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.

Thoughts and Prayers for Coach Leach’s Family

I want to begin by offering my deepest condolences to the family and friends of Mike Leach, our football players and coaches, and all who are mourning his death. Coach Leach was a uniquely innovative coach, an accomplished author, and skilled teacher. I enjoyed every opportunity I had to talk with him. He made a very positive impact on our campus and in our community during his tenure as head football coach, including a program-record GPA in Spring 2021. Read more at https://www.msstate.edu/newsroom/article/2022/12/msu-bulldog-family-college-football-community-mourns-death-coach-mike.

Celebrating Our Newest Graduates

I appreciate everyone who contributed to the success of our two commencement ceremonies in The Hump, MSU-Meridian’s ceremony at the MSU Riley Center, and the doctoral graduation and hooding ceremony in Bettersworth Auditorium last week. These events went exceptionally well thanks to countless hours and tireless efforts by many of you. Thank you for working so hard to ensure that our graduates could celebrate this special time with their family and friends. Read more at https://memo.msstate.edu/story.php?id=6907.

Call for Honorary Degree Nominations

And while we just concluded fall commencement, our spring graduation ceremonies will be here before we know it. I would remind you that faculty, staff, students, and alumni are invited to submit nominations for honorary doctoral degrees that will be awarded in May. Nominations, including supporting materials, should be sent to the Honorary Degree Committee in care of the Office of the Provost and Executive Vice President by January 20, 2023. Nominations may be sent via email to provost@msstate.edu. 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.

Deans, Associate Deans, and Department Heads Meeting in February

Starting this spring, I’m planning to meet with our deans, associate deans, and department heads as a group and continue to hold such a meeting every semester thereafter. I think these gatherings will give us good opportunities to share updates, ask questions, and exchange ideas on a regular and timely basis. The first meeting is set for February 23, 2023, at 2 p.m. in Bettersworth Auditorium.

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 John Green, the director of the Southern Rural Development Center and a professor in the Department of Agricultural Economics, who is serving a term as president of the Rural Sociological Society, and Devon Brenner, the director of the Social Science Research Center and a professor in the Department of Curriculum, Instruction and Special Education, who will begin serving a term as president-elect of the National Rural Education Association in the coming year. Read more about these national organizations and their work at https://www.ruralsociology.org and https://www.nrea.net.

* Congratulations to Like Li, an assistant professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, and his fellow team members, including Associate Professor HeeJin Cho and Assistant Professor Ben Xu, who have been awarded a $3 million U.S. Department of Energy grant. Read more at https://memo.msstate.edu/story.php?id=6905.

* Kudos to Ben Crider, an associate professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy, who is part of the first experiment at the new Facility for Rare Isotope Beams, measuring how long exotic nuclei can survive at the edge of stability. Read more at https://memo.msstate.edu/story.php?id=6899.

* Congratulations to Johna Rudzin, an assistant professor in the Department of Geosciences, who has been selected for the Office of Naval Research’s 2023 Young Investigator Program. She is one of 25 recipients receiving funding to conduct innovative scientific research that will benefit science and technology for the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps. Read more at https://memo.msstate.edu/story.php?id=6890.

* Kudos to Jim Chrisman, the Julia Bennett Rouse Endowed Professor in Management in the College of Business, and Jenny Du, the Bobby Shackouls Endowed Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, who have been named “Highly Cited Researchers” in Clarivate Analytics’ 2022 Web of Science citation index. Read more at https://memo.msstate.edu/story.php?id=6895.

* Congratulations to Jason Krutz, director of the Mississippi Water Resources Research Institute and a professor in my home department of Plant and Soil Sciences, who has been named an American Society of Agronomy Fellow, the highest recognition awarded to members of the esteemed professional society. Read more at https://memo.msstate.edu/story.php?id=6891.

* Kudos to Sarah Lalk, an assistant clinical professor in the Department of Geosciences, who is the recipient of this year’s Rod Nave Award from the Southeastern Association for Science Teacher Education. Read more at https://memo.msstate.edu/story.php?id=6887.

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 2023.

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.