Season's greetings from the Office of the Provost and Executive Vice President. We find ourselves at the end of another successful semester at Mississippi State University, but before it draws to a close and we officially start winter break, please let me share an update with you.

Commencement... from a new perspective

I have had the privilege of participating in many commencement exercises as a student and faculty member, but last week, I was able to experience commencement from a new perspective as provost. It was a great honor indeed to help lead such a special experience for our newest graduates and their families and friends. I appreciate the hard work and dedication of so many of you who contributed to our three outstanding graduation ceremonies in Meridian and Starkville. Read more at https://www.msstate.edu/newsroom/article/2019/12/alumnus-lex-taylor-encourages-msu-grads-embrace-worlds-changes

Bachelor of Applied Science moving forward

I continue to be quite proud of our institution in the way that it has embraced the opportunities our new BAS program are bringing. To date over two dozen concentration areas in nearly every college have been proposed. This program is designed to meet the needs of a population in our state that had previously not been able to access a four-year college degree, and is an excellent example of the way that MSU, as the state’s land-grant institution, is meeting the needs of our citizens. Please keep the ideas coming in regard to this program!

ASBMB awards full accreditation to biochemistry

In November, we learned that our Bachelor of Science degree program in biochemistry received full accreditation from the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. This achievement reflects the outstanding work of our faculty and staff in the Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Entomology and Plant Pathology, and it’s great news for our biochemistry graduates, who are now eligible to sit for the ASBMB certification exam. I congratulate and thank department head Jeff Dean and our faculty who prepared the application: Greg Bohach, Ashli Brown Johnson, Florencia Meyer, Aswathy Rai, Darrell Sparks, and Carrie Vance.

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:

• Congratulations to our student-athletes, Joe Moorhead, and his coaching staff for winning the Egg Bowl on Thanksgiving and then earning an invitation to play in the Music City Bowl on December 30. Read more at https://hailstate.com/news/2019/12/8/football-a-decade-of-bowls-msu-to-face-louisville-in-music-city-bowl-dec-30.aspx
• Kudos to the College of Arts and Sciences newest Dean’s Eminent Scholars: Jamie Dyer, professor of geosciences; Margaret Hagerman, assistant professor of sociology; Mark Hersey, associate professor of history; and Deborah Eakin, associate professor of psychology. Read more at http://www.web.ur.msstate.edu/web/memo/story.php?id=5359/li>
• Congratulations to Renee Clary, a professor in the Department of Geosciences and director of the Dunn-Seiler Museum, who will be honored as a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science at the AAAS annual meeting in February. Read more at https://www.msstate.edu/newsroom/article/2019/11/msus-clary-named-fellow-american-association-advancement-science
• Kudos to Salvador Bartera, assistant professor of classics in the Department of Classical and Modern Languages and Literatures, and Donna L. Clevinger, a senior faculty fellow and professor in the Judy and Bobby Shackouls Honors College, who are co-recipients of the 2019 Outreach Prize from the Society for Classical Studies. Read more at http://memo.msstate.edu/story.php?id=5345
• Congratulations to Pamela Bracey, an associate professor in the Department of Instructional Systems and Workforce Development, who is this year’s National Business Education Association’s Collegiate Teacher of the Year. Read more at http://memo.msstate.edu/story.php?id=5341
• Kudos to Bridget Willeford, who is leading the Office of Laboratory Animal Resources as interim director. Read more at https://www.msstate.edu/newsroom/article/2019/12/msu-names-interim-director-laboratory-animal-resources
• Congratulations to Rachel Allison, an assistant professor in the Department of Sociology, who is the first faculty member to receive a grant from the Russell Sage Foundation. Read more at http://www.web.ur.msstate.edu/web/memo/story.php?id=5358
• Kudos to Brent Fountain, who will serve as the university’s next faculty athletics representative, beginning on July 1, 2020. And a “thank you” to Steve Turner, who has served in this important role for the past 15 years. Read more at http://memo.msstate.edu/story.php?id=5339

FINAL WORDS

During this special time of year, we wish you happy holidays and all the best in the upcoming new year. If you have any questions, suggestions, or concerns, please feel free to contact me at david.shaw@msstate.edu

Merry Christmas and 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.