing is a key function of our business unit,” Amanda shared. “I aim to bring clarity and structure to everything I do, knowing that our efforts directly impact the experience of our graduate students

Supporting Graduate Success with Precision and Heart

and the programs they represent.”

Amanda’s path to her current role began in 2011 when she joined MSU’s Center for Advanced Vehicular Systems as an Administrative Assistant. Over the years,

she took on new challenges, transitioning

the Graduate School’s annual Halloween

into accounting and eventually landing in

Open House.

the Graduate School in 2016. With her

“This event has grown tremendously

MBA already in hand, Amanda recently

since we started it in 2019,” Amanda

achieved a significant milestone by earning

said. “This past year, we had over 500

her Ph.D. in Higher Education Leadership.

attendees. Seeing the creativity and

“This accomplishment means a lot to me

teamwork that goes into it makes it such a

as a first-generation college graduate,” she

special event for our entire community.”

said. “It’s proof of the power of education

Amanda credits her grandparents as

and the doors it can open.”

her greatest inspirations. Their love

In her role, Amanda is a vital connection

of learning and commitment to their

point

between

School

family shaped her own values, and she

team,

students

administration.

carries those lessons into her work every

Whether

the

Graduate

and

about

day. Professionally, she admires servant

Graduate Assistant schedules, running

leaders who prioritize supporting and

detailed reports, or collaborating with her

uplifting others.

colleagues—Business Coordinator Shlynn

When asked what advice she would

Morris and Administrative Assistant Sara

share with others looking to grow in

Thomas—Amanda’s

juggle

their careers, Amanda didn’t hesitate.

priorities ensures smooth operations every

“Explore your options for continuing

day.

education,” she said. “It changes your

“I truly enjoy the camaraderie within our

trajectory, expands your skills, and opens

team,” she said. “There’s a sense of trust

doors to new opportunities.”

and collaboration that makes our work not

Through

only productive but also meaningful.”

and heart for service, Amanda Baine

Amanda’s

answering

creativity

questions

ability

and

to

passion

her

dedication,

expertise

for

embodies the values of Mississippi State

community extend beyond the office. She

University, proving that success is best

has a knack for artistic expression and

achieved when it’s shared.

enjoys painting, traveling and hosting exchange students, including her most recent guest from Milan, Italy. Her favorite campus events reflect her enthusiasm for

Dr. Amanda Baine Business Manager II, The Graduate School at MSU

collaboration and connection, particularly

BAC K T O M E N U

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT

DOCTORAL GRADUATE OVERCOMES HIGH SCHOOL HARDSHIPS, FINDS HOME AT MISSISSIPPI STATE Written by Mary Pollitz | Photo Jonah Holland

Marc Moore walked onto Mississippi had severe anxiety and depression, and I just State’s campus in 2014, and for the first time

couldn’t function in a normal high school.”

in his life he felt like he belonged.

After dropping out, Moore eventually

At 19, Moore moved to Starkville without a

followed his parents from California to

high school diploma or a plan, but a decade

Amory, hoping to find his way. He briefly held

later, at age 29, he walked across the stage

a job as a security guard but eventually was let

at Lee Hall’s Bettersworth Auditorium and

go for falling asleep on the job. He took his

claimed his Ph.D. in computer science.

final paycheck and purchased a camper shell

A native of San Diego, California, Moore

that nearly fit his Toyota Tacoma, a tarp to

faced early challenges with education, leading

help shield the rain and a twin mattress for

him to drop out of high school after his ninth-

the truck bed. After making friends with

grade year.

some MSU students, he headed from Amory

“School was easy for me for a while and it

to Starkville, deciding the college town would

got really hard when I was 13,” he said. “I

be his next stop.

Video by Sarah Kirk

BAC K T O M E N U

For 15 months, Moore worked as a line cook

at East Mississippi Community College for two

for Papa John’s while living as he referred to

years.

himself “functionally as a homeless person.”

He then transferred to MSU and graduated

He quickly found his groove with MSU

summa cum laude with his bachelor’s degree

students, some extending their kindness by

in computer science in 2017. During his

offering warm meals and even a place to shower

undergraduate career, he found his advisor Cindy

or sleep—a break from living in parking lots.

Bethel, the university’s Billie J. Ball Endowed

“At no point did I feel like I wasn’t supposed

Professor in Engineering. Bethel helped connect

to be here,” Moore said. “This was the only

Moore with research opportunities at MSU’s

place I wanted to spend my time. … It was

Center for Advanced Vehicular Systems. Though

a crazy amount of acceptance and non-

Bethel knew, based on Moore’s paperwork, that

judgment, which you might assume I just

he was a non-traditional student, it wasn’t until

met open-minded people; but it was everyone

recently she heard his full story.

I met here.”

“It wasn’t at all obvious the things he dealt with,

Through these relationships, Moore found his

the challenges he overcame,” she said. “He was

place—but he wanted to be more like some

more determined than I think most graduate

of his new friends. He wanted to be a college

and undergraduate students are, but I didn’t

student.

fully understand why. … It’s amazing now to

“Even though everyone had accepted me and

see where he was and where he’s going.”

didn’t judge me, I still felt like I wasn’t going

As

anywhere,” he said. “They would graduate and

conferences and explored research opportunities

go on with their lives—I would still be here.

with various universities. Comparing the

“I admired all these people so much. I socially

staff, students and environments he saw while

fit in with them, and we would talk about

traveling to other schools solidified his post-

things and have a good time, but I still wasn’t

graduate plans to continue advanced study

like them,” Moore said. “I wanted to be the

at MSU. His experiences with CAVS and the

kind of friend they deserved; I wanted to be

broader university community confirmed his

a student.”

path.

At 20, Moore decided to go back to school, so

“Here I was given full access to state-of-the-art

he took and passed his GED test and enrolled

technology that I could do, within reasonable

an

undergraduate,

Moore

attended

Bethel, see that his determination and drive clearly led to his success.

“Marc’s an inspiration and I think he’s been a huge role model for others in the lab,” Bethel said. “All of us were surprised when he revealed his background and all that he overcame. I wish all students were this motivated to achieve their goals. Marc has done that. I have no doubt he’ll be successful in his career and research.”

After finding himself and his community in the Magnolia State, Moore has no desire to leave. He will continue his autonomous vehicle research in Vicksburg with the Engineer Research and Development Center of the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers.

“They were very happy to hear I was interested bounds, anything I wanted to,” Moore said.

in working there,” Moore said. “… It’s a pretty

“I could do research experiments. I had more

direct transition from the work I have been

access to resources, better access to faculty

doing in grad school. And it’s still in Mississippi.

and more supportive mentors at State. I had

I really wanted to stay in Mississippi.”

zero interest in going anywhere else because I

As he reflects on his doctoral hooding milestone,

knew I would have much better opportunities

he shows immense gratitude for the university,

if I stayed at MSU.”

staff, students and community for helping him

Throughout his doctoral studies, Moore

find his way.

worked on autonomous vehicles operations in

“I am here because of Mississippi State,” Moore

non-structured environments and primarily

said. “At MSU, everybody was encouraging. It

for military use. After seven years of research

didn’t seem like all the students were fighting each

and study, he defended his dissertation this

other to climb to the top—but they genuinely

October. While he doesn’t take credit, those

wanted to help each other.”

who worked with him along the way, like

BAC K T O M E N U

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT

MSU Chemistry Student

Selected for Prestigious Inaugural Leadership Academy Written by Sarah Nicholas | Photo Submitted

Mississippi State University doctoral

of our graduate students. I look forward to

student

has

seeing the insights and innovative ideas he

been selected to join the prestigious

brings back to our department and applies

Leadership Development Academy, a

to his future career.”

new initiative launched by the American

Abdulraheem was selected through a

Society for Microbiology as part of the

competitive nomination process led by

Annual Biomedical Research Conference

faculty and program directors. As part of

for Minoritized Scientists, or ABRCMS.

the academy, he will travel to Washington,

The

the

D.C., Oct. 4-6, for in-person training.

Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, is a 2.5-

The experience will continue with a four-

day intensive program designed to

month virtual, team-based community

empower senior graduate students and

project, culminating in a presentation at the

early-career postdoctoral fellows from

ABRCMS Summit in spring 2025.

underrepresented groups in STEM.

“Attending

Participants receive leadership training,

will allow me to gain valuable insights

career

and

into leadership styles and philosophies,”

strategies for fostering inclusive scientific

Abdulraheem said. “This experience will

communities.

help me learn from seasoned leaders and

“Selection for this program was limited

experts across diverse fields, enabling me

to just 50 participants nationwide,

to grow into a more effective leader both

representing 12 scientific disciplines,”

personally and professionally.”

said Amanda Patrick, Abdulraheem’s

Abdulraheem earned his undergraduate

advisor and an associate professor in

degree in chemistry from the Federal

MSU’s

Chemistry.

University of Agriculture in Abeokuta,

“Taofiq’s inclusion is a significant honor. It

Nigeria. He plans to graduate with a Ph.D.

highlights the outstanding contributions

in chemistry from MSU in 2025.

Taofiq

academy,

Abdulraheem

supported

development

Department

by

guidance,

of

the

Leadership

Academy

BAC K T O M E N U

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT

Discovering the Past to Inspire the Future: Brittany Brown’s Journey in Paleopathology Written by L auren B enton | Photo Submitted

Brittany Brown, a master’s like us. It is my privilege to uncover shared history of resilience.

When she is not in the lab or leading student in the Department and share their narratives.” of Anthropology and Middle At the site in Oman, Brown excavations, Brown enjoys the rich Eastern Cultures, spends her leads field excavations at tombs cultural and natural landscape of days meticulously uncovering dating back to the Hafit Period Oman. “The desert has its own stories buried for millennia. (3100-2700 BCE), the Umm an- beauty, there is something peaceful With a research focus on Nar Period (2700-2100 BCE), about it,” she said. “And I have paleopathology in Bronze Age and the Wadi Suq Period (2100- grown attached to the camels that Arabia, her work is not just 1500 BCE). From directing wander near our site. They are about analyzing bones, it is excavation teams to managing the curious, like they want to know about giving voice to the people osteological lab, her responsibilities what we are doing.” who once lived, thrived and are immense. But for Brown, the As she looks ahead, Brown is eager struggled in a world we can only most rewarding part is mentoring to continue her work in Oman and students and involving the local expand her research to other parts imagine. of the Middle East. Her passion Brown’s academic journey has community in the work. led her to an extraordinary “I love seeing students get excited for discovery and her respect for opportunity: serving as the about paleopathology or learning the stories of the past drive her 2025 Winter Field Season how to excavate,” Brown said. “And forward.

Bioarchaeological Field Director the local community has been so “Paleopathology isn’t just about for the Bat Archaeological welcoming. It is a partnership, studying disease, it is about Project in Oman. It is a role us learning from them just as empathy,” Brown said. “It is about she cherishes not only for the much as we are uncovering stories understanding people as they scientific discoveries it promises from a millennia ago for the local were, in their full humanity, and preserving their legacy for future but also for the connection it community to learn about.” fosters between the past and the Through her work, Brown has generations.” also deepened her understanding For Brown, the past is not a distant, present.

“Every time I step into a tomb of disease and mortuary practices abstract concept, it is a treasure or handle a piece of history, I in ancient times, unraveling how trove of wisdom and connection, feel like I am entering someone’s early communities cared for their waiting to be unearthed. story,” Brown shared. “These are dead and utilized the landscape not just bones, they’re lives. They to create spaces of memory. These are people who experienced joy, findings contribute to the broader pain, illness and resilience, just understanding

of

humanity’s

BAC K T O M E N U

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT

RESEARCH AMBASSADOR

ADITYA SHAH ADVANCING AEROSPACE ENGINEERING WITH COMPOSITE MATERIALS For Aditya Shah, Mississippi State University

reducing emissions and advancing sustainable

has been more than just a place to learn, it

aviation.

has been a home for a decade-long journey of

“One of the main goals of using composite

innovation and personal growth.

materials is adopting these lightweight, strong

Originally arriving at MSU as an undergraduate

systems in aircraft. Not only are they incredibly

in 2014, Aditya is now pursuing a Ph.D. in

durable, but their light weight helps reduce

Aerospace Engineering through the Bagley

emissions, contributing to a more sustainable

College of Engineering. His research focuses on

future for aviation,” Aditya explained.

composite materials, which are systems made

Mississippi State’s state-of-the-art facilities for

from two or more constituent materials. These

manufacturing and testing composite structures

lightweight and strong composites are key to

have been a cornerstone of Aditya’s success.

Collaborating with NASA and the Air Force

staff and my peers has been incredible. MSU is

Research Lab, he has had the opportunity to

truly my home away from home,” he shared.

fabricate and test large-scale composite structures,

Aditya’s

an experience few institutions can offer.

innovation happening at Mississippi State but

“MSU is one of the few places where you can

also highlights the university’s commitment to

fabricate large-scale composite structures for

fostering cutting-edge research and preparing

testing and certification. The facilities here are

students to make a global impact.

among the best in the nation, especially for

Watch Aditya’s full story and learn how MSU

stitched composites,” he said.

is shaping the future of aerospace engineering.

work

not

only

showcases

the

For Aditya, MSU has also been about the people and the community. “The support from professors,

BAC K T O M E N U

NEWS

Get your

MSU GRAD

APPAREL AND ACCESSORIES NOW! Visit our online store at grad.msstate.edu

So many items you don’t want to miss!

GRAD

STORE BAC K T O M E N U

NEWS

MSU Architecture Thesis Project Written by Christie McNeal

Section-Cluster (Thesis project by Elisa Castaneda and Luke Murray)

Selected For International Showcase Mississippi

State

architecture

“Elisa and Luke undertook a joint Elisa and Luke created a provocative

graduates Elisa S. Castañeda of

research project to come to grips study on urban connections. This

Madison, Alabama, and Lucas

with the intended and unintended type of investigation demonstrates

“Luke” T. Murray of Jackson are

consequences of large infrastructural the quality of work accomplished in

being honored by the international

projects

Association of Collegiate Schools

Jackson,” said Callender. “In the recognized on the Study Architecture

of Architecture for their thesis

process, they latched onto the idea website is a wonderful achievement,

project in this year’s ACSA Study

that these problematic investments and Elisa and Luke should be proud.”

Architecture Showcase.

could serve as sites for their own ACSA is a worldwide organization

“Exclusionary

overcoming.

Infrastructure

located

This

throughout our program. For the project to be

insight

and of architecture schools, including

& Displacement: A Study on

the students’ dogged pursuit of all accredited professional degree

Architectural Mobility” is featured

solutions to such problems are programs in the U.S. and Canada,

on Study Architecture’s website

certainly worthy of this honor.”

international schools and two- and

and social media along with other

View more project images and

four-year

student projects that exemplify

the full summary at https://www.

40,000 architecture students are

excellence

caad.msstate.edu/student-gallery/

represented.

education worldwide.

exclusionary-infrastructure-

MSU’s

Jassen Callender, professor and

displacement-study-architectural-

offers the state’s only professional

director of the MSU School of

mobility.

architecture degree accredited by the

Architecture’s fifth-year program in

School of Architecture Director National Architectural Accrediting

Jackson, nominated the pair who

and F.L. Crane Professor Karen C. Board. Learn more at www.caad.

took a unique path for their thesis

Spence said, “The deep analysis of msstate.edu.

research.

Jackson and questions taken on by

in

architectural

programs.

School

of

More

than

Architecture

BAC K T O M E N U

NEWS

BAC K T O M E N U

EVENTS

Looking Back to Look Ahead A LOOK AT A VERY LIVELY 2024 AND PLANNING WHAT IS TO COME!

GRADUATE STUDENT WELCOME WEEK

GRADUATE SCHOOL TOWER OF TERROR OPEN HOUSE

BAC K T O M E N U

EVENTS

Wellness Wednesday - Bearden Research Center

Fall 2024 Grad Tailgate

Wellness Wednesday - Pumpkin Patch at The Farm

Grad Ambassador Dinner

BAC K T O M E N U

EVENTS

Fall 2024 Grad Research Symposium

Fall 2024 3MT

Fall 2024 Hooding Ceremony

Congratulations to our very own Dr. Amanda Baine on earning her Ph.D. in Educational Leadership Concentration - Higher Ed Leadership! We are so proud to celebrate her and all of our graduates from the Fall 2024 Hooding Ceremony.

BAC K T O M E N U

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THE GRADUATE SCHOOL NEWSLETTER

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