I want to begin this month’s letter by thanking everyone who contributed to the extraordinary success of Fall Convocation, as we celebrated our new freshmen and transfer students as they begin their academic journey at Mississippi State University. Alumnus and keynote speaker Matt Ramsey did a terrific job, and I think everyone was inspired by the story he had to tell. It was also good to see many faculty members on hand to mark this important milestone in our students’ academic lives. Please let me take a few minutes of your time for an update from the Division of Academic Affairs.

Working Group to Look at Faculty Roles and Responsibilities

As I shared during this semester’s first meeting of the Robert Holland Faculty Senate last week, my office has fielded a number of questions the past few months about the expectations for faculty seeking promotion from Instructor II to Instructor III. We have never codified the expectations for this promotion, and the implementation timeline is approaching. Additionally, after expanding the professional-track faculty structure to include these instructor levels, as well as the titles of Teaching Professor and Professor of Practice, in 2022, we have yet to clearly define the distinctions between these roles, such as how they relate to one another and to tenure-stream faculty. In conjunction with Faculty Senate leadership, I’ve formed a working group to address these titles, establish a clear promotion pathway from Instructor II to Instructor III, and consider other ways to enhance consistency and avoid confusion.

Stacy Haynes, the immediate past president of the Holland Faculty Senate, has agreed to chair this group. It will include the members of the Senate’s Faculty Affairs Committee, along with additional faculty and administrators to balance the representation across colleges and faculty ranks. The overarching goal for the working group members is to advance the university’s tripartite mission by providing greater clarity and consistency regarding all faculty roles and expectations. This process is set to begin with faculty listening sessions in September and October, and we’ll move forward from there. We’ll have additional information posted soon, and I’ll share that link in my next Academic Matters message.

Mid-Cycle Update Highlights Transforming MSU Progress

It’s hard to believe that we are now three years into the Transforming MSU: Strategic Plan 2023–2028. This plan has been both a valuable roadmap as we’ve navigated a changing higher education landscape and a catalyst for needed change. A recently completed mid-cycle update highlights the progress we’ve made, including key accomplishments across each of the five strategic pillars and the operational framework. It provides a snapshot of the initiatives currently underway and the work still ahead as we move toward 2028, MSU’s sesquicentennial. The report also celebrates and reflects the hard work of university faculty, staff, students and partners across student success, research, community engagement, academic innovation and campus growth. I invite you to review the mid-cycle report and share any comments, questions, or suggestions via transformation@msstate.edu or with me directly at david.shaw@msstate.edu. You can find the mid-cycle update and more information about Transforming MSU at https://www.msstate.edu/transformation.

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 faculty, staff, students, and alumni of Mississippi State Online, which is celebrating 40 years of high-quality, accessible, and relevant online education options. Read more at https://www.msstate.edu/newsroom/article/2026/08/ms-state-online-celebrates-40-years-expanding-access-education.

* Congratulations to the Bagley College of Engineering’s Seunghan Lee, an assistant professor in the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, and Junming Diao, an assistant professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, each of whom has earned a prestigious National Science Foundation CAREER Award. Read more at https://www.msstate.edu/newsroom/article/2026/08/msu-bagley-college-engineering-continues-national-impact-faculty-nsf.

* Kudos to Whitney Crow, an associate professor in the Department of Agricultural Science and Plant Protection, who has been appointed to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Farm, Ranch and Rural Communities Federal Advisory Committee. Read more at https://www.memo.msstate.edu/story.php?id=8677.

* Congratulations to Prakash Kumar Jha, an assistant professor in the Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, who has been honored with the Soil and Water Management and Conservation Division Young Scholar Award from the Soil Science Society of America. Read more at https://www.memo.msstate.edu/story.php?id=8666.

* Kudos to Alex Thomasson, a professor in the Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, who was recently honored with the Mayfield Cotton Engineering Award by the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers. Dr. Thomasson is also director of the Agricultural Autonomy Institute and a scientist in the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station. Read more at https://www.memo.msstate.edu/story.php?id=8644.

* Congratulations to Tanaya Deshpande, an assistant professor in the Department of Interior Design, who has been recognized through the American Society of Interior Designers’ “Ones to Watch” scholar program. Read more at https://www.memo.msstate.edu/story.php?id=8645.

Final Words

Thank you for reading this month’s Academic Matters. I look forward to sharing more information and highlights with you as we move through a new academic year. Your comments, questions, suggestions, and concerns are always welcome at david.shaw@msstate.edu. 

David

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