Vision Magazine 2019

Vision

THEY ARE SECURING YOUR FUTURE

DEAN & LEADERSHIP:

DR. RICK TRAVIS Dean

DR. NICOLE RADER Associate Dean for Academic Affairs

DR. GISELLE THIBAUDEAU (MUNN) Associate Dean for Research

DR. TOMMY ANDERSON Interim Assistant Dean for Academic Affairs

ALISA SEMMES Administrative Assistant to the Dean

ACADEMIC AFFAIRS:

DR. NICOLE RADER Associate Dean for Academic Affairs

DR. TOMMY ANDERSON Interim Assistant Dean for Academic Affairs

BARBARA STEWART Academic Coordinator

TRACY BRITT Academic Coordinator

HANNAH BATEMAN Admissions Coordinator

KASONDRA HARRIS Academic Advisor

KATE SAWAYA Administrative Assistant

RESEARCH:

DR. GISELLE THIBAUDEAU (MUNN) Associate Dean for Research

SILAS KNOX Contract & Grant Specialist

ASHLEY MILLER Contract & Grant Specialist

COMMUNICATION:

KARYN BROWN Director of Communication

SARAH NICHOLAS Communication Specialist

TYLER POWELL Communication Graduate Assistant

JOANNA BAUER Student Graphic Designer

JULIA THOMPSON Student Graphic Designer

KALI HICKS Communication Student Worker

ANNA GALE ALEXANDER Communication Intern DEVELOPMENT & ALUMNI

SARA FREDERIC Director of Development

NIKKI ROBINSON

KINARD

Manager

Social science research typically examines the thoughts, attitudes, beliefs and opinions of adults. While qualitative research with children and youth is not especially common, one Mississippi State University faculty member has made kids and their views the cornerstone of her research and new book.

Margaret Hagerman, MSU assistant professor of sociology and faculty affiliate in both the African American Studies and Gender Studies programs, conducted research with 30 families with kids

Securing a New Narrative: Understanding thePerspectives ofChildren andYouth

By Kali Hicks

between the ages of 10-13 over a period of two years. Hagerman said her youth-centered research offers a different perspective on how the newest generation of young, affluent white people make sense of racism today—and how they will likely shape the future of racism in America.

Her 280-page book, “White Kids: Growing Up with Privilege in a Racially Divided America,” published by New York University Press in 2018, has garnered Hagerman a range of recognition in

national and international media outlets, including The Atlantic, LA Times, Time, Inside Higher Ed, NPR’s Marketplace and The Guardian.

Through observations and in-depth interviews with affluent white children and their families, Hagerman documented how kids made sense of racism, inequality and privilege in their everyday lives. She also learned what they thought about topics like unequal educational opportunities and police violence. Based on this qualitative research, Hagerman’s book provides a detailed examination of the role that white children and families play in the reproduction of racism and racial inequality in America.

“In a racially unequal and racially divided society, I began to wonder how white families communicate about race,” Hagerman said. “What kinds of messages do kids growing up in white families receive from their parents about race? How does racial learning unfold in white families? What do white kids actually think about race and racism? And how does all of this connect to the perpetuation or challenging of racial inequality?”

Hagerman’s passion for researching inequality and power in America can be traced back to the English and sociology courses she took in college. Before joining MSU’s faculty as an assistant professor in 2014, Hagerman earned a bachelor’s degree in English and a master’s degree in sociology from Lehigh University, as well as a Ph.D. in sociology from Emory University.

“I am very passionate about trying to understand how racism is reproduced, reworked and resisted from one generation to the next,” Hagerman said. “I am also passionate about bringing the voices of young people to the forefront of social science research so that research is conducted with kids rather than on them.”

While in graduate school, Hagerman began researching the topic of racial socialization, or how families communicate about race. “For important reasons, most of this research historically has focused on how parents of black children teach their kids strategies for navigating racism and discrimination in America.” This graduate school research led Hagerman to her specific area of scholarly interest.

Hagerman said her interviews gave her insight into what members of the younger generation think about today’s complicated and unequal social world.

She said although she wrote a scholarly book published by an academic press, she intentionally wrote to attract people from outside of the academic community to become interested in the research. Hagerman said she hopes her work provides “new answers about how young people develop their ideas

about race” while also offering “new ideas about how inequality is reproduced in the context of everyday life.”

By thinking critically about the issues of race and class in America, Hagerman also hopes parents will be impacted through her book.

“I hope the book will encourage parents of white children to think more carefully and critically about the messages they communicate to their kids about race and to maybe re-think some of the choices they make insofar as how they set up their children’s social environments,” Hagerman said.

She strives to explain, “that white kids notice all kinds of racial dynamics whether their parents talk about race with them or not. This research illustrates how parents’ actions rather than just words shape their children’s racial views.”

While a great deal of racial socialization research focuses on how parents report teaching their kids about race and racism, Hagerman adds the voices of children themselves.

“My book offers a new narrative in that the voices of children are centered,” Hagerman said. “I think readers will gain insights into how young, affluent, white kids are producing ideas about race and racism with their friends, their siblings, at soccer practice, and in their everyday lives. In addition, I think that to truly understand how systems of inequality are produced and reproduced, it is necessary to conduct research with groups in positions of power and privilege.”

Margaret Hagerman

MSU’s Fitzkee garners $1.8 million NIH grant to study bacteria, surfaces and infections

By Sarah Nicholas

Millions of people seek medical care at hospitals each year, but dangerous infectioncausing bacteria can lurk in hospital settings.

Mississippi State faculty member Nicholas Fitzkee and a team of university researchers are looking for ways to minimize this concern for patients.

Fitzkee, a structural biophysicist and associate professor in MSU’s Department of Chemistry, received a $1.8 million grant from the National Institutes of Health in 2018 to study how bacterial proteins attach to surfaces and impact public health.

Appropriated over five years, Fitzkee’s NIH R01 grant—the original and oldest grant mechanism used by NIH—will help the MSU researcher and his colleagues learn how to better protect individuals from contracting bacterial diseases while in the hospital.

Formally titled “The structure, orientation and competitive interactions of S. epidermidis biofilm proteins on surfaces,” Fitzkee’s research investigates how bacterial proteins interact with and attach to plastic and glass surfaces.

MSU chemistry professor Nickolas Fitzkee

Fitzkee said hospital-associated infections are a major problem, claim thousands of lives and cost billions of dollars annually. He said patients who receive implanted medical devices may be especially vulnerable.

“Bacteria can coat the surfaces of these devices, forming biofilms, which is the root cause of many infections,” he explained.

Fitzkee hopes that understanding the molecular forces involved in bacterial attachment to surfaces will help scientists develop medical implants that are more resistant to biofilm formation.

“This project lies at the intersection of surface chemistry, molecular biophysics and nanotechnology,” Fitzkee said. “All three are very exciting fields to be working in right now.”

After Fitzkee joined the MSU faculty in 2011, his research group—collectively known as the Fitzkee Lab—began studying the relationship between protein dynamics and function.

“This grant has elevated the Fitzkee Lab and MSU’s Department of Chemistry to the very top levels of competition within this leading agency for health science and medical research,” said Dennis Smith, chemistry department head and professor. “Dr. Fitzkee continues to set the bar in all areas.”

Training is a huge part of the Fitzkee Lab’s work and something of great personal importance to Fitzkee himself.

“One of the things I love about MSU is the ability to be passionate about both research and mentoring,” he said. “This project will give students an opportunity to use cutting-edge tools to work on a very practical problem.”

“I am particularly grateful to the former Ph.D. and graduate students who already have worked in the lab because this funding is really a testament to those who helped collect the preliminary data

and write the early papers,” Fitzkee added. Three Ph.D. students and several undergraduates currently are assisting with Fitzkee’s Lab research. Activities include spectroscopic, microscopic and biophysical investigation of proteins on nanoparticles.

“I work with very talented people—students, faculty and staff alike—and the facilities at MSU are top-notch,” Fitzkee said. “I’m pleased that this funding helps contribute to our department’s forward momentum.”

Recipients of an R01 grant compete with faculty from elite universities across the country and are typically determined to be in the top 10 percent of their field. In addition to his NIH R01 grant, Fitzkee has received funding from several other sources, including the National Science Foundation’s Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research Section (EPSCoR) and the Henry Family Foundation.

“Dr. Fitzkee is making deep impressions on the academic community that works at the intersection of chemistry, biology and physics,” said College of Arts and Sciences Dean Rick Travis. “He is clearly becoming one of the university’s leading researchers, and his work is helping to increase our national reputation. We are grateful for the level of diligence Dr. Fitzkee invests in his work and his dedication to students,” Travis added.

A native of York, Pennsylvania, Fitzkee received his Ph.D. in biophysics in 2005 from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland. He received his bachelor’s degree in computational physics in 2001 from Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

MSU’s Department of Chemistry was founded in 1878 and hosts the state’s oldest program accredited by the American Chemical Society.

State climatologist Michael Brown with MSU students Madison Campbell (left) and Lauren Pounds (right)

By Sarah Nicholas

Longtime Mississippi State University professor and meteorologist Michael Brown wears many hats – teacher, leader, guide – and most importantly, protector.

Brown, a native of Sherrard, Illinois, and 20-year faculty member in the Department of Geosciences, also is Mississippi’s state climatologist, a role that comes with many responsibilities.

“Some days, I am the state’s weatherman,” Brown said. “You might catch me helping farmers make decisions based on rainfall or drought trends, but at other times I am working with cities or counties in Mississippi who might need climate impact studies in order to better attract new businesses to their region of the state.”

As the state climatologist, Brown serves Mississippi’s citizenry and its local and state governments, and he also participates in research to enhance the safety of Mississippians.

“Currently, we are looking at characteristics unique to tornado environments in the southeast U.S., as well as human-related heat stress,” he said.

Brown also helps secure MSU’s campus during severe weather events and addresses other safety-related issues. In 2010, he worked with then-state climatologist Charles Wax to develop an all-encompassing hazard mitigation plan for the university.

“We were the first public institution to identify not only weather hazards, but also man-made hazards - from pandemics to terrorism - and develop a comprehensive mitigation plan against these threats,” Brown said. “Our plan was approved by MEMA and FEMA and is now a living and guiding document for the university, often used for planning purposes. Our work also served as a template for many other public universities and colleges.”

Brown and others in the geosciences department also raise weather awareness on campus by developing educational material

and seminars for various groups, such as MSU’s fraternities and sororities, new faculty and students in university residence halls.

“So many of our students and faculty are from regions of the country or world where violent thunderstorms may not exist,” Brown said, noting his goal is to be involved long before a weather event occurs.

Brown said the technical definition of “severe weather” is a storm that produces 1-inch or larger hail, and/or winds of 58 mph or stronger, and/or a tornado. However, he points out, “severe” can be subjective.

“A 50 mph gust which knocks down a branch that breaks a window in your home might seem severe to the person experiencing it,” Brown said. “So when I talk to the public about severe weather, I like to use the real definition combined with the understanding that it can be relative to some folks.”

Just because a storm is severe by definition does not mean it will produce damage; likewise, a non-severe storm can produce damage, Brown said.

When severe weather is in the forecast or occurring, Brown works with MSU’s Crisis Action Team to ensure warnings and pertinent safety information are provided in a timely manner. He also frequently monitors the weather for university athletic events.

“We are mostly concerned with lightning, tornadoes or strong winds,” Brown said. “Really anything that could injure or kill players or spectators.”

Brown said preparation is key to staying safe during a severe weather event.

“Have a plan and be ready to exercise that plan. Also, if you have children, know the plan that is in place at their school or daycare,” he advises. “I always encourage those in mobile homes to evacuate

prior to any severe storm. While not unique to Mississippi, we do have a large portion of our population—nearly 20 percent— living in mobile homes. These structures do not perform well in severe weather, especially tornadoes, even weak tornadoes.”

Each summer, Brown leads a field methods/storm chasing course across the Great Plains region of the U.S., teaching students how to put what they learn in the classroom into action.

“Each day, we will forecast both location and timing of severe weather across the Great Plains and then travel to those locations, monitoring the weather and modifying our forecasts as we move,” Brown said.

Once storms develop, Brown and the students look at radar and surface observations to get themselves into a safe viewing position.

“It is really quite satisfying for the students to work from seeing the development of storms on radar and satellite to viewing severe storms and possibly tornadoes in the field,” he said. “I think it gives them more confidence in their abilities.”

When possible, Brown said he likes to tour areas with stormproduced damage to give students “a better appreciation of what their forecasts or broadcasts can do for people once they leave our program.”

Although tornadoes typically get the most attention in the South, Brown warns that lightning and flooding often are underrated dangers. “If you can hear thunder, you can be struck by lightning, even when the skies are clear in that location,” he said.

Brown said the power of moving water is tremendous and at no point should one try to cross an area of moving water by car.

“People also need to be aware of secondary causes of injury

and death due to weather, such as electrocution when power lines might be down, heart attacks from shoveling snow (not common in Mississippi), and heat-related sickness and death,” he said.

In addition to using his skills as state climatologist, Brown enjoys training the next generation of weather professionals in his MSU radar meteorology, mesoscale meteorology, advanced mesoscale meteorology and field methods/storm chasing courses. At MSU, students aspiring to a career in broadcasting can hone their abilities on the green screen by enrolling in four semesters of practicum.

“We have a suite of meteorology courses that are designed to produce a professional who can forecast, diagnose threats from radar and satellites, and have a solid understanding of the Earth’s climate,” Brown said. “Our curriculum meets the American Meteorological Society and Civil Service requirements for a meteorologist. In other words, our graduates are qualified for government or private industry work.”

One in three of today’s on-air broadcast meteorologists is a graduate of MSU’s nationally recognized meteorology program.

In addition to providing distinctive contributions in the areas of weather, environment and natural resources, MSU’s Department of Geosciences teaches more than one-third of the university’s distance learning credit hours. The department is the only educational entity in the state that combines climatologists, geographers, geologists, geospatial experts and meteorologists in one department. For more information, visit www.geosciences. msstate.edu.

College of Arts and Sciences’ scholars hit the road for life-changing learning experiences

By Sarah Nicholas

With more than 5,300 students and 300 full-time faculty members, the College of Arts and Sciences at Mississippi State is the university’s largest academic unit and home to some of the institution’s most exceptional scholars.

Many arts and sciences students also are part of MSU’s Judy and Bobby Shackouls Honors College. Several have

been recognized over the past year with some of the nation’s most prestigious awards. From time spent in China, California, Washington, D.C., and more, MSU scholars have ventured across the globe to participate in selective fellowships and other programs, enhancing their studies, gleaning new insights into humanity and becoming leaders of their generation.

Barry Goldwater Scholarship

For the fourth time in seven years, an MSU student has received the highly coveted Barry Goldwater Scholarship.

Nicholas A. “Nic” Ezzell, a senior physics major from Laurel, is the land-grant institution’s newest recipient of this award and the only Mississippian to receive the honor in 2018.

Established in 1986, the Virginia-based Barry Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation serves as a memorial to the former U.S. Republican senator from Arizona and 1964 presidential candidate. In annually recognizing undergraduate majors in science, mathematics, engineering and computer disciplines, the award helps ensure a continuing source of highly qualified professionals in these fields.

Ezzell is an aspiring computational physicist who has previously conducted extensive research with the U.S. Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory. During the summer of 2018, Ezzell returned to ORNL in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, to work on the development of simulations on quantum computers. He has since presented his research to the American Physical Society and is a listed author on a paper accepted into Biophysical Journal, among other research accomplishments.

“The Goldwater Scholarship is an encouraging message that my trajectory has yet to falter and that more than just my adviser and immediate peers recognize my potential as a serious scientific researcher,” Ezzell said. “In short, it’s an affirmation that the work I do matters.”

Ezzell said he was constantly learning new things during his summer internships, gaining knowledge about problem solving when encountering new obstacles. His research experience also led to “inspiring and career altering” moments. During his first summer, he met fellow intern Yousif Almulla who was working on quantum computing, or QC.

“From my discussions with Yousif, I became enthralled with QC, so it is no accident that I decided to come back to ORNL for a second summer to work on simulations of many-body quantum systems on current quantum computers with Dr. Travis Humble and Paul Kairys,” he said.

Ezzell said his research experience in QC has convinced him to pursue the field in graduate school. “Altogether, I aspire to be a full-time staff researcher at a national lab or a full-time professor and researcher at a university,” he said.

Since its inception, the Goldwater Foundation has recognized a total of 25 Mississippi State students—17 with the Goldwater Scholarship and eight with honorable mention awards. This year, 1,280 students from 455 institutions were nominated for a Goldwater Scholarship, and the Goldwater Foundation named 211 new Goldwater Scholars.

David L. Boren Scholarship

As MSU’s first Boren Scholar, senior microbiology major Donielle D. Allen of McCalla, Alabama, spent the fall 2018 semester in China with the School for International Training’s Health, Environment and Traditional Chinese Medicine program. Her study abroad experience was funded by a $10,000 David L. Boren Scholarship.

Allen was one of 220 undergraduates nationwide awarded the Boren Scholarship to study less commonly taught languages in world regions critical to U.S. interests – but underrepresented in study abroad programs – including Africa, Asia, Central and Eastern Europe, Eurasia, Latin America and the Middle East. In exchange for funding, Boren Scholars commit to work in federal government for at least one year after graduation.

During her time abroad, Allen wanted to expand her knowledge of traditional Chinese medicine, an interest she developed while overcoming a challenging health experience. While growing up in Crystal Springs, Allen experienced inflammation and swelling in her joints. Doctors prescribed her different medicines, but none worked. Through independent online research, Allen learned about the healing properties of turmeric, an herb that has been used in Chinese medicine for thousands of years.

“I decided to give turmeric a try, and it worked. The pain was gone, and I was able to sleep better,” she recalled. “My interest in traditional Chinese medicine as a child made me want to become a doctor.”

Allen said she would like to see a medical environment that gives patients more treatment and preventative care options.

“I want to be on the forefront of helping to give patients who want another option, but aren’t so sure about Chinese medicine, a way to manage their health. I truly want to find a way where both Eastern and Western medicine can co-exist in the U.S,” she said. “No medical system is perfect, but I hope that by combining these medical practices, physicians can fill in some of the gaps in patient care.”

Allen calls herself a “shy person,” but said she was excited about experiencing “life in a new place.”

“There is a part of the program where students were sent to different places in Yunnan Province,” she said. “We had to find our own housing and food and perform certain tasks.”

Allen was required to give a class presentation on her experience of “surviving and being independent in China.”

“To me, this was the most intimidating part of the program, and the part that best prepared me to go back to China to attend graduate school, participate in another scholarship program or another study abroad program,” she said. “I wanted to intentionally learn to live a life in China, and this program offered the foundation to do just that.”

Allen said she now realizes language, culture and traditional Chinese medicine are all intertwined. “It is difficult to understand one without the other, and it takes away the beauty if you do,” she said.

Hansen Summer Institute

As MSU’s first participant in the annual Hansen Summer Institute on Leadership and International Cooperation, senior communication major Elise Moore represented her university, state and country last July in San Diego for “a distinctive universitybased leadership experience and program in international cooperation.”

A Madison native, Moore was the first Mississippian to participate in the Hansen Institute, which brings together students from around the world at the University of San Diego.

One of five Americans taking part in the three-week program, Moore joined 25 students from 20 different countries for the program designed to “create an international community of young scholars who will use their summer experience as a foundation for developing lasting friendships and acquiring common, practical understanding of a more peaceful future.”

Moore said an excursion to the U.S./Mexican border “broke [her] heart” and strengthened her resolve to make the world a better place.

“I stood there realizing how blessed I was and how many people are seeking a better life in America,” she said. “I believe that everyone deserves a chance at a better life, and I do want to spend my life helping make other people’s lives better.”

While the lectures she attended were “great and very informative,” Moore said she benefitted the most from experiences outside of the classroom.

“It may sound crazy, but a really transformative experience for me was over watercolors with my new friend. She and I were talking while painting. I was getting to know her better and I was learning more of her story. We come from very different upbringings, but we found common ground to connect on,” Moore explained.

“I have always thought I wanted to work with young women, but it really sealed the deal that I want to spend my time helping young women be all that they can be.”

Moore said her summer experience was challenging and gave her a much bigger worldview. She encourages other students to participate in the program because it “will shape you in new ways.”

“It really showed me how we all affect each other in one way or another. When you have a friend from these places, you start to empathize and try to understand what they have gone through. They are no longer news headlines. They are real people with real problems,” she said. “I think this program created an opportunity to understand more about people and to keep up with what is going on around the world.”

The Leadership Alliance

Junior biological sciences major Katelyn Jackson of Starkville spent her second consecutive summer in New York City with the Leadership Alliance, a national consortium that engages approximately 300 undergraduate students, predominately from underrepresented groups across the U.S., in research experiences at the nation’s top research institutions.

The Leadership Alliance aims to provide these hands-on experiences while training and mentoring a diverse group of students from a wide range of cultural and academic backgrounds to prepare for competitive graduate programs and professional research-based careers.

Jackson spent the summer of 2018 studying at New York University and the previous summer working on an independent research project at Weill Cornell Medical College with the Gateways to the Laboratory Program.

During the last week of the summer research experience, students in Jackson’s cohort attended the Leadership Alliance National Symposium in Hartford, Connecticut, where they gave presentations on their research results and significance.

“The best part of my trip to New York was being able to present my research at the lab meetings of established scientist Dr. Martin Blaser, who was selected for Time magazine’s 100 most influential people in the world in 2015,” Jackson said.

Standing before colleagues, doctoral scholars and administrators from across the U.S., Jackson shared the results of her project, “Antibiotic-Induced Changes in the Early Life Microbiota Composition and Susceptibility to Asthmatic Disease.” The experience, Jackson said, was one of the most memorable of the summer.

“During my freshman year at MSU, I began looking for summer research programs and came across the Leadership Alliance online,” Jackson said. “By having connections at Weill Cornell Medical College from my research experience last year, I was able to go back to New York Presbyterian this summer and shadow an attending physician alongside medical students and residents.”

Jackson, who aspires to become a physician and scientist, said being able to perform research and shadow physicians gave her insight into the life of an M.D.-Ph.D. student.

She said this experience furthered her desire to return to Mississippi to serve a rural community as a participant in the Mississippi Rural Physicians Scholarship Program, a competitive program which provides $30,000 per year for medical school.

Andi Leadership Institute for Young Women

During the summer of 2018, three MSU students honed their skills in advocacy, messaging, facilitation and leadership through peaceful discussions and conflict transformation exercises at the prestigious Andi Leadership Institute for Young Women in Washington, D.C.

In learning from each other’s stories and those of other women around the globe, participants were inspired to bridge cultural divides by forging collaborative relationships and leading peacebuilding initiatives in their countries of origin and beyond.

MSU was represented by three of the four U.S. students accepted. Krishna D. Desai, Laura A. Herring and Feifei Zeng were among a group of young women from the U.S., Albania, China, Ethiopia, India and Iraq who participated in the intensive workshop at the School for Ethics and Global Leadership.

Desai is a junior political science and economics double-major and Spanish minor from Ridgeland. Herring, a senior management/ international business and foreign language/Spanish double-major, is from Panama City, Florida. Growing up in China, Italy and the U.S., Zeng graduated in August 2018 with a degree in foreign language and marketing/international business and supply chain management.

ALI gives young women the toolkit and mentorship needed to become “more effective change makers in their communities,” Herring said. Along with focusing on professional development, the program connects women from different cultures and backgrounds and “allows them to grow lasting relationships and alliances,” Herring explained.

Relationships were solidified through intensive workshops, exercises, site visits and dialogues. Desai said the experience provided participants with a path to self-discovery and an opportunity to learn how “we all can accomplish our shared goals.”

“I was surrounded by young women who cared about each other –each one of us tried to walk a mile in someone else’s shoes, so we can understand where we come from,” Zeng said. “The environment that we created was one where all can be vulnerable – matter of fact, we were encouraged to be. We grew to love each other and

support each other despite our differences in skin color, nationality, background, where we come from and the experiences we had. We had amazing leaders who made this program life-changing for us.”

Herring said she found focus and direction through interactions with Melanne Verveer, former Ambassador to the United Nations for Global Women’s Issues.

“Ambassador Verveer has been a role model for me from a distance, but having the opportunity to meet with her further inspired me to pursue a life of public service,” Herring said. “She told a story of how, as a young woman, she always wanted to be a translator for important diplomats at the United Nations. It was not until later in life that she realized she could do more than just translate conversations—she could become one of the important diplomats herself.”

Verveer’s story was particularly meaningful to Herring because it helped her realize that becoming a female leader in the field of international affairs “is not an audacious goal—it is something that I am capable of pursuing and I do not need to settle,” she said.

Desai said a particularly impactful life experience for her was a team assignment involving a harnessed jump from a tall pole.

“Usually, I am not the first to volunteer for things like this considering my fear of…well, jumping off very tall wooden poles, I guess,” she said. “But, I was feeling a boost of confidence that day, surrounded by these incredible women, and decided to just try it.”

Describing the jump as “a terrifying experience at first,” Desai said she can’t articulate “how amazing it was to have that feeling of conquering a fear and feeling the love and support of those people around me as I lowered to the ground.”

“I gained not only the skills, but the confidence to pursue my goals,” she said. “Exposure to specific skills and careers allowed me to create a clearer definition of what I want to do as a peacebuilder, but it was the support, mentorship and friendships that allowed me to build the self-confidence and passion to feel like I can actually accomplish it.”

Zeng, Herring, Desai

MELODY FISHER: empowering, encouraging, inspiring

By Sarah Nicholas

On a set trajectory, bound for higher education, Mississippi State faculty member Melody Fisher took a childhood goal and parlayed it into a career—using education to inspire and empower those around her.

“Education was extremely emphasized and present in my childhood,” said Fisher, an assistant professor in MSU’s Department of Communication. “Both my parents received graduate degrees and both are retired educators.”

With a father who was a high school administrator and a mother who was a college librarian, Fisher started her college experience early—her parents enrolled her in a preschool facility located on a college campus.

“I always knew that I would attend college. I was exposed very early in life.”

From nursery school through graduate school, Fisher always wanted to share her thirst for knowledge. At MSU, she has added a new component to her quest— empowering her peers. Now, the third-generation Tougaloo graduate is investing in both co-workers and students.

Co-principal investigator of a $57,000 National Science Foundation grant since 2017, Fisher is seeking to help minority female faculty members navigating the world of academia.

“We want to increase the number of women who

advance from associate professor to full professor,” Fisher said, who added that helping more of these women attain tenure is the ultimate goal.

“I wanted to get involved in this research after learning the alarming statistics about black female faculty members,” Fisher said. “There are a dismal number [of black women] in the college classroom, and even less receive promotion and tenure. As this is something that directly relates to me, it was natural that I would participate in increasing these opportunities for advancement.”

Fisher’s research seeks to overcome barriers faced by black female faculty members, specifically, as they proceed through the tenure process. Tenuretrack positions are based on research, teaching and service. For minority female educators, breaking into the tenure-track presents obstacles many of their colleagues do not frequently face: racism, classism and sexism.

“We also want to create awareness among administrators of these barriers and provide suggestions for how they can assist faculty members in overcoming and even eliminating these barriers,” Fisher said.

She said having a faculty diverse in gender, race and ethnicity, “brings different perspectives into the classroom and research environments which will ultimately yield diverse scholars and researchers who will contribute to the global marketplace.”

In addition to seeking opportunities for advancement of minority female coworkers, Fisher also has a hand in research that extends beyond the world of academia. Part of her career as a public relations professional relates to the field of crisis communication, an area from which she pulls examples for teachable moments in the classroom.

“My research generally explores how brands, organizations and individuals respond in crisis situations,” Fisher said, noting that crisis communication refers to how organizations respond to crisis situations, including how they share messages through various media outlets and address target audiences.

“These are usually scenarios that garner national media attention and could negatively affect the stability of the organization,” Fisher said, pointing to the 2010

death of a SeaWorld trainer by an orca as an example.

“The Blackfish documentary alleged SeaWorld’s mistreatment of orcas and even held the amusement park responsible for a trainer’s death,” Fisher explained. “SeaWorld’s response to these claims greatly altered its daily operations, as well as future programming. This case illustrates how organizations can eventually accommodate activism.”

In 2015, Fisher received a first-hand look at how organizations handle crisis situations when MSU responded to reports of an active shooter on campus. Though reports of violence on campus were found to be false, Fisher points to the experience as a good example of how organizations can be prepared in advance for worst-case scenarios.

“This research is important because it reveals patterns of information which can be instrumental in creating new paradigms. Public relations is not meant to reinvent the wheel. If something works in favor for a company, then it could possibly work for another, given similar factors,” Fisher explained.

“MSU used Maroon Alerts, press conferences and social media to communicate with target publics,” Fisher said about the 2015 incident. She said these actions indicated how a well-developed crisis communication plan can be a valuable tool.

As educators and researchers, Fisher said faculty need to stay relevant with their subject areas and use a variety of tools to maintain a grasp of what students find beneficial in the classroom. In 2017, Fisher was selected as one of 10 professors nationwide to participate in the Plank Educator Fellowship program, a two-week intensive research project exploring techniques to help students connect classroom instruction with real-world practices.

“This was a way that I could be immersed in a department and connect that real-world experience back to campus,” Fisher said, explaining that her assignment to the Discover company in Chicago helped deepen her teaching and research skills.

Fisher said she truly enjoys the classroom and all that comes with a career at a large university.

“Being able to experience students’ matriculation first-hand is amazing. I also enjoy the practice and scholarship of public relations. Marrying the two drew me to the profession.”

College of Arts & Sciences Faculty Award WINNERS

The College of Arts and Sciences presents the recipients of the Dean’s Eminent Scholar awards for the 2018 fall semester. Dean Rick Travis presented each winner with a plaque. The Dean’s Eminent Scholar awards recognize “exceptionally meritorious faculty who have achieved national recognition and enhanced the quality and stature of academic programs.”

Raymond E. Barranco, associate professor of sociology, won the Gary Meyers Dean’s Eminent Scholar award.

Catherine Pierce, associate professor of English, won the Beverly B. and Gordon W. Gulmon Dean’s Eminent Scholar award.

Matthew W. Brown, assistant professor of biological sciences, won the Sanderson Excellence Dean’s Eminent Scholar award.

College of Arts and Sciences

Ambassadors

As Mississippi State University’s largest and most diverse academic college, the College of Arts & Sciences seeks to faithfully and accurately represent the wide-ranging interests and concerns of its students.

The College of Arts & Sciences Ambassadors (CASA), comprised of undergraduate representatives from the college’s 14 academic departments, seek to serve that purpose as a connection between the students in the college and the college’s administration.

CASA represents the College of Arts & Sciences to current and prospective students. Serving alongside representatives from their home departments, the ambassadors assist at recruitment events to relay how they have discovered their path to success through the College of Arts & Sciences. Our students serve as mentors to incoming students by staying in contact with prospective students, helping them discover future opportunities as Mississippi State Bulldogs.

First row (left to right): Katelyn Jackson, Joy Carino, Cheyenne Schettino, Marisa Laudadio, Ben Emmich, Sam Sider, Kim De La Cruz

Second row (left to right): Krishna Desai, Allie Hanson, Alex Forbes, Shannon Falkner, Sierra Laltrello, Sofia Alvarez

Third row (left to right): Desiree Goodfellow, Sam Taylor, Abbie Kate Hancock, Bryce Krumcke, Emily Welch

Fourth row (left to right): Madison Baima, Adrianna Genge, Lauren Scott, Olivia Murtagh, Avery Ferguson, Alanna Bond

Fifth row (left to right): Torrye Evans, Sydney Taylor, Nic Ezzell, Laura Ingouf, Blake Williams

Not pictured: Emily Tingle, George Crook, Dylan Smith

Jessica Lynn Milner

Lily A. Hebert

Kali M. Hicks

Jordyn N. Polito

Katherine E. Grafe.

Olivia C. Williams

Madison M. Smith

Rebekah Joy Bisson

Megan E. DeLisle

Caroline Danielle Coussens

Madison Anne Rice

Kathleen M. Riley Anne

Larrah Johnson

Keirston M. Murphy

Ashley H. Luke

Anna Catherine Fryar

Gentry Isabella Burkes

Anagha Gopakumar

Benjamin Derek Pace

Ryan A. Shoemake

Steven M. Weirich

Samuel Douglas Ozier

R. Sumner Fortenberry

Michael J. Sieja

society of scholars

Twenty-four Mississippi State students were inducted in May into the university’s prestigious Society of Scholars in the Arts and Sciences.

The honor organization recognizes top university students each semester from all majors who have demonstrated the highest standard of academic excellence, and who also possess a broad and rigorous exposure to courses in the arts, sciences and humanities.

Those selected from the arduous screening process must have demonstrated a sound foundation in languages, mathematics, science, oral and written communication, humanities and social sciences.

dean’s executive advisory board members

The mission of the College of Arts & Sciences Dean’s Executive Advisory Board is to provide leadership and support to the Dean by utilizing individual skills, financial resources, teamwork, and diversity to strengthen the academic infrastructure, faculty, and facilities of the College and University.

Dr. Ralph Alewine

Hank Johnston

Dr. Karen Hulett

Dr. Larry Grillot

Cindy Stevens

Laurie Williams

Llana Smith

Dr. Bill Hulett

Dr. Kirk Reid

Dr. John Rada

Dr. Fred Corley

Hunter “Ticket” Henry

Malcolm Lightsey

Dr. David Wigley

Dr. Randy White

Not Pictured: Dr. Thomas Wiley, Jr.

Thank you Alumni and Friends

As I walk throughout campus with our alumni and friends, no matter when they graduated or visited last, they point out change. We have experienced a lot of changes throughout campus in the recent years. Embracing change can be enlightening, but I’m fully aware that change can also produce feelings of uncertainty, confusion and even insecurity. That’s where I feel like my role is especially important. If you haven’t been to campus in a while, please come have a campus tour so we can show you around. I want everyone to see that the changing landscape is to accommodate student and faculty growth, research opportunities and academic excellence. Most importantly, I want everyone to know that even with growth and development the campus still and will always feel like home.

To promote security and assurance at every level with change and growth, we must ensure prospective and current students have access to a strong and cost-effective education, vast student advancement opportunities to strengthen academic profiles and boost affiliation by providing networking opportunities between students, faculty, alumni and friends of the university.

Where I have found complete harmony with access, advancement and affiliation this year has been through our Doctor Dawgs group. With the healthcare field rapidly evolving each year, it is important that all prospective and current students pursuing a healthcare concentration at Mississippi State University have a competitive edge. Dr. A. Randle “Randy” and Marilyn W. White recognize the importance of ensuring our students pursuing a healthcare concentration are given valuable academic guidance and direction, motivating them to generously establish the

Dr. A. Randle and Marilyn W. White Health Professions Resource Center (HPRC), a center they continue to support to this day.

Regardless of the student’s academic undergraduate major, if they have listed a healthcare related concentration, they are encouraged to utilize the HPRC to work with prehealth advocates who can provide direction and support early in a student’s healthcare journey.

Doctor Dawgs, a group of alumni and friends with robust healthcare experience, was established to give students the applied components to pair with their academic achievements to produce the ultimate medical school application. Through the HPRC and Doctor Dawgs partnership, these two resources proactively collaborate and are able to align shadowing opportunities, outline leadership opportunities throughout campus, service endeavors within the community, as well as outside the state and allow students to strengthen their healthcare knowledge and networks in various medical fields by attending events sponsored by the Doctor Dawgs group. These events are strategically centered around four important areas: recruitment, preparation and support, leadership and public service, and stewardship. All of these components were established to promote access, advancement and affiliation for our pre-health students.

A special thank you to our fundamental leaders and supporters of the Dr. A. Randle and Marilyn W. White Health Professions Resource Center (HPRC) and Doctor Dawgs Group: Dr. Randy and Marilyn White, Dr. Tommy Byrd, Dr. John Davis, Drs. William and Karen Hulett, Dr. Dale Read, Dr. Hubert Parker, Brad and Amanda Reeves, Dr. William Harris, Dr. Kirk Reid, Dr. Thomas Wiley,

and the Seago Family. These supporters have provided opportunities throughout each of the four components along with many other new Doctor Dawgs joining in as we begin to span across the northern and southern region of Mississippi. Healthcare will always need competent, compassionate and dedicated individuals to assist the medical needs of Mississippians and through these two outlets our pre-health students are equipped with the knowledge and experience to thrive in their future health endeavors.

Maintaining a close affiliation with classmates, professors, alumni and friends has proven to be invaluable for our students. The College of Arts & Sciences produces wellrounded graduates who are work-force ready. Whether it be within their specific field of study, or not, they are adapting and thriving from the educational foundation they received as students. I had the opportunity to listen to one of our 2015 anthropology graduates, Kaleigh Sandhu, an epidemiologist with the Department of Public Health Division of Epidemiology and Immunization. Kaleigh came back to campus to talk with students about her academic journey and how it led to her current career. She knew she wanted to utilize her degree in anthropology but add a healthcare component which led her to public health. After her discussion, she directed students on how they can utilize their time as an undergraduate and how they can pursue a master’s in public health post-graduation. I was very impressed with her clear direction and confidence as such a young alumna. She is definitely someone to watch and a great example of the strong affiliation she still has with the Department of Anthropology and Middle

Eastern Cultures and the College of Arts & Sciences.

I am so proud of the academic opportunities the College of Arts & Sciences, in collaboration with other academic units throughout campus, is able to provide prospective and current students. As we continue to expand our reach, our goals of producing confident, compassionate and dedicated students hold true.

We could not experience our accomplishments without your unwavering loyalty to the college. Every financial or other supportive opportunity you provide makes an impact and as we near the end of the Infinite Impact Campaign, I thank each of you for getting us this far and know the finish line is just around the corner to reaching our onebillion-dollar goal. Through your continued support, we are able to provide access, student advancement and affiliation in each of our 14 departments and I’m very exciting to continue to see additional opportunities bloom from your vision, loyalty and generosity.

I am sincerely grateful for your support, which provides our students, faculty and staff security within the College of Arts & Sciences. We are all better ambassadors because of you!

HAIL STATE! Sara Jurney Frederic ’08, ’10, ’11 Director of Development College of Arts and Sciences

Abbvie Foundation

Mr. William M. Adams, Jr.

AERF

Agilent Technologies Foundation

Airgas USA, L.L.C.

Dr. William James Alexander

Allianz Life

Dr. LeAnn Allison

Mr. Jeffrey S. Alvey

American Chemical Society

American Heart Association

Anadarko Petroleum

Mr. Jan C. Anderson

Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration Foundation

Mr. John H. Arledge

Mr. James L. Bailey

Governor Haley Barbour

Mr. Greg J. Barker

Mrs. Jeannine Barnett

Ms. Elizabeth Barrett-Beiden

COLLEGE OF ARTS & SCIENCES DONOR LIST

The following lists include alumni and friends who supported the college from July 1, 2017 – January 1, 2019

Mr. Gregory A. Barrick

Dr. Kyle S. Bateman

Battelle Memorial Institute

Ms. Myra A. Bean

Mr. Jacob R. Beane

Dr. Christopher L. Behr

Mrs. Patsy B. Bell

Ms. Susan B. Bell

Mr. Ray L. Bellande

Ms. Mary E. Benincasa

Dr. Mitchell E. Berman

Mrs. Jennifer L. Berscheidt

Mr. Scott M. Bierly

Mr. Michael Bograd

Mr. James L. Boomgarden

Mr. John W. Boutwell

Mr. Robert B. Boykin

Mr. Earl B. Brand, Jr.

Mr. Richard R. Brann

Brent’s Drugs

Dr. Bobby N. Brewer, Jr. Brinks Company

Mr. Milton L. Brock, Jr.

Mr. Frank L. Brooks

Mr. Erik R. Brown

Mr. Kevin L. Bruce

Mr. Johnnie R. Butler, Jr.

Dr. Thomas R. Byrd

Cadence Bank

Canon Solutions America

Mr. Tommie S. Cardin

Mrs. Anita G. Carlock

Dr. Kermit L. Carraway

Dr. Joseph E. Carrithers

Dr. Ferita P. Carter

Mr. William F. Caskey, Jr.

Mr. Reed E. Chandler

Mr. Shiching Chang

Charitable Gift Fund

Mr. Sherman Chow

Clark Beverage Group, Inc. MS

Classical Association of the Middle West and South

Coastal Environment

Mr. John A. Cohen

Dr. John Coleman

Mr. Gus W. Colvin, Jr.

Community Foundation for Mississippi

Mrs. Mildred R. Conrad

Dr. William H. Cooke, III

Dr. David D. Cooper

Mrs. Jil B. Cooper

Dr. Fred G. Corley, Jr.

Mr. Peter L. Corrigan

Cotton Incorporated

Dr. Justin C. Courcelle

Mrs. Jessica Crawford

Ms. Sarah F. Creecy

Creek Run L.L.C. Environmental Engineering

Ms. Wendy L. Creel

Dr. W. Lawrence Croft

Mr. Perry V. Cupples

Dallas Printing, Inc.

Dr. Jerry W. Dallas

Dr. Robert H. Dandino

Dr. Joseph Davenport, III

Ms. Michelle L. Davenport

Ms. Amy E. Davis

Honorable Jerry A. Davis

Dr. John D. Davis, IV

Dr. Angus L. Dawe

Mr. Hugh B. Devery

Mrs. Dru Dickensheet

Mr. Lloyd G. Digby

Mr. C. Mark Doiron

Ms. Aaliyah T. Donaldson

Mr. Byron R. Dong

Dr. Philip D. Doolittle

Dr. Donald N. Downer

Mrs. Doris S. Downing

Drs. Sarsha, Williams, Dandino and Associates, Ltd.

Mr. Terry M. Duke

Mrs. Laura H. Dunn

Mr. Vance S. Durbin

Mr Dwight Dyess

Mr. Jason L. Edmonds

Edwin C. Roshore Family Trust

Dr. John P. Elliott, Jr.

Mr. Robert H. Elliott

Mr. Nathan H. Elmore

Dr. Joseph P. Emerson

Dr. Gerald A. Emison

Environmental Defense Fund

Dr. Jason N. Ervin

Mr. C. D. Evans

Mr. Anding Fan

Ms. Nancy P. Farmer

Dr. Joe L. Ferguson

Ms. Jacqueline A. Finch

Fisher Scientific Company LLC

Mrs. Fay H. Fisher

Dr. Nicholas C. Fitzkee

Ms. Julie S. Fleming

Flight Attendant Medical Research Center

Dr. John E. Forde

Foster Relations, Inc.

Frank Chiles State Farm Insurance

Franks, Franks, Walden & Jarrell, PA

Mrs. Lisa Franzen

Mrs. Sara J. Frederic

Mr. Terry G. Freeze, Jr.

Mr. William A. Friday

FTG Ventures LLC

Ms. Stephanie Fuehr

Dr. Michael L. Galaty

Gamma Theta Upsilon

Mrs. Peggy Gardner

Dr. Howell C. Garner

Mr. Robert E. Garner

Dr. Jerome A. Gilbert

Dr. Nina L. Glasgow

Mr. H. W. Glover, Jr.

Mr. Stacey W. Goff

Capt. Edd L. Goodman, Jr.

Mr. Ben L. Green, III

Mr. John W. Green, Jr.

Dr. Robert A. Green

Dr. Larry R. Grillot

Ms. Anna Minor Grizzle

Gulf of Mexico Alliance

Ms. Gretchen Gulmon

Dr. Willie H. Gunn

Dr. Charles L. Guyton

Mr. Samuel P. Guyton

Mr. Stephen L. Guyton

Dr. Steven R. Gwaltney

Mr. Reggie V. Hambrick, Jr.

Mrs. Barbara J. Hamilton

Mr. Joe Haney

Mrs. Mary B. Hansen

Ms. Laura Hardin

Mr. Jeffrey W. Hardy

Mr. Charles F. Harger

Dr. William J. Harris, III

Dr. Ruth J. Haug

Mr. Keith Heard

Mr. Christopher B. Heller

Dr. James V. Hemphill, III

Mrs. Joan M.Henning

Mr. F. Ewin Henson, III

Dr. Barry W. Herring

Mr. Joel H. Herring

Dr. Nicholas P. Herrmann

Dr. Glyn R. Hilbun

Mr. Elbert R. Hilliard

Miss Lee M. Hilliard

Dr. Jeremiah H. Holleman, Jr.

Dr. T. Keith Hollis

Mr. Kenneth R. Holloway

Dr. Erin Jaye Holmes

Mr. Billy W. Howard

Mr. William H. Howard, III

Dr. William B. Hulett

Dr. Donald R. Hunt

Insurance Associates of Starkville, LLC

Iowa Soybean Association

Dr. William J. Ireland, Jr.

Mr. John P. Jaap, Jr.

Mr. William R. Jackson, Jr.

Mr. Thomas R. James

Mr. Samuel E. Jaudon

JCP Golf, LLC

Mr. White G. Jee

Mr. Michael A. Johnson

Mr. Michael E. Johnson

Dr. Ray E. Johnson

Mr. Henry E. Johnston

Mrs. Catherine K. Jones

Dr. Gordon E. Jones

Mr. Hunter Jones

Mrs. Tish A. Jones

Judson Farm, Incorporated

Ms. Amanda N. Keeton

Dr. Lisa G. Keeton

Mr. John P. Keisman

Mrs. Parker Smythe Kline

Mrs. Kelly H. Kuyrkendall

Mrs. Leah P. Lanier

Dr. Sue C. Lauderdale

Ms. Laura M. Ledet

Dr. John E. Lee, Jr.

Mrs. Leslie Lenser

Dr. Edwin A. Lewis

Ms. Sasha S. Liddell

Mr. Malcolm B. Lightsey, Sr.

Mrs. Reatha K. Linley

LJ CPA, LLC

Mr. James W. Long

Ms. Rebecca J. Long

Mr. John O. Loper

Ms. Sherry Lozowski

Dr. Frances Lucas

Dr. M. Leigh Lunsford

Mr. Robert K. Lusteck

Mr. Ryan O. MacKie

Mr. David P. Madison, Jr.

Mr. Jamie L. Mahne

Malvern

Dr. Alan Marcus

Mr. George E. Marion

Mrs. Ann H. Massey

Mrs. Harriette P. Mastin

Dr. Byron C. May

Mr. Cinclair May

Dr. David C. May

Mr. Will E. May

Mr. Steven L. Mayo

Dr. Robert T. McAdory, Jr. McClaren Resources Inc.

Dr. Yancy B. McDougal

Mr. Julius F. McIlwain

Mr. R. Jeremy McLaughlin

Ms. Victoria McLaughlin

Mr. Kelley R. McWhirter

Ms. Carolyn C. Meaders

Mr. Eddy P. Meeks

Mr. William M. Meeks, Jr.

Dr. Charles E. Menifield

Ms. Lauren W. Miller

Mississippi Health Advocacy Program

Mississippi IDeA Network of Biomedical Res Excellence

Mississippi Soybean Promotion Board

Dr. Joseph A. Mitchell

Mr. Walter L. Mitchell, Jr.

Dr. Todd E. Mlsna

Dr. Debra A. Moore

Mr. Roger L. Moore

Mrs. Kimberly P. Morgan

Ms. Sara Morris

Lt. Col. Joel T. Muirhead, M.D.

Dr. Giselle T. Munn

Mr. R. David Murrell

Mrs. Lucy Nash

Mr. John W. Nelson

NewSouth NeuroSpine

Mrs. Marie W. Nickles

Northeast Exterminating

Mr. Richard C. Nourse, Jr.

Ms. Emilie Whitehead Odom

Oktibbeha County Co-op

Mr. Stanley S. Owen

Mr. Ralph Owens, Jr.

Mr. Michael C. Pace

Ms. Susan Palmer

Ms. Sheri A. Pape

Mr. Dipakkumar C. Parikh

Dr. H. H. Parker IV

Partners of the Americas

Mr. Ercolani D. Pauline

Mr. Alan C. Permenter

Dr. Gary L. Permenter

Mr. Bruce W. Peterson

Dr. Melinda W. Pilkinton

Ms. Holly A. Piner

Pioneer Natural Resources USA, Inc.

Mr. William G. Poindexter, IV

Mr. Donald L. Price

Mr. John L. Prichard, Jr.

Dr. Deborah D. Rabinowitz

Dr. Nicole Rader

Ramapo Trust

Ms. Christina M. Ramazani

Ms. Betty P. Ratliff-Parker

Raymond James Charitable

Endowment Fund

Dr. Richard Carl Raymond

Ms. Tiffany R. Raymond

Dr. Dale G. Read, Sr.

Dr. R. Kirk Reid

Renasant Bank

Revocable Trust by John W. Green, Jr. or Patricia T. Green

Richard and Donna Wolf Trust

Richard Dean Charitable Trust

Mr. Michael E. Richardson

Mr. William L. Riley

RJ Young

Robert C. Fesmire, DDS, PC

Mr. Robert R. Roberts, Jr.

Ms. Lisa N. Robinson

Mr. Mikal M. Rolph

Mr. James D. Rowe

Dr. Jackie Rowland

Mr. James S. Rowles

Mr. Stuart D. Roy

Rufford Foundation

Mr. James H. Rule

Mr. Chess Rybolt

Mrs. Barbara A. Salvatore

Ms. Marcia Sanders

Mrs. Stephanie Sarmiento

Sasol North America, Inc.

Mrs. Jennifer D. Schroeder

Mr. Robert J. Selfridge

Sessions Trust

Mrs. Daphne C. Shannon

Mr. Jason L. Shedd

Mr. Mark J. Shindala

Siemens Foundation

Mr. Adolph Simmons, Jr.

Dr. Whitnee L. Simmons

Simons Foundation

Mrs. Sarah J. Skelton

Mr. Ronnie Sleeper

Dr. Dennis W. Smith, Jr.

Dr. Laura T. Smith

Ms. Llana Y. Smith

Mrs. Renee S. Smith

Ms. Sabrina A. Smith

Mr. Lloyd A. Solomon

Southern Ionics, Inc.

Mrs. Mimi B. Speyerer

Mrs. Lynn P. Stallones

Mr. Charles W. Stanback, Jr.

Starkville Area Arts Council, Inc.

Starkville Urology Clinic

Statewide Federal Credit Union

Ms. Cynthia M. Stevens

Dr. Sean L. Stokes

Dr. Randolph Stone

Mr. Curtis W. Stover, Jr.

Dr. Martha H. Swain

Mr. R. Scott Swedenburg

Mrs. Franceska Kyle Sybil

T. Blake Balzli, D.M.D., PA

Mrs. Eileen Y. Tabb

Mr. Chester A. Tapscott, III

Dr. Charles H. Tardy

Dr. Stephen W. Tartt

Dr. Douglas H. Taylor

Dr. Gracy Taylor

The Annie E. Casey Foundation

The Benevity Community Impact Fund

The Bower Foundation

The Community Foundation of Louisville

The G. V. Sonny Montgomery Foundation

The Getty Research Institute

The Johnston Living Trust

The Laura and John Arnold Foundation

The Schwab Charitable Fund

Dr. Timothy N. Thomas

Mr. Nicholas K. Thompson

Mr. John Thornton

Truist

Mr. James T. Tyler

Mr. William D. Vanderbrink

Vanguard Charitable

Mrs. Rae N. Vaughn

Mr. Michael L. Vice

Ms. Barbara M. Vlahakis

W. K. Kellogg Foundation

Mrs. Amy L. Walker

Dr. Diane E. Wall

Ms. Katherine E. Walton

Mr. Chester C. Wasser, III

Dr. H. Chris Waterer

Dr. Alex G. Waterson

Mr. William S. Watkins

Watson Heidelberg Jones PLLC

Dr. Donald Q. Weaver

Mr. Tom Webb

Dr. Charles E. Webster

Dr. Richard Weddle

Ms. Infanta C. White

Ms. Megan T. White

Dr. A. Randle White

Dr. Frank J. Whittington

Dr. David E. Wigley

Mr. Billy B. Wilemon, Jr.

Dr. Thomas L. Wiley, Jr.

Major Frank J. Wilkerson

William P. Guyton Foundation

Mr. Alan L. Williams

Mrs. Charlotte E. Williams

Mrs. Laurie R. Williams

Mr. W. Dal Williamson

Mrs. Linda B. Williamson

Willie Howard Gunn, Attorney-at-Law

Ms. Mary M. Williford

Dr. David O. Wipf

Dr. Perisco A. Wofford

Mrs. Kari A. Wolff

Women’s Foundation of Mississippi

Dr. Mirae C. Wood

Ms. Antionett Word

Ms. Heather C. Worley

Mr. James H. Worley

Mr. Mark A. Worthey

Dr. Xue Xu

Mrs. Melissa L. Yarborough

Mrs. Camille Scales Young

Dr. Dongmao Zhang

Dr. Cheng-Li Zu

PROMOTIONS & TENURE

DEPARTMENT NAME

Classical and Modern

PROMOTION

Languages and Literature Keith Moser Professor

Classical and Modern

Languages and Literature Silvia Arroyo Associate

Classical and Modern

Languages and Literature .....Brian Davisson ......................................................................... Associate

Classical and Modern

Languages and Literature Sol Pelaez Associate

Classical and Modern

Languages and Literature Karim Simpore Associate

English Becky Hagenston Professor

English Robert West Professor

Geosciences ............................Shrinidhi Ambinaku ...............................................................Professor

Geosciences Renee Clary Professor

History Mary Kathryn Barbier Professor

Physics and Astronomy Jinwu Ye Professor

Psychology Michael Nadorff Associate

Psychology ..............................E. Samuel Winer ...................................................................... Associate

Sociology Raymond Barranco Associate

RETIREES

Communication Mark Goodman

Communication ...........................................................................................................

English Shirley Hanshaw

Geo Sciences Darrel Schmitz

History

Mathematics &

Mathematics

Mathematics

Mathematics

Mathematics

PPolitical

As the largest college on campus, it is our privilege to showcase all that it has to offer. In order to do that, we need your assistance. Past issues have featured outstanding accomplishments of faculty, students, alumni, and organizations—their accomplishments, awards, and how each is making a difference on campus and in the community. If you have something that should be included, please send it to us!

2018-2019 Department Heads & Directors

Aerospace Studies ....................................................................................... Lieutenant Colonel Joseph J. Cassidy II

African American Studies ............................................................................ Interim Director Donald M. Shaffer, Jr.

Anthropology & Middle Eastern Cultures Department Head Hsain Ilahiane

Biological Sciences....................................................................................................... Department Head Angus Dawe

Chemistry

Department Head Dennis Smith

Classical & Modern Languages and Literatures ................................... Department Head Peter L. Corrigan

Communication............................................................................................................ Department Head John E. Forde

English Department Head Daniel Punday

Gender Studies ................................................................................................................................. Director Kimberly Kelly

General Liberal Arts .................................................................................................................................. Advisor Tracy Britt

General Science Advisor R. Torsten Clay

Geosciences ............................................................................................................. Department Head John C. Rodgers

History .............................................................................................................................. Department Head Alan I. Marcus

Interdisciplinary Studies Academic Coordinators Barbara Stewart and Tracy Britt

Mathematics & Statistics ................................................................................ Department Head Mohsen Razzaghi

Your savings, your legacy

You have worked hard and saved for retirement. Now use your savings to create your legacy by making an IRA charitable rollover gift to the Mississippi State University Foundation. If you are 70½ or older, you can:

• avoid taxes on IRA transfers up to $100,000;

• satisfy some or all of your required minimum distribution for the year;

• reduce your taxable income, even if you don’t itemize deductions;

• make a gift that is not subject to charitable contribution deduction limits; and

• use your rollover to make payments on an existing pledge to MSU.

For more information on IRA charitable rollover giving, contact the MSU Foundation Office of Planned Giving.