Season’s greetings from the Office of the Provost and Executive Vice President. Before we officially start winter break in just a few days, please let me share a brief update from the Division of Academic Affairs with you.

Brode Named MSU’s First Marshall Scholar

We were thrilled to announce earlier today [Dec. 11] that senior biological sciences major Madison Brode has been selected as a 2024 Marshall Scholar. She is MSU’s first-ever Marshall Scholar, and her selection is a testament to her own personal commitment to academic excellence as well as the commitment of our faculty and staff to provide our students with opportunities and encouragement to be their very best. Congratulations, Madison! And thank you to all who have helped her attain this goal and many others during her remarkable time here on our campus. Read more at https://www.msstate.edu/newsroom/article/2023/12/msu-senior-brode-claims-prestigious-marshall-scholarship.

Celebrating Our Newest Graduates

I want to thank everyone who contributed to our two commencement ceremonies in Humphrey Coliseum, the ceremony at the MSU Riley Center in Meridian, and the doctoral graduation and hooding ceremony in Bettersworth Auditorium last week. These events went extraordinarily well, and I appreciate all who worked so tirelessly to ensure our graduates could celebrate this special time with their family and friends. I also thank all of the faculty members who attended. Your participation means so much to our students — your students — and our entire academic community. Thank you for being there. Read more at https://www.msstate.edu/newsroom/article/2023/12/keenum-msu-graduates-have-education-values-change-world.

Call for Honorary Degree Nominations

And while we just concluded fall commencement, our spring graduation ceremonies will be here before we know it. Faculty, staff, students, and alumni are invited to submit nominations for honorary doctoral degrees that will be awarded in 2024. Nomination letters and support materials should be sent to the Honorary Degree Committee via email to provost@msstate.edu by December 19, 2023. Under IHL guidelines, persons eligible for the Doctor of Laws, Doctor of Science, Doctor of Humane Letters, Doctor of Creative and Performing Arts, or Doctor of Public Service must have demonstrated nationally recognized sustained achievement in scholarship, public service, creative and performing arts, or professional activity.

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 Angela Savage, director of MSU-Meridian’s social work program and an assistant clinical professor, who has been recognized as Social Work Educator of the Year by the Alabama/Mississippi Social Work Educators Conference. Read more at https://memo.msstate.edu/story.php?id=7363.

* Congratulations to Jeff Gore, the head of the Delta Research and Extension Center and a professor in the Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Entomology, and Plant Pathology, who recently received the Mississippi Entomological Association (MEA) Distinguished Service Award. In addition to Dr. Gore, the MEA also honored the department’s Seung-Joon Ahn, an assistant professor, with the Merit Award in Physiology, Biochemistry and Toxicology and Jeff Harris, an associate extension and research professor, with the Merit Award in Extension. Read more at https://memo.msstate.edu/story.php?id=7365.

* Kudos to the newest Dean’s Eminent Scholars in the College of Arts and Sciences: Ty Stafford, Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychology, Phil and Kari Oldham Faculty Mentor Award; Ling Li, Associate Professor of Biological Sciences, Dean’s Eminent Scholar Award for the Natural and Physical Sciences; Courtney Thompson, Associate Professor of History, Dean’s Eminent Scholar Award for the Humanities; and Diego Thompson, Assistant Professor of Sociology, Dean’s Eminent Scholar Award for the Social Sciences. Read more at https://memo.msstate.edu/story.php?id=7345.

* Congratulations to Tara Sutton, an assistant professor in the Department of Sociology, who has been recognized as an emerging scholar by the American Society of Criminology's Division on Queer Criminology for her in-depth research. Read more at https://memo.msstate.edu/story.php?id=7352.

* And a welcome to Anne Spafford, who will be joining us in January as the new head of the Department of Landscape Architecture. Read more at https://memo.msstate.edu/story.php?id=7366.

Final Words

During this special time of year, I wish you happy holidays and all the best in the upcoming new year. I hope each one of you can use the time we have during the break to relax, reflect, and prepare for an even better and brighter 2024.

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.