I hope your fall semester is going well. I want to begin this month’s letter by thanking everyone who contributed to the success of Fall Convocation. It was a great event for our students, as well as the many faculty who participated. I think all of us enjoyed hearing from recent alum Paromita Mitra as we set the stage for another successful academic year here at MSU.

Fall General Faculty Meeting Recap

I also want to thank everyone who attended the Fall General Faculty Meeting on Sept. 3 in person or who watched the livestream. President Keenum delivered a university update with details on a number of important priorities and projects, a legislative report, and a few highlights and achievements. In case you missed it, you can read more about the meeting at https://www.memo.msstate.edu/story.php?id=8231 or watch his presentation at https://vimeo.com/event/4800352. 

SOCSD, MSU Sign MOU to Work Together Toward New High School

It was an honor to join President Keenum last week as he signed an agreement with Superintendent Tony McGee and the Starkville Oktibbeha Consolidated School District to work together to build a new high school on our campus near the Partnership Middle School. In addition to the MOU signing, we celebrated the district’s A-rating from the Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) for the second year in a row and reflected on the 10^th year of the start of the consolidated district.

Serving as MSU’s representative on the Consolidation Commission with friends, neighbors, and colleagues was one of the proudest moments of my life. I knew consolidation would mean even more students would have access to the great education my two children experienced. I know the strong momentum that propelled consolidation, the Partnership School, the A-ratings, and so much more will continue to move our community forward as we begin this undertaking.

MSU Named ‘Great College to Work For’ for 10th Consecutive Year

The Great Colleges to Work For program is one of the largest and most respected workplace recognition programs in the country, and it was very gratifying to see Mississippi State recently achieve this honor for the 10^th consecutive year. It’s especially significant since the rating is based on employee feedback. I applaud Chief Human Resources Officer Leslie Corey and her team for their work and all of you who are contributing to the healthy, positive, and supportive workplace culture we have at MSU

Global Seal of Biliteracy Enhances Language Credentialing

Language skills are increasingly important, especially as more of our students pursue study abroad opportunities and our research and engagement activities continue to grow globally. I was pleased to see MSU become the first university in Mississippi to offer the Global Seal of Biliteracy thanks to the efforts of the Department of Classical and Modern Languages and Literatures. This credentialing program officially documents and recognizes a person’s ability to communicate in two or more languages. This opportunity is available to all MSU students, faculty, staff, and community members who would like to certify their ability in a way that is documented and verifiable. To learn more about the process of applying for a Global Seal of Biliteracy, visit https://www.cmll.msstate.edu/global-seal. 

Apply Today: 2025 MSU Community Engagement Awards

I want to encourage faculty, staff, and students to apply for a 2025 Mississippi State University Excellence in Community Engagement Award. Applications are being accepted for projects in the following categories: Community-Engaged Service, Community-Engaged Research, and Community-Engaged Teaching & Learning. A $3,000 award will be given in each of those areas to recognize outstanding work and support its continuation. Please note the MSU CE Awards are for recognition of existing projects and not a grant proposal process. You can get started with an application by visiting https://www.ccel.msstate.edu/support/excellence/ to see previous winners and https://bit.ly/MSUCEAwards to access the application. Submissions are due on October 30 at 11:59 p.m. Community Partner feedback forms are due by November 4 at 12 p.m. Please contact Michelle Garraway at michelle.garraway@msstate.edu with any questions you may have.

Walk Mississippi and Live Healthy... One Step at a Time

A daily walk is one of the constants in my life, and I’m excited about a new health and well-being initiative from the MSU Extension Service that encourages Mississippians to get moving. Walk Mississippi and Live Healthy … One Step at a Time gets started October 11, and I hope many of you will join me in the challenge to walk 180 miles during the six-week, no-cost program. You can also convert other activities into miles on the program’s website. I look forward to seeing many of you out there. Read more at https://extension.msstate.edu/walk-mississippi-live-healthy. 

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:

* Kudos to the Master of Physician Assistant Studies 2025 graduating cohort at MSU-Meridian that achieved a 100% board pass rate and the faculty and staff who helped them achieve this success. Additional kudos to the program for receiving continuing accreditation status from the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant. Well done! Read more at https://www.memo.msstate.edu/story.php?id=8240. 

* Congratulations to Chris Snyder, a professor in the Department of History and director of British studies in the Shackouls Honors College, who is the university’s newest William L. Giles Distinguished Professor, and 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, who are our newest Grisham Master Teachers. Read more at https://www.memo.msstate.edu/story.php?id=8233. 

* Kudos to Leslie Burger, an associate teaching professor in the Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Aquaculture, who has been honored with The Wildlife Society’s Excellence in Wildlife Education Award. Read more at https://www.msstate.edu/newsroom/article/2025/09/msu-professor-earns-national-excellence-wildlife-education-award. 

* Congratulations to Lara Dodds, professor and head of the Department of English, whose new book – “Early Modern Women’s Writing and the Future of Literary History” – was published in June by Oxford University Press. Read more at https://www.msstate.edu/newsroom/article/2025/09/msu-scholar-spotlights-early-modern-women-writers-key-future-studies-book. 

* Kudos to David Buys, associate vice provost for health sciences and interim head of campus at MSU-Meridian, who is now serving a two-year term as the chair of the National Board of Public Health Examiners’ Board of Directors. Read more at https://www.msstate.edu/newsroom/article/2025/09/msus-buys-begins-2-year-term-chair-national-board-public-health-examiners. 

* Kudos to Pratima Adhikari, an associate professor in the Department of Poultry Science, who recently received the Poultry Science Association’s NOVUS Outstanding Teaching Award. Read more at https://www.memo.msstate.edu/story.php?id=8262. 

* Congratulations to Prakash Jha, an assistant professor in the Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, who has been honored with the American Society of Agronomy’s Early Career Award. Read more at https://www.memo.msstate.edu/story.php?id=8264. 

* Kudos to members of the 2025-26 Faculty Leadership Program cohort: Peter Allen, Kenny Anthony, Christy Bratcher, Kayla Carr, Qiana Cutts, Steven R. Gwaltney, Gretchen Hardwick, Ben Harvey, Chuo Li, Junfeng Ma, Kent Marett, Qingmin Meng, Michael Nadorff, Julius Nukpezah, Alicia Olivier, Andy Perkins, Lora Petrie-Hanson, Matthew Priddy, Saeed Rokooei, Ryan Semmes, Courtney Siegert, Courtney Thompson, Benjamin Tkach and Te Ming “Paul” Tseng. Read more at https://www.memo.msstate.edu/story.php?id=8232. 

* Congratulations to Department of Biochemistry, Nutrition and Health Promotion Assistant Professor Rahel Mathews and co-authors Ishaan Arora, a graduate student, and Associate Professor Shecoya White, who received Editor’s Choice recognition for a widely cited article published in Nutrients that explores global dietary and herbal supplement use during the COVID-19 pandemic. Read more at https://www.memo.msstate.edu/story.php?id=8234. 

* Kudos to the 30 employees from across the university who are serving as 2025-2026 representatives on the MSU Staff Council. Read more at https://www.memo.msstate.edu/story.php?id=8261. 

Final Words

I appreciate everyone’s thoughts and prayers after the loss of my mother several weeks ago. Your words of encouragement and support have meant so much to me and to my family during this difficult time. I feel very blessed to have so many kind colleagues and friends — thank you all!

David

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