I want to begin by thanking Executive Vice Provost Peter Ryan for leading our efforts to host the Southeastern Conference Academic Leadership Development Program Fall Workshop earlier this month. It was a resounding success and really could not have gone any better – even the weather cooperated! I received many positive comments from our colleagues around the SEC who participated. I also want to thank the Workshop Advisory Committee members of Bimal Balakrishnan, Ashli Brown, Dan Gadke, Laura Marler, Melissa Moore, and David Nolen and the Workshop Organizing Committee members of Cambrie Frizzell, Tina Gilliland, Jim Dunne, and Dr. Ryan. I also thank Academic Fiscal Affairs Executive Director Susan Heath for her assistance with the budgeting and financial oversight for this special event.

Anthony, Bratcher, Olivier and Perkins Named SEC Academic Leadership Development Program Fellows

In addition to hosting the SEC ALDP Fall Workshop, we announced MSU’s 2025-26 SEC ALDP cohort this month. Our newest SEC ALDP Fellows are Kenneth Anthony, professor and head, Department of Teacher Education and Leadership, College of Education; Christy Bratcher, professor and head, Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences; Alicia Olivier, professor, Department of Pathobiology and Population Medicine, and associate dean for administration, College of Veterinary Medicine; and Andy Perkins, professor and interim head, Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Bagley College of Engineering.

SEC Faculty Tackle Today’s Health Challenges

Staying with the SEC theme, I hope you’ve had a chance to see the SEC faculty highlighted in a recent Inside Higher Ed special feature. It illustrates the many innovative ways our SEC faculty are addressing critical health care problems and bringing “real medical solutions to life.” Our very own Rahel Mathews, an assistant professor in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences’ Department of Biochemistry, Nutrition and Health Promotion, is featured.

Grisham Lecture Series Returns in November

In August, we recognized MSU’s newest Grisham Master Teachers: Kelly Moser, an associate professor in the Department of Classical and Modern Languages and Literatures, and Holli Seitz, an associate professor in the Department of Communication, Media and Theatre. On Nov. 4, Dr. Seitz will headline the return of our Grisham Lecture Series. She will deliver her talk – The Experimental Mindset: Staying Curious in the Classroom – at 3 p.m. in Mitchell Memorial Library’s Grisham Room. I hope many of you will be able to attend as we hear from Dr. Seitz and celebrate the excellent teaching that takes place at MSU.

Kudos and Congratulations

Every month, I look forward to sharing faculty and staff success stories with you, and here are a few that have crossed my desk recently:

* I’ll begin with a special kudos to Julie Jordan, as she becomes MSU’s first-ever senior adviser for Artificial Intelligence and Data Governance; Scott Willard, as he serves as interim vice president for Research and Economic Development, and Darrell Sparks, as he serves as acting dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and acting director of the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station. I look forward to continuing to work closely with Dr. Jordan, Dr. Willard, and Dr. Sparks in their new roles. Read more at https://www.memo.msstate.edu/story.php?id=8318 and https://www.memo.msstate.edu/story.php?id=8319. 

* Congratulations to Matthew Brown, Donald L. Hall Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences, who was honored with the 2025 Ralph E. Powe Research Excellence Award at the university’s annual research awards luncheon earlier this month.

* In addition to Dr. Brown, congratulations to the other 2025 research winners: Kristine Evans, Mid-Career Research Scholar Award; Melanie Boudreau, Emerging Research Scholar Award; Kasee Stratton-Gadke, Innovation and Entrepreneurship Award; David Saucier, Research Professional Award; and Tina Kinard, Research Support Award.

* Kudos to our 2025 patent recipients, who were also recognized at the recent research awards program: Gregory Burgreen, Seungdeog Choi, Dwight Kanter, H. Wayne Philley, Edilberto Redona, Colleen Scott, Dennis Smith, S.D. Filip To, and David Wipf. Read more about the 2025 research award winners and patent honorees at https://www.memo.msstate.edu/story.php?id=8291. 

* Congratulations to the MSU Riley Center team and Director Morgan Dudley for the Riley Center’s recent recognition as Venue of the Year by the Mississippi Tourism Association at the Governor’s Conference on Tourism this month. Read more at https://www.memo.msstate.edu/story.php?id=8290. 

* Kudos to the MSU Extension Center for Government and Community Development’s Rachael Carter, who has been appointed to the Mississippi Tourism Association Marketing Advisory Board by Gov. Tate Reeves. Read more at https://extension.msstate.edu/news/feature-story/2025/extension-specialist-chosen-for-state-tourism-board. 

* Congratulations to the students, faculty, staff, supporters, and Director Jimmy Hardin as the Cobb Institute of Archaeology recently celebrated its 50^th anniversary at MSU. Read more at https://www.memo.msstate.edu/story.php?id=8294. 

* Kudos to the Global Center for Aquatic Health and Food Security team and Director Mark Lawrence for their recent recognition at the UN Food and Agriculture Organization’s 80th anniversary celebrations during the 2025 FAO World Food Forum. Read more at https://www.memo.msstate.edu/story.php?id=8304. 

* Congratulations to Ted Atkinson, a professor in the Department of English, whose new book – “Monumental Designs: Infrastructure and the Culture of the Tennessee Valley Authority” – was recently published by the University Press of Mississippi. Read more at https://www.memo.msstate.edu/story.php?id=8283. 

Final Words

Thank you for reading this month’s letter. As always, my inbox is open, and I welcome your comments, questions, suggestions, and concerns at david.shaw@msstate.edu. 

Hail State! 

David

Dr. David R. Shaw is Provost and Executive Vice President at Mississippi State University. His email address is david.shaw@msstate.edu.