The spring semester – as it always seems to do – is racing by. It’s hard to believe we are only three weeks away from the start of Spring Break. I appreciate all of you who attended the recent Spring General Faculty Meeting or watched the livestream. We covered a lot of ground, and I enjoyed the opportunity to share a few highlights along with President Mark Keenum, Vice President for Research and Economic Development Julie Jordan, and Vice President for Agriculture, Forestry and Veterinary Medicine Keith Coble. In case you weren’t able to make it, a recap from the Office of Public Affairs is available at https://www.memo.msstate.edu/story.php?id=7946. While I know everyone is extraordinarily busy this time of year, I hope you’ll let me take a few minutes of your time for this update from the Division of Academic Affairs.

IHL Approves New College of Integrative Studies

We were very pleased to see the Mississippi Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning approve the creation of our new College of Integrative Studies at its regular monthly meeting in January. Our 10^th college will help prepare students for a rapidly changing global marketplace by providing an interdisciplinary approach with a strong focus on research and experiential learning opportunities embedded in their course of study. It’s another great example of the work we are doing to meet students where they are and provide them – and employers – with the academic programs they want and need. Read more at https://www.memo.msstate.edu/story.php?id=7936.

Coming Up Tuesday: Creating Co-Curricular Experiences: A Faculty and Staff Research and Collaboration Expo

And speaking of experiential learning – after last year’s success, the Division of Academic Affairs is once again joining with the Division of Student Affairs and Division of Access, Opportunity and Success to host the Creating Co-Curricular Experiences: A Faculty and Staff Research and Collaboration Expo. This special event takes place Tuesday [Feb. 18] between 10:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. in Colvard Student Union’s Foster Ballroom. It’s designed to connect faculty and staff with the wide range of programs, services and activities offered through our divisions  resources that can enhance experiential learning and enrich student development both in and outside the classroom. I hope you’ll stop by and see what’s available. Read more at https://memo.msstate.edu/story.php?id=7970.

Dual Career Program Offerings and Ideas

As the result of a recent resolution from the Robert Holland Faculty Senate, I’ve been working with Chief Human Resources Officer Leslie Corey to assess how MSU’s dual career program can best address faculty recruitment. A key part of this effort is communicating what we currently offer. You can now find that information posted on the MSU HRM website at https://www.hrm.msstate.edu/benefits/dual-career-program. Leslie and I would welcome any feedback you may have about this site or other ideas related to our dual career offerings. I appreciate the Faculty Senate’s interest and look forward to additional feedback on this important issue.

Apply Today: 2025-2026 Community-Engaged Learning Fellows Cohort

As many of you know, community-engaged learning is a high impact educational practice that improves student engagement, learning and development, social responsibility, and active citizenship. Applications are now available for our 2025-2026 Community-Engaged Learning (CEL) Fellows program. The CEL Fellows program supports instructional faculty and staff in integrating community-engaged learning into their formal or non-formal teaching.

Sponsored by my office and the Center for Community-Engaged Learning, CEL Fellows learn community-engaged learning theory, course design, and pedagogy. The CEL Fellows program seminar will meet in May. Participants receive a $1,000 course or research development award, peer support, and one-on-one assistance to design a new community-engaged learning course or modify an existing one. Program guidelines and an application can be obtained via an email to Michelle Garraway at michelle.garraway@msstate.edu with submissions due by Feb. 28.

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 everyone who is contributing to the great success between MSU, East Mississippi Community College, and other partners at the Communiversity. Read more at https://www.memo.msstate.edu/story.php?id=7947.

* Congratulations to Amirtahà Taebi, an assistant professor in the Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, who has been named a Rising Star of Mechanical Engineering by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. Read more at https://memo.msstate.edu/story.php?id=7972.

* Kudos to Chris Little, an instructor in the Department of Classical and Modern Languages and Literatures, whose Spanish I course is now an internationally recognized Qualify Matters-certified curriculum. Read more at https://memo.msstate.edu/story.php?id=7971.

* Congratulations to the newest recipients of the College of Arts and Sciences Strategic Research Initiative Faculty Seed Funding: Elizabeth Miller, English; Justin Pinta, Classical and Modern Languages and Literatures; Jaspreet Singh Randhawa, Physics and Astronomy; Colleen Scott, Chemistry; and Megan Smith, Biological Sciences. Read more at https://www.memo.msstate.edu/story.php?id=7959.

* Kudos to Saeed Rokooei, an associate professor in the Department of Building Construction Science, who recently received a Fulbright Specialist Program award. Read more at https://www.memo.msstate.edu/story.php?id=7960.

* Congratulations to Elva Kaye Lance, the director of bands here at MSU, who has been named Outstanding Band Director of the Year by the Mississippi chapter of Phi Beta Mu International Honorary Bandmasters Fraternity. Read more at https://www.memo.msstate.edu/story.php?id=7940.

* Kudos to Beth Stokes, an associate professor in the Department of Sustainable Bioproducts, who recently served as an invited panelist for an internally-initiated review of the Forest Research Institute at the University of the Sunshine Coast in Queensland, Australia. Read more at https://www.memo.msstate.edu/story.php?id=7945.

* Congratulations to Benjamin Tkach, an associate professor in the Department of Political Science and Public Administration, and former MSU faculty member Vasabjit Banerjee, who have been awarded one of only seven inaugural Defense Security Cooperation University grants. Read more at https://www.memo.msstate.edu/story.php?id=7952.

Final Words

As I shared with Faculty Senate last week, we are seeing many proposed changes in Washington with the new administration and in Jackson as the legislative session continues. We are closely monitoring these changes and any potential impact on operations here. For now, I think it’s worth taking a deep breath and not overreacting to every headline and every rumor floating around social media. We’ll continue to be in close contact with our congressional delegation, as well as leadership at the State Capitol, to ensure we’re in the strongest position possible to advocate for our programs and people moving forward through whatever changes may play out. Please feel free to let me know if you have any comments, questions, suggestions, or concerns at david.shaw@msstate.edu.

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.