I hope you were able to take time to enjoy Fall Break last week. I want to begin this month’s letter by encouraging you to complete the Employee Engagement Survey (EES) from MSU Human Resources Management (HRM) if you haven’t already done so. The survey is open to faculty through October 19, with the survey period for professional and support staff running October 19 through November 2. This survey is one of the most direct ways HRM can hear from faculty and staff. The results will shape our priorities in professional development, recognition, communication, and workplace culture.

I would add that it’s important for deans, department heads, and unit leaders to encourage your faculty and staff to complete the survey and allow them time to participate. I want to emphasize that all responses are confidential, and results will only be reported in aggregate. Thank you for supporting this initiative as we continue to make Mississippi State a great place to work.

Deadline Thursday: 2026 MSU Community Engagement Awards

As I mentioned last month, faculty, staff, and students are invited to apply for a 2026 Excellence in Community Engagement Award, and the deadline is coming up this week. 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.

Visit https://bit.ly/MSUCEAwards to access the application. Submissions are due Thursday, October 15 at 11:59 p.m. Community Partner feedback forms are due by October 20 at 1 p.m. Please contact Michelle Garraway at michelle.garraway@msstate.edu with any questions you may have.

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 Department of Computer Science and Engineering for achieving accreditation through the Computing Accreditation Commission of ABET for the cybersecurity bachelor’s degree program and to the Department of Geosciences for earning U.S. Geospatial Intelligence Foundation accreditation for its undergraduate and graduate geospatial intelligence, or GEOINT, certificates. Well done! Read more at https://www.memo.msstate.edu/story.php?id=8741 and https://www.memo.msstate.edu/story.php?id=8742, respectively.

* Congratulations to 2026 Ralph E. Powe Research Excellence Award winner Michael Nadorff, a professor in the Department of Psychology and the director of MSU’s Behavioral Health Clinic, along with other faculty and staff who were honored at the recent Research Awards Celebration. Read more at https://www.memo.msstate.edu/story.php?id=8744.

* Kudos to the newest Institute for the Humanities Faculty Fellows: Lourdes Cardozo-Gaibisso, English; Scott DiGiulio, Classical and Modern Languages and Literatures; and Mary Hamil, Classical and Modern Languages and Literatures. Read more at https://www.memo.msstate.edu/story.php?id=8757.

* Congratulations to Mark Jimerson, the assistant director of online admissions and enrollment for the Center for Distance Education in the College of Professional and Continuing Studies, who has been named 2026 Young Alumnus of the Year by Hinds Community College. Read more at https://foundation.hindscc.edu/hinds-community-college-announces-2026-alumni-of-the-year-and-sports-hall-of-fame-inductees.

* Kudos to Jamie Runnells, professor and head of the Department of Art, who is a 2026 National Council of Arts Administrators fellowship selection. Read more at https://www.memo.msstate.edu/story.php?id=8747.

* Congratulations to Benjamin Crider, a professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy, who has been selected as a 2026 Experimental Physics Investigator by the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation. Read more at https://www.memo.msstate.edu/story.php?id=8746.

* Kudos to Athena Owen Nagel, an associate teaching professor in the Department of Geosciences, who is the recipient of the national 2026 Mid-Career Excellence Award in Academia from the Association for Women Geoscientists. Read more at https://www.memo.msstate.edu/story.php?id=8739.

* Congratulations to Shreyas Narsipur, an assistant professor in the Department of Aerospace Engineering, who has been named an American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Associate Fellow. Read more at https://www.memo.msstate.edu/story.php?id=8734.

* Kudos to the College of Arts and Sciences communication team members for their impressive wins at the Southern Public Relations Federation (SPRF) Annual Conference: Karyn Brown, assistant dean of communication and media; Kelli Anthony, graphics and web designer; Sam Kealhofer, coordinator for communication and research support; and Sarah Nicholas, communication specialist; as well as Heather Rowe, the digital design editor for MSU’s Office of Public Affairs, who was also part of the winning Vision magazine team. Read more at https://www.memo.msstate.edu/story.php?id=8750.

* Congratulations to College of Education staff members Elizabeth Carrithers, Stacy Davis, and Theresa Hall-Brown, who are recent graduates of the College Business Management Institute. Read more at https://www.memo.msstate.edu/story.php?id=8743.

* Kudos to the MSU Extension Service for offering the Magnolia Moves Activity Challenge this fall. Read more at https://extension.msstate.edu/events/2026/magnolia-moves-activity-challenge-0.

Final Words

Thank you for reading this month’s Academic Matters. 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.