It’s great to see everyone back for the start of the spring semester, and to have campus busy again with the energy and excitement the first week of classes brings. Of course, we certainly had an interesting few days last week, and I hope all of you managed to weather the winter conditions. I appreciate your patience and understanding as we dealt with the ice, snow, and unusually low temperatures.

30th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Unity Breakfast at The Mill

I’d like to begin this month’s Academic Matters update with kudos to Vice President Ra’Sheda Boddie-Forbes and the Division of Access, Opportunity and Success team for the incredibly successful Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Unity Breakfast and Day of Service last Monday morning [Jan. 15]. This year marked the 30th anniversary of this special community event, and in spite of a cold and icy forecast, there was a packed house at The Mill Conference Center for the breakfast featuring an inspiring keynote address from MSU alumna Camile Scales Young, remarks from President Mark Keenum, and a performance from the always amazing MSU Black Voices Gospel Choir. It was a fitting tribute to Dr. King’s life and legacy. Read more at https://memo.msstate.edu/story.php?id=7371.

Update on Artificial Intelligence

The world of AI is rapidly changing higher education as we know it, along with so many other aspects of daily life. Just last week, Arizona State University announced its new partnership with OpenAI, the company that developed ChatGPT. This collaboration “brings the advanced capabilities of ChatGPT Enterprise into higher education, setting a new precedent for how universities enhance learning, creativity and student outcomes,” ASU said. As I mentioned in my message to you in November, chair Tommy Anderson and the members of the Generative Artificial Intelligence (GAI) Working Group wrapped up their work in the fall. If you haven’t had a chance to review their findings and recommendations, I’d encourage you to do so. Their report is available at https://www.provost.msstate.edu/initiatives/task-forces. Additionally, we now have a standing committee on AI, and I appreciate Jonathan Barlow, the associate director of our Data Science program and an assistant teaching professor, agreeing to lead it as chair. There are many important concerns to be addressed as AI advances, but so too are there many opportunities. We are focused on ensuring Mississippi State is well positioned to take advantage of these opportunities.

Great Progress with Maroon Academy for Teaching Excellence

I was very pleased to share an update about our Maroon Academy for Teaching Excellence

with members of the Robert Holland Faculty Senate last Friday afternoon [Jan. 19]. The Maroon Academy is a certificate program for faculty in university teaching. This four-course certification represents MSU’s highest level of commitment to teaching, and it provides teachers with evidence-based practices to improve course outcomes, promote student engagement, foster an inclusive course environment, and support student learning. Each course is taught asynchronously online and supported by our faculty: Intentional Course Design and Assessment, Professor Stephanie King; Active Learning for Student Engagement, Associate Professor Nicole Miller; Inclusive Teaching to Welcome All Learners, Associate Professor Melody Fisher; and Supporting Student Learning in Class and Online, Assistant Teaching Professor Athena Nagel. These classes are designed to assist participants in building practical resources for their courses. We’re seeing great participation and progress with this program. The initial cohort has implemented practices from the first two courses and completed an end-of-semester Self-Evaluation and Reflection. A new cohort of 30 will be accepted to begin the program this summer. Applications for this next cohort are due by April 5th. I hope you will consider applying. You can find more information on the Center for Teaching and Learning’s website at https://www.ctl.msstate.edu/maroon-academy.

Spring General Faculty Meeting Coming Up Feb. 12

I’m looking forward to providing our faculty with an additional update on several key issues and initiatives during the Spring General Faculty Meeting. It’s set to take place Feb. 12 at 2 p.m. in Colvard Student Union’s Fowlkes Auditorium. While I encourage your in-person attendance, the MSU Television Center will be providing a livestream at https://vimeo.com/event/3997666. Additional details about the meeting are posted online at https://www.msstate.edu/events/2024/01/spring-general-faculty-meeting.

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, and students who contributed to the winning outreach projects recently recognized with MSU Excellence in Community Engagement Awards. There were eight winning projects in the four categories of Community-Engaged Research, Community-Engaged Service, Community-Engaged Teaching and Learning, and Scholarship of Engagement in 2023. Community engagement, service, and outreach are essential to what we are as a land-grant institution and what we do, and I am grateful to all of you who are a part of these efforts. Read more at https://memo.msstate.edu/story.php?id=7382.

* Congratulations to members of the communications team in the College of Arts and Sciences who were recently recognized with awards from the Southern Public Relations Federation: Karyn Brown, assistant dean for communication and media and Department of Communication instructor; Kelli Anthony, MSU communication instructor who coordinates and executes graphic design strategy for “Vision” branding; Sam Kealhofer, CAS Dean’s Office coordinator for communications and research support who produces the Vision podcast and Vision television show; and Sarah Nicholas, CAS Dean’s Office communication specialist who is Vision magazine editor. Read more at https://memo.msstate.edu/story.php?id=7373.

* Kudos to faculty and staff in the College of Forest Resources and Forest and Wildlife Research Center who were honored during a recent annual recognition ceremony: Dana Morin, assistant professor, Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Aquaculture, CFR/FWRC Teaching Award; Garrett Street, associate professor, Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Aquaculture. CFR/FWRC Research Award, Heidi Renninger, associate professor, Department of Forestry, CFR/FWRC Service Award, Curtis VanderSchaaf, assistant professor, Department of Forestry stationed at the Central Mississippi Research and Extension Center, CFR/FWRC Extension/Outreach Award; Sandra Correa, assistant professor, Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Aquaculture, CFR/FWRC Early Career Achievement Award; Leslie Burger, associate teaching professor, Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Aquaculture, CFR/FWRC Faculty Excellence in Advising; Laura Andrews, program manager, Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Aquaculture, Doris Lee Memorial Professional Staff Award; Crissy Hathcock, assistant director and fiscal administrator, CFR Dean’s Office, Beverly Smith Professional Staff Award; Chris Forrester, master HVAC mechanic, Forest Operations, Doris Lee Memorial Support Staff Award; and Chelsea Taylor, administrative assistant II, CFR Dean’s Office, Beverly Smith Support Staff Award. Read more at https://memo.msstate.edu/story.php?id=7372.

* Congratulations to Alexis Gregory, an associate professor in the School of Architecture, who is the recipient of the 2023 PCI Foundation Community Engagement Award. Her nomination focused on her Spring 2022 work with Collaborative Studio -- the PCI Foundation Studio -- where she developed a project for students to work with Starkville Area Habitat for Humanity to design affordable housing with precast concrete. Read more at https://memo.msstate.edu/story.php?id=7374.

* Kudos to Pete Smith, an associate professor in the Department of Communication, whose new book -- “Birddogs and Tough Old Broads: Women Journalists of Mississippi and a Century of State Politics, 1880s-1980s” -- was recently published by Lexington Books, an imprint of Rowman & Littlefield. Read more at https://memo.msstate.edu/story.php?id=7379.

Final Words

Shortly before the start of winter break, we were saddened to learn of the death of Robert E. “Bob” Wolverton, Sr., at the age of 98. Dr. Wolverton was an extraordinary scholar and teacher here on our campus, and I was honored to work with him and get to know him as a dear colleague and friend. He made an incredible impact on his students and many others, and his legacy continues to inspire all who love teaching and learning. I offer my deepest condolences to his family and friends. I’d invite you to learn more about Dr. Wolverton at https://www.msstate.edu/newsroom/article/2023/12/msu-mourns-loss-robert-wolverton-longtime-faculty-member-and-administrator.

As always, your thoughts, suggestions, questions, and concerns are welcome at david.shaw@msstate.edu.

Hail State!