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
A Special Thanks to Our Newsletter Team
This newsletter wouldn’t be possible without the creativity, hard work and passion of our team. From writing and editing to design and making sure everything comes together smoothly, we’re lucky to have such a dedicated group behind the scenes. A huge thank you to Dr. Lindsey Shelton, Eric 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 this newsletter and our community stronger. DO YOU HAVE NEWS TO SHARE? WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!
Please contact Lauren Benton lbenton@grad.msstate.edu
WELCOME NOTE FROM INTERIM DEAN
Dear Colleagues,
I am amazed at how fast the fall semester flew by this year. With so much to learn working with our outstanding Graduate School professionals, our Graduate Student Association, and all of our college and department graduate faculty and coordinators, it is only when I look back that I can really take note of all that I’ve learned and all that we all have accomplished. I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who took the time to meet with me and provide feedback on aspects of graduate education and the support offered by the Graduate School to all stakeholders. Also, being a part of the Doctoral Hooding Ceremony for the first time was especially gratifying for me 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 upcoming move to Magruder Hall. In addition to providing much-needed 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 departments and programs. We plan to move operations in February, and we look forward to the opportunity to show off our new space soon. Here’s to a great spring semester for us all!
Dr. Angi Bourgeois Interim Dean The Graduate School
SAY HELLO
Staff Spotlight
Meet
DR. AMANDA BAINE
Supporting Graduate Success with Precision and Heart
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 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 into accounting and eventually landing in the Graduate School in 2016. With her MBA already in hand, Amanda recently achieved a significant milestone by earning her Ph.D. in Higher Education Leadership.
“This accomplishment means a lot to me as a first-generation college graduate,” she said. “It’s proof of the power of education and the doors it can open.”
In her role, Amanda is a vital connection point between the Graduate School team, students and administration. Whether answering questions about Graduate Assistant schedules, running detailed reports, or collaborating with her colleagues—Business Coordinator Shlynn Morris and Administrative Assistant Sara Thomas—Amanda’s ability to juggle priorities ensures smooth operations every day.
“I truly enjoy the camaraderie within our team,” she said. “There’s a sense of trust and collaboration that makes our work not only productive but also meaningful.”
Amanda’s creativity and passion for community extend beyond the office. She has a knack for artistic expression and enjoys painting, traveling and hosting exchange students, including her most recent guest from Milan, Italy. Her favorite campus events reflect her enthusiasm for collaboration and connection, particularly
the Graduate School’s annual Halloween Open House.
“This event has grown tremendously since we started it in 2019,” Amanda said. “This past year, we had over 500 attendees. Seeing the creativity and teamwork that goes into it makes it such a special event for our entire community.”
Amanda credits her grandparents as her greatest inspirations. Their love of learning and commitment to their family shaped her own values, and she carries those lessons into her work every day. Professionally, she admires servant leaders who prioritize supporting and uplifting others.
When asked what advice she would share with others looking to grow in their careers, Amanda didn’t hesitate.
“Explore your options for continuing education,” she said. “It changes your trajectory, expands your skills, and opens doors to new opportunities.”
Through her dedication, expertise and heart for service, Amanda Baine embodies the values of Mississippi State University, proving that success is best achieved when it’s shared.
Dr. Amanda Baine Business Manager II, The Graduate School at MSU
DOCTORAL
Written by Mary Pollitz | Photo Jonah Holland
Marc Moore walked onto Mississippi State’s campus in 2014, and for the first time in his life he felt like he belonged.
At 19, Moore moved to Starkville without a high school diploma or a plan, but a decade later, at age 29, he walked across the stage at Lee Hall’s Bettersworth Auditorium and claimed his Ph.D. in computer science.
A native of San Diego, California, Moore faced early challenges with education, leading him to drop out of high school after his ninthgrade year.
“School was easy for me for a while and it got really hard when I was 13,” he said. “I
had severe anxiety and depression, and I just couldn’t function in a normal high school.”
After dropping out, Moore eventually followed his parents from California to Amory, hoping to find his way. He briefly held a job as a security guard but eventually was let go for falling asleep on the job. He took his final paycheck and purchased a camper shell that nearly fit his Toyota Tacoma, a tarp to help shield the rain and a twin mattress for the truck bed. After making friends with some MSU students, he headed from Amory to Starkville, deciding the college town would be his next stop.
Video by Sarah Kirk
For 15 months, Moore worked as a line cook for Papa John’s while living as he referred to himself “functionally as a homeless person.”
He quickly found his groove with MSU students, some extending their kindness by offering warm meals and even a place to shower or sleep—a break from living in parking lots.
“At no point did I feel like I wasn’t supposed to be here,” Moore said. “This was the only place I wanted to spend my time. … It was a crazy amount of acceptance and nonjudgment, which you might assume I just met open-minded people; but it was everyone I met here.”
Through these relationships, Moore found his place—but he wanted to be more like some of his new friends. He wanted to be a college student.
“Even though everyone had accepted me and didn’t judge me, I still felt like I wasn’t going anywhere,” he said. “They would graduate and go on with their lives—I would still be here.
“I admired all these people so much. I socially fit in with them, and we would talk about things and have a good time, but I still wasn’t like them,” Moore said. “I wanted to be the kind of friend they deserved; I wanted to be a student.”
At 20, Moore decided to go back to school, so he took and passed his GED test and enrolled
at East Mississippi Community College for two years.
He then transferred to MSU and graduated summa cum laude with his bachelor’s degree in computer science in 2017. During his undergraduate career, he found his advisor Cindy Bethel, the university’s Billie J. Ball Endowed Professor in Engineering. Bethel helped connect Moore with research opportunities at MSU’s Center for Advanced Vehicular Systems. Though Bethel knew, based on Moore’s paperwork, that he was a non-traditional student, it wasn’t until recently she heard his full story.
“It wasn’t at all obvious the things he dealt with, the challenges he overcame,” she said. “He was more determined than I think most graduate and undergraduate students are, but I didn’t fully understand why. … It’s amazing now to see where he was and where he’s going.”
As an undergraduate, Moore attended conferences and explored research opportunities with various universities. Comparing the staff, students and environments he saw while traveling to other schools solidified his postgraduate plans to continue advanced study at MSU. His experiences with CAVS and the broader university community confirmed his path.
“Here I was given full access to state-of-the-art technology that I could do, within reasonable
bounds, anything I wanted to,” Moore said. “I could do research experiments. I had more access to resources, better access to faculty and more supportive mentors at State. I had zero interest in going anywhere else because I knew I would have much better opportunities if I stayed at MSU.”
Throughout his doctoral studies, Moore worked on autonomous vehicles operations in non-structured environments and primarily for military use. After seven years of research and study, he defended his dissertation this October. While he doesn’t take credit, those who worked with him along the way, like
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 in working there,” Moore said. “… It’s a pretty direct transition from the work I have been doing in grad school. And it’s still in Mississippi. I really wanted to stay in Mississippi.”
As he reflects on his doctoral hooding milestone, he shows immense gratitude for the university, staff, students and community for helping him find his way.
“I am here because of Mississippi State,” Moore said. “At MSU, everybody was encouraging. It didn’t seem like all the students were fighting each other to climb to the top—but they genuinely wanted to help each other.”
MSU Chemistry Student Selected for Prestigious Inaugural Leadership Academy
Written by Sarah Nicholas | Photo Submitted
Mississippi State University doctoral student Taofiq Abdulraheem has been selected to join the prestigious Leadership Development Academy, a new initiative launched by the American Society for Microbiology as part of the Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minoritized Scientists, or ABRCMS.
The academy, supported by the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, is a 2.5day intensive program designed to empower senior graduate students and early-career postdoctoral fellows from underrepresented groups in STEM. Participants receive leadership training, career development guidance, and strategies for fostering inclusive scientific communities.
“Selection for this program was limited to just 50 participants nationwide, representing 12 scientific disciplines,” said Amanda Patrick, Abdulraheem’s advisor and an associate professor in MSU’s Department of Chemistry.
“Taofiq’s inclusion is a significant honor. It highlights the outstanding contributions
of our graduate students. I look forward to seeing the insights and innovative ideas he brings back to our department and applies to his future career.”
Abdulraheem was selected through a competitive nomination process led by faculty and program directors. As part of the academy, he will travel to Washington, D.C., Oct. 4-6, for in-person training.
The experience will continue with a fourmonth virtual, team-based community project, culminating in a presentation at the ABRCMS Summit in spring 2025.
“Attending the Leadership Academy will allow me to gain valuable insights into leadership styles and philosophies,” Abdulraheem said. “This experience will help me learn from seasoned leaders and experts across diverse fields, enabling me to grow into a more effective leader both personally and professionally.”
Abdulraheem earned his undergraduate degree in chemistry from the Federal University of Agriculture in Abeokuta, Nigeria. He plans to graduate with a Ph.D. in chemistry from MSU in 2025.
Discovering the Past to Inspire the Future: Brittany Brown’s Journey in Paleopathology
Written by Lauren Benton | Photo Submitted
Brittany Brown, a master’s student in the Department of Anthropology and Middle Eastern Cultures, spends her days meticulously uncovering stories buried for millennia. With a research focus on paleopathology in Bronze Age Arabia, her work is not just about analyzing bones, it is about giving voice to the people who once lived, thrived and struggled in a world we can only imagine.
Brown’s academic journey has led her to an extraordinary opportunity: serving as the 2025 Winter Field Season Bioarchaeological Field Director for the Bat Archaeological Project in Oman. It is a role she cherishes not only for the scientific discoveries it promises but also for the connection it fosters between the past and the present.
“Every time I step into a tomb or handle a piece of history, I feel like I am entering someone’s story,” Brown shared. “These are not just bones, they’re lives. They are people who experienced joy, pain, illness and resilience, just
like us. It is my privilege to uncover and share their narratives.”
At the site in Oman, Brown leads field excavations at tombs dating back to the Hafit Period (3100-2700 BCE), the Umm anNar Period (2700-2100 BCE), and the Wadi Suq Period (21001500 BCE). From directing excavation teams to managing the osteological lab, her responsibilities are immense. But for Brown, the most rewarding part is mentoring students and involving the local community in the work.
“I love seeing students get excited about paleopathology or learning how to excavate,” Brown said. “And the local community has been so welcoming. It is a partnership, us learning from them just as much as we are uncovering stories from a millennia ago for the local community to learn about.”
Through her work, Brown has also deepened her understanding of disease and mortuary practices in ancient times, unraveling how early communities cared for their dead and utilized the landscape to create spaces of memory. These findings contribute to the broader understanding of humanity’s
shared history of resilience.
When she is not in the lab or leading excavations, Brown enjoys the rich cultural and natural landscape of Oman. “The desert has its own beauty, there is something peaceful about it,” she said. “And I have grown attached to the camels that wander near our site. They are curious, like they want to know what we are doing.”
As she looks ahead, Brown is eager to continue her work in Oman and expand her research to other parts of the Middle East. Her passion for discovery and her respect for the stories of the past drive her forward.
“Paleopathology isn’t just about studying disease, it is about empathy,” Brown said. “It is about understanding people as they were, in their full humanity, and preserving their legacy for future generations.”
For Brown, the past is not a distant, abstract concept, it is a treasure trove of wisdom and connection, waiting to be unearthed.
RESEARCH AMBASSADOR
ADITYA SHAH ADVANCING AEROSPACE
ENGINEERING WITH COMPOSITE MATERIALS
For Aditya Shah, Mississippi State University has been more than just a place to learn, it has been a home for a decade-long journey of innovation and personal growth. Originally arriving at MSU as an undergraduate in 2014, Aditya is now pursuing a Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering through the Bagley College of Engineering. His research focuses on composite materials, which are systems made from two or more constituent materials. These lightweight and strong composites are key to
reducing emissions and advancing sustainable aviation.
“One of the main goals of using composite materials is adopting these lightweight, strong systems in aircraft. Not only are they incredibly durable, but their light weight helps reduce emissions, contributing to a more sustainable future for aviation,” Aditya explained. Mississippi State’s state-of-the-art facilities for manufacturing and testing composite structures have been a cornerstone of Aditya’s success.
Collaborating with NASA and the Air Force Research Lab, he has had the opportunity to fabricate and test large-scale composite structures, an experience few institutions can offer.
“MSU is one of the few places where you can fabricate large-scale composite structures for testing and certification. The facilities here are among the best in the nation, especially for stitched composites,” he said.
For Aditya, MSU has also been about the people and the community. “The support from professors,
staff and my peers has been incredible. MSU is truly my home away from home,” he shared.
Aditya’s work not only showcases the innovation happening at Mississippi State but also highlights the university’s commitment to fostering cutting-edge research and preparing students to make a global impact.
Watch Aditya’s full story and learn how MSU is shaping the future of aerospace engineering.
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 graduates Elisa S. Castañeda of Madison, Alabama, and Lucas
“Luke” T. Murray of Jackson are being honored by the international Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture for their thesis project in this year’s ACSA Study Architecture Showcase.
“Exclusionary Infrastructure & Displacement: A Study on Architectural Mobility” is featured on Study Architecture’s website and social media along with other student projects that exemplify excellence in architectural education worldwide.
Jassen Callender, professor and director of the MSU School of Architecture’s fifth-year program in Jackson, nominated the pair who took a unique path for their thesis research.
“Elisa and Luke undertook a joint research project to come to grips with the intended and unintended consequences of large infrastructural projects located throughout Jackson,” said Callender. “In the process, they latched onto the idea that these problematic investments could serve as sites for their own overcoming. This insight and the students’ dogged pursuit of solutions to such problems are certainly worthy of this honor.”
View more project images and the full summary at https://www.
caad.msstate.edu/student-gallery/ exclusionary-infrastructuredisplacement-study-architecturalmobility.
School of Architecture Director and F.L. Crane Professor Karen C. Spence said, “The deep analysis of Jackson and questions taken on by
Elisa and Luke created a provocative study on urban connections. This type of investigation demonstrates the quality of work accomplished in our program. For the project to be recognized on the Study Architecture website is a wonderful achievement, and Elisa and Luke should be proud.” ACSA is a worldwide organization of architecture schools, including all accredited professional degree programs in the U.S. and Canada, international schools and two- and four-year programs. More than 40,000 architecture students are represented.
MSU’s School of Architecture offers the state’s only professional architecture degree accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board. Learn more at www.caad. msstate.edu.
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
Wellness Wednesday - Pumpkin Patch at The Farm
Grad Ambassador Dinner
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.
