Newsletter - May 2024

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THE GRADUATE SCHOOL NEWSLETTER

grad.msstate.edu

UPCOMING EVENTS

Game Night

Board Games and Appetizers

DO YOU HAVE NEWS TO SHARE?

May 22, 4-6 p.m.

Two Brothers, 621 University Dr. Starkville, MS

Grad Bingo June 26, 2-4 p.m.

Old Main Academic Center

Pickleball July 17, 1-3:30 p.m.

Sanderson Center

Registration for the Fall 2024 GTA Workshop Closes July 26

Online

Fall 2024 Graduate Teaching Assistant (GTA) Workshop August 12 - 15, 8 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Old Main Academic Center

Graduate Student Social and Resource Fair (ALL GTA levels and new graduate students welcome) August 14, 2-4 p.m.

Old Main Academic Center

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!

TABLE OF CONTENT S AY H E L L O !

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT NEWS EVENTS AWARDS

P l e a se co n t a ct L a u r e n B e n t o n a t l b e n t o n @ g r a d . ms s t a t e . e d u

A NOTE FROM THE DEAN

Dear Colleagues and Friends of the Graduate School, As we wrap up the spring semester and bid farewell to the 2023-2024 academic year, I want to extend my congratulations to all our graduating students. Commencement has come and gone, marking a significant milestone in your academic journey. Your hard work, dedication, and accomplishments are truly commendable.

For those who have completed their studies and are now alumni of Mississippi State University, we celebrate your success and wish you the best in your future endeavors. Whether you’re embarking on new career paths, furthering your education, or pursuing other aspirations, we have every confidence in your ability to excel and represent our university with pride.

To our continuing graduate students, as you embark on summer research projects across various locations, we wish you productive and enriching experiences. The Graduate School remains committed to supporting your academic and professional growth, offering events and services throughout the summer and into the fall semester.

I would like to express my heartfelt appreciation to our Graduate Program coordinators for their invaluable support to students and to our Major Professors for their mentorship and guidance. Your contributions are instrumental in maintaining the excellence of our research programs and enhancing the university’s reputation nationally and globally.

As we embrace the beauty of spring and look forward to warmer days, let’s also celebrate the achievements of our students. Stay connected with the Graduate School, and please keep us informed about your journey and successes.

Best Regards, Dr. Peter Ryan Executive Vice Provost and Dean The Graduate School

SAY HELLO Staf f Spotlight

Meet

SARA THOMAS

Bridging Excellence in Graduate Education at Mississippi State University

When it comes to ensuring a seamless

Graduate School in 2019 reflects my

experience

commitment to serving the university’s

in

graduate

education

at Mississippi State University, Sara

needs.”

Thomas, an Administrative Assistant II at the Graduate School, is a vital

In her role, Thomas plays a crucial part

force behind the scenes. Her role

in maintaining relationships between

goes beyond administrative tasks; she

staff, patrons, and the University.

embodies a commitment to excellence

“Bloom wherever you’re planted...your

that resonates throughout the university

talents will make room for you,” Thomas

community.

advises, echoing her philosophy of embracing opportunities and making a

“As a Starkville native, this has been

meaningful impact.

home all my life,” Thomas shares, highlighting her deep-seated connection

Beyond her professional endeavors,

to the university and its mission.

Thomas finds solace in spending quality time with family and friends. “Taking

In times of organizational shifts and

time to laugh and enjoy the present is

transitions, Sara is adept at placing the

important,” Thomas remarks, reflecting

right resources in the right places. “My

her holistic approach to life.

role is one of service, providing support to staff, patrons, and the University,”

Thomas’s dedication to excellence and

she

her

her ability to bridge connections within

ensures

the university community make her an

smooth operations within the Graduate

invaluable asset to Mississippi State

School.

University’s Graduate School.

emphasizes,

meticulous

showcasing

approach

that

Sara’s journey at MSU has been marked by a diverse range of experiences. “I’ve worked here from 2012-2014, then transferred to Human Resources for five

Sara Thomas Administrative Assistant II, The Graduate School at MSU

years,” Thomas said. “My return to the

BAC K T O M E N U

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT

GROUNDBREAKING RESEARCH AND ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE Written by Lauren Benton | Photo Submitted by Saida Zinnurine

Saida

Zinnurine,

a

Ph.D.

student Aquatic Health and Food Security, Zinnurine’s

specializing in Infectious Diseases within the research focuses on unraveling the behavior of Department of Comparative Biomedical Science virulent Aeromonas hydrophila in catfish. Her at Mississippi State University’s College of goal is the development of a novel vaccine to Veterinary Medicine, recently achieved a notable bolster the aquatic industry’s defenses against this recognition at the Conference of Research pathogen, potentially alleviating the economic Workers in Animal Diseases (CRWAD) 2024 impact of Motile Aeromonad Septicemia (MAS) in Chicago. She secured the second-place on catfish farming. award for best oral presentation, a prestigious acknowledgment presented by the American Zinnurine’s College of Veterinary Microbiologists (ACVM).

academic

journey

includes

a

D.V.M. and M.S. in Veterinary Medicine from Chattogram Veterinary and Animal Sciences

Zinnurine’s award-winning presentation delved University in Bangladesh. She further honed into her groundbreaking research on the ‘Role her expertise through externships at Fakulti of Chitinase and RTX Toxin in the Pathogenesis Perubatan Veterinar, Universiti Putra Malaysia, of

virulent

Aeromonas

Hydrophila’.

Her and Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences

contributions extended beyond presentation University, India. She was also recognized as an excellence; she also served as a moderator for ‘Unsung Community Hero of the COVID-19 the Immunology 2 session at the CRWAD Pandemic’ by the Office of the Director (Health), conference, further solidifying her stature in the Chattogram Division, Bangladesh. scientific community, particularly in veterinary microbiology and immunology.

Her contributions at Mississippi State University exemplify both her excellence and the institution’s

Her attendance at CRWAD was made possible dedication to tackling global challenges in animal through the VBMS/ENVT Graduate Student health and food security. Zinnurine’s research on Travel Award from Mississippi State University’s virulent Aeromonas hydrophila holds promise for College of Veterinary Medicine.

significant advancements in disease management within the aquatic industry, presenting strategies

Under the guidance of Professor Dr. Mark applicable not only to catfish farming but also to Lawrence, Director of the Global Center for broader agricultural contexts.

BAC K T O M E N U

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT

Patric Corde

By Samuel Hughes | Photo by David Ammon

Growing up in rural Puerto Rico, Patricia Marie

Irizarry said. “The fact that we have to bring so much

Cordero-Irizarry was always interested in people’s

food from outside—to me, that was a concern.”

connection to the natural world.

Her first step toward making a positive impact was

On her way to school in coastal Guayanilla, she

earning a bachelor’s degree in crop protection from

saw plantain, pumpkin, tomato, peppers and coffee

the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez, where she

plantations as tractors chugged past. She saw firsthand

also minored in professional and practical ethics. After

the strength of Puerto Rico’s agricultural production.

obtaining a master’s degree in environment and natural

Later, she learned about agriculture’s powerful effects on

resources with a focus on soil science from Ohio State

the environment, Puerto Rico’s food insecurity and how

University, she was recruited to attend Mississippi State

80% of its food is imported. Cordero-Irizarry decided

University for a doctoral degree in agriculture education

to study agricultural science to change her surroundings

and extension by Kirk Swortzel, a graduate coordinator

for the better.

and professor in MSU’s School of Human Sciences.

“I wanted to do something about it, because we have

Given her passion for agricultural extension services,

all the resources and adequate conditions to be able to

Swortzel sensed Cordero-Irizarry would be a perfect fit.

produce food to supply the island’s demand,” Cordero-

“When I was earning my master’s, I realized there was

farm into the classroom,” Cordero-Irizarry said.

Cordero-Irizarry’s recent dissertation work has brought her a little closer to home. In interdisciplinary research

cia Marie ero-Irizarry

combining ethics, philosophy and soil science, she is identifying the ethical norms guiding Puerto Rican coffee farmers to adopt soil conservation practices.

“When your farm is in the middle of the mountains and is only accessible by dirt road, you may not have internet or a close neighbor. How do you address soil conservation? And the question is, is that even on your radar? Also, coffee is a historically and culturally significant crop in Puerto Rico, so I’d like to do my part to help these farmers,” she said.

Despite

coffee’s

significance

in

Puerto

Rico,

international competition, rising labor costs and negative environmental conditions have contributed to a decline in the number of coffee farms on the island. a lot of literature available about soil science—especially

Cordero-Irizarry’s research hopes to contribute to the

on soil conservation—but the general public wasn’t

preservation of coffee production in Puerto Rico.

aware of it,” Cordero-Irizarry said. “I was interested in

With lots of options to consider, Cordero-Irizarry isn’t

how I could transfer all that information to the public—

settled on her post-doctoral plans. She’s considering

to both the farmer and consumer.”

returning to Puerto Rico to work in the local agricultural

Cordero-Irizarry is often seen on her orange bicycle

extension service, applying for a faculty position in the

traversing campus as she collaborates with multiple MSU

U.S. or pursuing her dream of starting a farm back in

faculty on projects within the agricultural and extension

Puerto Rico—or a combination of all three.

education major. One of these educates Mississippi youth

“I think it’s important for grad students to know that

on microgreens—small plants loaded with flavor and

they don’t need a plan once they finish,” Cordero-

nutritional value—through the 4-H Extension program.

Irizarry said. “I have a lot of confidence that when I leave

“The idea is to bridge the gap between students and

Mississippi State, I’ll have the skills I need to succeed

where their food comes from. As each generation grows

and know what I’m able to offer the world. Those plans

up, they move farther and farther away from farms—

were already on my radar before coming here, but now

most of the kids live in cities. The goal is to bring the

I feel more secure about them becoming reality.”

BAC K T O M E N U

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT

Emma Schultz selected as fellow of regional fish and wildlife organization

By Special to The Dispatch • February 27, 2024

Emma Schultz of Starkville was named a

the past 12 months or enrolled in a post-graduate

Minorities in Natural Resources Conservation

program in select Southeastern states. Applicants

Fellow during the 77th annual Southeastern

also must have a career interest in conservation and

Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies

natural resources and minimum 2.5 GPA and be at

conference. Schultz is a doctoral student studying

least 18 years old.

forest resources in Mississippi State University’s College of Forest Resources.

MINRC accepts approximately 25 fellows per year,

To qualify for the fellowship, applicants must be

and the application process is highly competitive.

current undergraduate students, graduates within

Fellows

participate

in

discussions

and

gain

information on selected topics relevant to seeking

SEAFWA cultivates friendly relations and mutual

employment in the natural resources field.

understanding among officials engaged in natural

Andy Kouba, professor and head of MSU’s

resources conservation. It also promotes public

Department

and

understanding and appreciation of the importance

Aquaculture, said the CFR aims to increase

of conserving natural resources and encourages

diversity in the field of natural resources and

the management of fish and wildlife resources. For

promote opportunities including the MINRC

more information about SEAFWA, visit seafwa.

fellowship.

org. For more information about MSU’s College of

of

Wildlife,

Fisheries

Forest Resources, visit www.cfr.msstate.edu.

BAC K T O M E N U

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT

MSU GRADUATE STUDENT RESEARCHES ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE, MACHINE LEARNING TO GLEAN VITAL AG INFO

By Samuel Hughes | photo by Grace Cockrell Collecting valuable agricultural and environmental

six-month internship as a machine learning scientist at

information from the ground can be challenging,

multinational healthcare and agriculture corporation

but a Mississippi State graduate student is improving

Bayer.

the ability of artificial intelligence to effectively use

Hester’s expertise is specifically concentrated on

remote sensing data for better insight.

improving deep-learning land cover mapping, which

Dakota Hester, a first-generation doctoral

can have powerful implications in agriculture and

student in MSU’s Department of Agricultural and

forestry. Hester’s Bayer Crop Science research has

Biological Engineering, is completing a competitive,

similar goals to his ongoing graduate research at MSU:

improving the ability of remote sensing—satellite data

firsthand look at what the natural resources industry

and aerial photographs—to cost-effectively increase

looks like,” Hester said. “That definitely shaped

understanding of agricultural processes and natural

what I wanted to pursue later in life as I was going

resources. While collecting data from the ground

through undergrad, and my focus has shifted away

can be expensive, cumbersome and time-consuming,

from programming and software engineering toward

satellite imagery is readily available.

sciences and natural resources—how we can extract

“Remote sensing is the best way to increase our

the most value from what we have naturally growing

understanding of natural resources and how crops and

in Mississippi.”

plants grow, without necessarily needing someone

After completing his bachelor’s degree in computer

on the ground monitoring every single crop day in

engineering at MSU in 2021, Hester worked as a

and day out,” Hester said. “Once we hit a certain

graduate research assistant in MSU’s Department of

resolution, we can extract much more information

Sustainable Bioproducts, where he researched a fully

than what has previously been available in the past 10

automated, artificial intelligence application that

to 15 years because of new technologies in satellites,

identifies species of wood with high accuracy using

remote sensing and artificial intelligence.

scans of the wood’s surface.

“Bayer has given me access to and experience with

Hester then moved in 2023 to the agricultural and

novel tools and technology. I’m excited to return to

biological engineering research lab of Assistant

our research lab and leverage some of the techniques

Professor Vitor S. Martins, where he conducts current

they use,” Hester said.

research on deep machine learning. He hopes to

While Hester’s Bayer research primarily relates to

continue this after obtaining his doctorate, which he

agriculture, his work in MSU’s Department of

expects to complete in 2025.

Agricultural and Biological Engineering hopes to use

The MSU Department of Agricultural and Biological

deep learning to map entire states.

Engineering focuses on engineering and technology

“Being at MSU has definitely opened up a ton of

for agriculture and natural resources, including

different opportunities for me. I don’t think I would

autonomous agricultural systems and precision

have gotten this internship had I not been involved in

agriculture, as well as ecological engineering and

the research that is being done at Mississippi State,”

sustainable energy. The department has split

Hester said. “I’ve gotten to meet so many wonderful

responsibilities in the College of Agriculture and Life

scientists and researchers from across the globe, and

Sciences, Bagley College of Engineering, Mississippi

honestly that’s the highlight for me—it’s the people.”

Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station and

The Tishomingo native credits his interest in

MSU Extension Service. For more on the department,

agricultural science to his father, a field mechanic for

visit www.abe.msstate.edu.

a logging equipment supplier.

Mississippi State University is taking care of what

“Particularly during the summers when school was

matters. Learn more at www.msstate.edu.

out, he would take me into the field with him. I got a BAC K T O M E N U

NEWS

DOCTORAL COMMENC

CLASS O

CEMENT CEREMONY

OF 2024

BAC K T O M E N U

NEWS

CONGRATU

ULATIONS!

BAC K T O M E N U

NEWS NEWS

New GSA Officers Elected

Lilli Harris

Assistant Director, Graduate Student Development

C O N G R AT U L AT I O N S TO O U R 2 0 24 - 2 0 2 5 O F F I C E R S !

Patricia Marie Cordero-Irizarry President

Trinity Baynham Vice President

LaMareshia Johnson Vice President of Meridian Affairs

Bala Subramanyam Sivarathri Secretary

Kya Davis Treasurer

Ana Valencia

Service and Outreach Coordinator

Farbod Ghiasi

Technology and Marketing Coordinator BAC K T O M E N U

NEWS NEWS

Congratulations, D

We extend our heartfelt congratulations to Robbie Salters, Assistant Dire School, for successfully earning a Doctor of Philosophy in Human Develo look forward to the continued contributions and

Dr. Robbie Salters!

ector of Graduate Admissions at Mississippi State University’s Graduate opment and Family Science. We are proud to celebrate this milestone and d success that Robbie will bring to our institution.

BAC K T O M E N U

NEWS

MSU MCNAIR SCHOLAR MEMORIES

Our Mississippi State University McNair Scholars, including Alexis Jackson, Ph.D., MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and Ph.D. in Human Development and Family Sciences, Courtney Welch Master of Science in Counselor Education and McNair Alumna, Timothy Sellers Ph.D. in Electrical and Computer Engineering, and Tyrone Tolbert Jr. Master of Business Administration enjoyed a dinner at Harvey’s, marking the completion of another successful semester. The McNair Scholars Program is dedicated to supporting underrepresented students in pursuing advanced degrees and research, fostering a community of scholars committed to making a difference in their fields. Click here for more information on our scholars.

BAC K T O M E N U

NEWS

Introducing

MEGHAN WOLF

Enhancing Graduate Student Development at Mississippi State University

The Graduate School at Mississippi State University is excited to introduce Meghan Wolf, the new Program Coordinator for Graduate Student Development.

BAC K T O M E N U

EVENTS

We'’ d be jambalayin'’ if we said

MARDI GRAD OP

We celebrated Mardi Gras the Graduate School way! In the lobby of Allen Hall we off along with masks and beads to all students, staff, and faculty. We were overwhe

d we didn’ ' t have a good time!

PEN HOUSE 2024

fered a Mardi Grad experience to remember with complementary gumbo and king cake, elmed by the turnout and participation from both prospective and current students.

BAC K T O M E N U

EVENTS

Capturing Grad Bulldog Spirit THE GRADUATE SCHOOL’S COOKOUT AT LEFT FIELD LOUNGE,

featuring Dr. Brien Henry on the Grill

MSU Graduate Students Immerse in Culinary Adventure at Sipp & Savor in Meridian, Mississippi

BAC K T O M E N U

EVENTS

CONFERENCE OF SOUTHE

Graduate School Staff Present at Conference of South for First-Generation Graduate Students Three staff members from Mississippi State University’s Graduate School were selected to present at the Conference of Southern Graduate Schools (CSGS) in Greenville, South Carolina, in March 2024.

Lauren Benton, Assistant Director of Graduate Enrollment Marketing, and Lilli Harris, Assistant Director of Graduate Student Development, collaborated with representatives from the University of Texas at San Antonio on a presentation

titled “Don’t Stick to the Rivers and Lakes You’re Used To: Strategies for Success with Hispanic Serving Institutions and First-Generation Graduate Students.”

Their session concentrated on the FirstGeneration Graduate Student Series, providing invaluable guidance for navigating graduate school for firstgeneration students and implementing marketing and communication strategies to enhance participation among this group.

ERN GRADUATE SCHOOLS

hern Graduate Schools, Focusing on Success Strategies and Admissions and Enrollment Insights The program, accessible to all firstgeneration graduate students, includes “how-to” sessions, workshops, guest speakers, and panels designed to equip students with essential skills and resources. Additionally, the program offers networking opportunities and peer mentorship, sponsored by the Division of Access, Opportunity, and Success through the Innovation in Inclusion Grant.

Dr. Lindsey Shelton, Director of Graduate Admissions and Enrollment Marketing, also made a significant impact at the CSGS conference. She co-presented with representatives from North Carolina State University, sharing insights into factors impacting students’ enrollment decisions.

Dr. Shelton specifically focused on domestic students’ perspectives while her co-presenters addressed considerations for international applicants.

BAC K T O M E N U

AWARDS

MSU STUDENTS SHOWCASE PROJECTS AT GRADUATE STUDENT RESEARCH SYMPOSIUM

By Carl Smith

More than 50 Mississippi State graduate students won prizes for their cutting-edge work during the spring 2024 Graduate Student Research Symposium.

Over 130 students participated in the symposium, a bi-annual event allowing students to showcase their faculty-guided research and creative activity. The GSRS featured students from diverse departments and colleges who participated in poster and oral presentation sessions, sharing their research with the MSU community.

Student projects were evaluated by 53 judges, who provided feedback that can be useful in improving current research and preparing for future endeavors.

Research projects were divided into four categories-Agriculture and Life Sciences; Education, Arts and Sciences, and Business; Engineering; and Forest Resources and Veterinary Medicine-and the event featured 15 oral and four poster sessions, and 22 moderators and volunteers.

Winning students received $150 for first-place, $75 for second-place and $50 for third-place entries.

The event was hosted by the MSU Graduate Student Association in collaboration with the Graduate School. For more information about the GSRS, visit www.grad. msstate.edu/students/graduate-development/graduate-research-symposium.

Photos submitted by Graduate Student Association

BAC K T O M E N U

AWARDS

Spring GRADUATE SYMPOSIUM

g 2024 E RESEARCH M WINNERS

BAC K T O M E N U

AWARDS

Union Art Gallery March 18 to March 28, 2024

The Image of Research competition gives students the opportunity to engage creatively with their research, share behind-the-scenes views of their research processes, or portray their academic study in visual form.

Recognizing Excellence MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY’S 2024 IMAGE OF RESEARCH WINNERS

First place Larra Diboyan

Second Place Felicity Kleitz-Singleton

People’s Choice Award Charlyn King

BAC K T O M E N U

AWARDS

3MT AT THE CONFERENCE OF SOUTHERN GRADUATE SCHOOLS Daniel McCormick: 3MT Grand Champion Shines at Regional Competition In an impressive display of research and communication skills, Daniel McCormick, a Ph.D. student in Civil Engineering Online at Mississippi State University, was named the 3MT Grand Champion. His research titled “An Experimental Investigation of Performance-Coated Low-Iron Glass for Use in Airport Traffic Control” focuses on improving safety and efficiency in airport operations.

The 3MT competition challenges students to explain their research in just three minutes, making complex topics understandable to everyone. Daniel’s presentation stood out among 63 competitors, earning him a spot in the regional finals hosted by the Conference of Southern Graduate Schools (CSGS) in Greenville, South Carolina, where he was one of 12 finalists.

To learn more about Mississippi State University’s 3MT competition and upcoming events, visit here.

BAC K T O M E N U

AWARDS

What is your name, age, classification and major?

My name is Timothy Sellers, and I am 27 years old. I am a fourth-year Ph.D. student majoring

in

electrical

and

computer

engineering.

What year did you begin studying at MSU, and when is your expected graduation date?

I began my studies at MSU in the fall of 2020 and am expected to graduate in the fall of 2024.

Why

did

you

choose

to

attend

MSU, and why did you choose an engineering field of study?

I chose MSU because of its reputation for developing and conducting research and being well known as an amazing engineering school. I chose the engineering field for a multitude of reasons, one being it was the field in which I could do the most good by helping society solve difficult problems and helping the younger generation find interest in STEM-related fields. I have found that it was the right decision to join MSU and one of the important decisions of my engineering career.

What

BCoE Student Hall of Fame 2024

TIMOTHY SELLERS

are

your

favorite

campus

organizations you have become a part of?

My favorite organizations on campus would first be the Robotics Club, then the IEEE Student Club, and lastly the Society of Black Voices Club because of their concert and performances every year. Additionally, I really do enjoy the variety of cultural associations on campus because it allows me to learn and experience diverse cultures

and their practices around the world. An

How has MSU, specifically the Bagley

example is the Caribbean Student Association,

College of Engineering, prepared you

where I have attended their events and learned

for professional life after college?

multiple things about Caribbean countries.

Both have greatly prepared me for my professional

life

after

college

as

they

What has been your favorite course you

have pushed me to be a better instructor

have taken at MSU and why?

and introduced me to companies and

Out of the courses I have taken, I would say

organizations that I could either partner

it would be ECE-8743 Advance Robotics and

with to conduct research or have a fulfilling

CSE-8990 Advance AI Robotics because they

career in the industry. Specifically, through the

both deal with improving my understanding of

various career fairs that MSU holds every year,

autonomy and AI, and they help me to further

I was able to meet many companies and have

my research on robotic systems. I enjoyed these

a variety of career options in the near future.

classes because of the instructors’ ability to

Through the BCoE mission statement, I have

communicate clearly and illustrate the material

found courage and perseverance to continue

to the students, thus allowing me to gain first-

my studies and achieve my goals.

hand experience in how to conduct technical classes since it is my goal to become a professor.

What are your plans after graduation?

I plan to become a professor and teach

Which

course

has

been

your

most

robotics at R1 and R2 universities. I would

challenging at MSU and why? What was

also like to spend some time in the industry

something you learned about yourself

to gain more connections and experiences to

after taking that course?

pass on to my future students.

My most difficult class at MSU was Machine Learning and Soft Computing because it focused

What will you miss most about MSU

on fuzzy logic or non-exact computing. I am

after you graduate?

truly fascinated by the concept but found it hard

When I graduate from MSU, I will miss the

to implement in the task given in class. With the

friendships that I’ve made the most, as well

help of the professor and fellow classmates, I

as the various engineering organizations. I

was able to gain a full understanding of fuzzy

will also miss working with ECE faculty, staff,

logic systems and develop a fuzzy logic-based

and students to develop new research ideas,

robotic path planning application.

meeting with students for the senior design II projects, and attending the guest lectures

What is one thing you have learned

ECE hosts throughout the year. I will also miss

related to engineering during your time

the Senior Design Showcase event at the end

at Bagley College of Engineering?

of each semester. I find that it is a great way

I have learned so much from BCoE and ECE,

to inspire younger students and help them

but if I had to choose, I would say how to

showcase what they have learned during their

conduct research and the process of journal

time at the MSU ECE department.

and conference paper writing.

BAC K T O M E N U

AWARDS

CALS Honors Dean Peter Ryan with Prestigious Dean’s Award College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) Dean Scott Willard presents the Dean’s Award to Executive Vice Provost and Mississippi State University Graduate School Dean Peter Ryan for his outstanding support during the CALS Super Bulldog Weekend Breakfast sponsored by Mississippi Farm Bureau in April.

BAC K T O M E N U

AWARDS

THE GRADUATE STUDENT

HALL OF

FAME SCHOLAR AWARDS

COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE AND LIFE SCIENCES Ramandeep Kumar Sharma, Plat & Soil Sciences Sharma has 15 peer-reviewed journal publications with seven as first author. He has presented his research in various meetings with over 40 research abstracts to show that work. He is active in mentoring undergraduate students in research activities and serves as a teaching assistant for PSS 4123/6123 Grain Crops. He served as the President of MSU’s Indian Student Association in the 20212022 academic year, as well as, serving as an Associate Editor for AgroSystems, Geosciences, and Environment. Here, Sharma provided 33 manuscript reviews for seven different journals, and served as a judge for student contests on 10 different occasions. He was awarded the Gerald O. Mott Meritorious Student Award for the Crop Sciences Society of America, as well as several professional development awards from Mississippi State University. Sharma is currently a member of seven professional organizations including the American Society of Agronomy (ASA), Mississippi Academy of Sciences (MAS), and is a lifetime member of the Scholars Academic and Scientific Society (SASS).

COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES Jenna Russo, Psychology Russo has four published articles, three as a first author, with another under revise/resubmit and a sixth submitted. She is active in a variety of teaching efforts including General Psychology and Introductory Psychological Statistics at Mississippi State University, as well as several teaching positions at the University of Central Florida.

Russo was awarded several travel grants from various universities as well as 3 grants to support her research work. Her research and clinical work have provided her opportunities to pursue advocacy at the national level in Child and Family Policy and Practice while working first as an intern and then promoted to a Strengthening Families Consultant at the Center for Study of Social Policy (CSSP; Washington, DC). Russo is currently a member of 11 professional organizations including the Child Maltreatment and Interpersonal Violence Special Interest Group (CMIV-SIG), Association for the

Advancement of Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies (ABCT), and the American Psychological Association (APA). She has also given her time to volunteer work at the First Orlando Counseling Center and the Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children.

COLLEGE OF BUSINESS Junnatun Naym, Finance and Economics Naym has five publications and one peer-reviewed publication since joining the doctoral program in 2019. She was given the honor of presenting her job market paper, “Delinquent Insider Trade Reporting and Corporate Misconduct” at the 2024 Southwestern Finance Association conference, where she won the Best Doctoral paper Award in Corporate Finance. Her award-winning paper is currently under review at the Journal of Banking and Finance, a top peer-reviewed journal in the field. Naym has taught a total of six sections for the Finance and Economics department with classes ranging from 60 to 80 students. She has taught Financial Management (FIN 3123) and Financial Management (FIN 4923) and received excellent evaluations from her students. She is a strong leader and has served as a discussant, session chair, or program committee member for both the Financial Management Association and the Southern Finance Association. Naym also served as an ad hoc reviewer for the Journal of Financial markets and Governance.

COLLEGE EDUCATION Brantley Ballenger, Kinesiology Ballenger has six publications, five of which he is first author, and 8 published abstracts. He has attended several professional conferences between 2019 and 2024 and participated in many professional development workshops. He is active in the Starkville and surrounding areas, lending his time as a volunteer for the Challenger Baseball League, the Special Olympics for Mississippi Basketball, and a program leader for the Active Pals Physical Activity Program. He was also a mentor for many students in the Disability Research Laboratory. Ballenger has won several awards

Hall of Fame recipients from left to right: Ramandeep Kumar Sharma, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Plant and Soil Sciences, Jenna Russo, College of Arts and Sciences, Psychology, Junnatun Naym, College of Business, Finance and Economics, Brantley Ballenger, College of Education, Kinesiology, Md Mehedi Farhad, College of Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Emma Schultz, College of Forest Resources, Wildlife, Fisheries, and Aquaculture, Monzur Chowdhury, College of Veterinary Medicine, Comparative Biomedical Science

including the University of Montevallo Outstanding Alumnus Award in Exercise Nutrition Science as well as placing in the 2021, 2022, and 2023 Mississippi State University Research Symposium for his Poster Presentation. He is currently a member of eight professional organizations including Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society, the International Federation of Adapted Physical Activity, and the American College of Sports Medicine.

BAGLEY COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING Md Mehedi Farhad, Electrical and Computer Engineering Farhad has four published journal papers, two as first author, and is the co-author of two ongoing journal papers that will be submitted soon, bringing his total number of publications to seven journal papers and 15 conferences. He has played a pivotal role in several projects funded from NASA, USDA, and NSF, where he helped develop a fleet of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) and ground rovers that deployed multiple sensor platforms for field-scale data collection. His research has afforded him several awards including NASA’s prestigious Future Investigators in NASA Earth and Space Science Technology (FINESST22) Early Career Award (ECA) as well as a full travel grant to participate in the NASA-JLP SMAPVEX22 field campaign. Farhad is a member of three technical societies, IEEE, IGRSS (IEEE International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium), and AP-S (IEEE Antenna and Propagation Society). He is an active mentor for numerous undergraduate, master’s and Ph.D. students.

COLLEGE OF VETERINARY MEDICINE Monzur Chowdhury, Comparative Biomedical Science Chowdhury has published one peer-reviewed journal article and submitted two for his research on Listeria monocytogenes pathogenesis. He has actively presented his research at scientific meetings, including the American Society for Microbiology

(ASM) general meeting (ASM Microbe), the Conference of research Workers in Animal Diseases (CRWAD), and the Mississippi Academy of Science Annual Meeting. He serves as the ASM Young Ambassador to Mississippi and spearheaded the revitalization of the ASM MSU Chapter. Chowdhury has received several honors and awards including the 3MT Presentation at the 87th Mississippi Academy of Sciences Annual conference as well as 2nd pace in their Poster competition, Best Poster Award in the Mississippi State University Graduate Research Symposium, and numerous travel grants to share his ongoing research. He is currently a member of the Phi Kappa Phi Honors Society, the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), the Bangladesh Veterinary Council (BVC), as well as many other professional organizations.

COLLEGE OF FOREST RESOURCES Emma Schultz, Wildlife, Fisheries, and Aquaculture Schultz has eight peer-reviewed papers published with six more in various stages of review, as well as authorship on 25 total abstracts.

During her time as a student, she has received over 15 awards and recognitions ranging from travel grants, such as The Wildlife Society- Out in the Field Travel Grant, funding to attend the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (Agriculture Genome to Phenome Initiative) and winning the WFA Ernest Gluesing Outstanding Graduate Student Award (Ph.D. Level). Schultz’s leadership abilities gained her positions such as the President of the MSU Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Aquaculture (WFA) Graduate Student Association, as well as being the Dean’s Council Representative for MSU WFA and the Co-Coordinator for the 1st Annual MSU/USDA Graduate Summer Research Experience Program. She is a current member of the Phi Kappa Phi Honors Society, American Fisheries Society, and the Wildlife Society. Schultz is active in the surrounding community and has volunteered for Habitat for Humanity, Starkville Rec. League 8U Softball, and is a Mississippi Aquarium research volunteer.

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Three MSU students n

By Carl Smith | Photos by Grace Cockrell, Jonah Holland, and Submitted

VALENCIA EPPS

Three Mississippi State students, all from the College of Education, are 2024 Fulbright finalists—the university’s 11th, 12th and 13th finalists in the last eight years.

Hanna Clark, a master’s student from Chelsea, Michigan, and two graduates—Jenny Baldwin of Madison, Alabama, and Valencia Epps of Starkville— are receiving Fulbright U.S. Student Program awards for the 2024-2025 academic year.

MSU President Mark E. Keenum lauded the students for this prestigious achievement.

“Mississippi State students establish a strong educational

JENNY BALDWIN

foundation, and we encourage them to learn without boundaries. They can go anywhere as they pursue their goals and work to achieve their dreams,” Keenum said.

“I have every confidence these outstanding students will represent our university with great distinction as members of this elite group of scholars. I also appreciate the members of our faculty who have taught, mentored and prepared them for this wonderful experience.”

Clark, who is studying educational leadership, will be paired with a secondary school in Thailand through the Fulbright English Teaching Assistant, or ETA, program. A 2020 graduate of Central Michigan University, she previously served as an English as a Second Language teacher at the Al’iikhwa School in Israel and an intern at The Foundation for Older Persons’ Development in Thailand. The 20202021 Fulbright semi-finalist and Teaching English to

named Fulbright finalists

HANNA CL ARK

Speakers of Other Languages-certified teacher is expected to graduate in May. Baldwin, a current English as a Second Language and substitute K-12 teacher in Alabama, will be paired with a secondary school in the German state of Hesse through the ETA program. She previously taught English to German students as a counselor and leader for the Munich, Germany-based Camps for Friends and visited the Netherlands, United Kingdom and Germany on individual study-abroad trips as an undergraduate.

Baldwin, a former Dean’s and President’s Scholar, graduated from MSU in 2023 with a bachelor’s degree in secondary English education and a minor in linguistics.

Epps, a Stephen D. Lee Scholar and Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society member, will partner with South Korea’s Mokpo National University and study English-Korean

co-teaching in hopes of improving collaboration and occupational well-being of Korean natives and English-speaking ex-patriots from other countries. She previously served as an afterschool English teacher in South Korea through the Teach and Learn in Korea program from 2018-2020 and earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in elementary education from MSU in 2022 and 2023, respectively.

“Our continued success with the Fulbright U.S. student program really shows how MSU’s educational programs, study abroad opportunities and research endeavors truly prepare our students to engage with the Fulbright program’s core mission of building mutual understanding between nations through exchange,” said David Hoffman, director of MSU’s Office of Prestigious External Scholarships. “It is particularly exciting to see that the three selected are students from the College of Education, as they are certain to bring what they learn from their international experiences back to classrooms, students and educational institutions in Mississippi and beyond.”

The Fulbright Program is the U.S. government’s flagship international educational exchange program and is supported by the people of the U.S. and partner countries around the world. It is funded through an annual appropriation made by the U.S. Congress to the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. Participating governments and host institutions, corporations and foundations around the world also provide direct and indirect program support.

Since 1946, the Fulbright Program has provided more than 400,000 participants from over 160 countries the opportunity to study, teach, conduct research, exchange ideas and contribute to finding solutions to shared international concerns.

For additional information about the Fulbright Program or the U.S. Department of State, visit eca.state. gov/fulbright.

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GRADUATE STUDENT AWARDS BANQUET OUTSTANDING GRADUATE STUDENT ADVISOR OF THE YEAR

Dr. Brandon Cline

The 2024 Graduate Awards Ceremony was held on April 19th, at the Bost Conference Center Ballroom. The ceremony celebrated the many accomplishments of our graduate students, as well as the outstanding faculty that supported them throughout the year. MSU Vice President for Research and Economic Development, Dr. Julie Jordan, served as the keynote speaker for the evening, providing those in attendance with encouragement and accolades as they continue to leave their mark on MSU.

AWARDS

AWARDS WERE PRESENTED TO: GRADUATE RESEARCH ASSISTANT OF THE YEAR

Gabe Nyen

Jiaxin Wang

Caroline Ferrell

Junnatun Naym

Carley Hand

Mallie Donald

Emma Schultz

Seto Ogunleye

Catalina Revelo

Master’s Level

Gabe Nyen PhD Level

Jiaxin Wang DONALD ZACHARIAS GRADUATE TEACHING ASSISTANT OF THE YEAR Master’s Level

Caroline Ferrell PhD Level

Junnatun Naym GRADUATE SERVICE ASSISTANT OF THE YEAR Master’s Level

Carley Hand PhD Level

Mallie Donald GRADUATE STUDENT ASSOCIATION EXCELLENCE AWARD Emma Schultz Seto Ogunleye Catalina Revelo OUTSTANDING GRADUATE STUDENT ADVISOR OF THE YEAR Dr. Brandon Cline

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