I hope you’ve all seen the recent news about Mississippi State University’s extraordinary economic impact. A comprehensive assessment by the National Strategic Planning and Analysis Research Center, known by most of us as NSPARC, found that MSU supports $3.9 billion in wages and more than 80,000 jobs statewide, which is one out of every 15 jobs in the state. We’re delivering a great return on the investment taxpayers make in higher education. You can take great pride in this success story and your contributions to it. Read more at https://www.memo.msstate.edu/story.php?id=8011.

I know it’s a busy time of year for everyone, but I wanted to take a few minutes of your time for a brief update from the Division of Academic Affairs.

First Destination Survey Continues to Show Success for MSU Graduates

Looking at our recent graduates is one of the ways prospective students and their families know we are committed to providing a great education and a great college experience. Thanks to the MSU Career Center’s latest First Destination Survey, we know our 2023-24 graduates are doing very well. Ninety-five percent of these graduates reported career success. Of those pursuing advanced degrees, more than 70% were attending colleges and universities in Mississippi. Kudos to Executive Director Bethany Mills and the Career Center team for helping our students prepare for what comes next after they graduate and to all of you who contribute to their success as teachers and mentors while they’re earning their degrees. Read more at https://www.memo.msstate.edu/story.php?id=7992.

Reading and Reflection Day Set for May 7

Before we know it, the end of the spring semester will be here and our focus will turn to final exams. To better reflect — pardon the pun — how we want to help students prepare for final exams, we’ve changed Reading Day to Reading and Reflection Day on May 7. Our Bulldog Experience QEP is encouraging students to use the day to reflect on their entire experience as they prepare for exams. Reflecting on what they’ve learned in the classroom and beyond and how that will benefit them in the future is a cornerstone of Bulldog Experience. I hope you’ll encourage your students to spend some time reflecting on the experiences they’ve had this spring and throughout their time as Bulldogs and the new knowledge they can create by doing so.

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 Kasee Stratton-Gadke, the executive director of the Mississippi Institute on Disabilities and an associate professor in the College of Education, who is the recipient of the national Presidential Appreciation Award from the Trainers of School Psychologists. Read more at https://www.memo.msstate.edu/story.php?id=8010.

* Congratulations to the Bagley College of Engineering’s Yong Fu and Masoud Karimi, who have been named Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Fellows for their significant contributions and accomplishments in their field. Read more at https://www.memo.msstate.edu/story.php?id=7996.

* Kudos to Joseph M. Thompson, an assistant professor in the Department of History, who has been named a finalist for the 45th annual Los Angeles Times book prize in the history category for “Cold War Country: How Nashville’s Music Row and the Pentagon Created the Sound of American Patriotism.” Read more at https://www.memo.msstate.edu/story.php?id=8012.

* Congratulations to Wes Schilling, a William L. Giles Distinguished Professor in the Department of Biochemistry, Nutrition and Health Promotion, who is the university’s 2025 SEC Faculty Achievement Award winner. Read more at https://www.memo.msstate.edu/story.php?id=7986.

* Kudos to Sol Pelaez, an associate professor in the Department of Classical and Modern Languages and Literatures, who is the university’s 2025 Mississippi Humanities Council Teacher of the Year. Read more at https://www.memo.msstate.edu/story.php?id=7979.

* Congratulations to Rachael Carter, an instructor and tourism specialist with the MSU Extension Center for Government and Community Development, who was recently honored with the 2025 Excellence in Research Award by the Southern Rural Sociological Association. Read more at https://www.memo.msstate.edu/story.php?id=7985.

* Kudos to Kayla Pineda, the executive director of the Bulldog Experience Quality Enhancement Plan, who has been named a Society for Experiential Education Fellow. Read more at https://nsee.memberclicks.net/see-fellows-2025-2026.

Final Words

I appreciate the messages I’ve received from some of you about the changes we’re seeing in Jackson and Washington affecting higher education in our state and across the country. We are working hard to address these changes and to prepare for potential impacts here at MSU. As these situations continue to evolve, please feel free to reach out to me at david.shaw@msstate.edu with any comments, questions, suggestions, or concerns you may have.

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.