Contact: Sarah Nicholas

STARKVILLE, Miss.—The College of Arts and Sciences at Mississippi State is recognizing six faculty members and two retired colleagues for their research and scholarly commitments to the university.

Typically held in conjunction with the spring general faculty meeting, this year the college of Arts and Sciences presented the awards through a virtual platform.

Given to faculty whose work contributes significantly to increasing awareness of the university’s research programs and capabilities, the annual research awardees include:

—Benjamin P. Crider, assistant professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy, receiving the Arts and Sciences Research Award in Natural and Physical Sciences and Mathematics and Statistics.

—Melanie E. Loehwing, associate professor in the Department of Communication, receiving the Arts and Sciences Research Award in the Humanities.

—Margaret L. Ralston, assistant professor in the Department of Sociology, receiving the Arts and Sciences Research Award in Social and Behavioral Sciences. 

For outstanding teaching service, the annual teaching awardees include:

—Lara A. Dodds, professor in the Department of English, receiving the Arts and Sciences Teaching Award in the Humanities. 

—Cliff McKinney, associate professor in the Department of Psychology, receiving the Arts and Sciences Teaching Award in Social and Behavioral Sciences. 

—Jacob Tschume, instructor in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics receiving the Arts and Sciences Teaching Award in Natural and Physical Sciences and Mathematics and Statistics. 

Created in 2014 in honor of Robert E. Wolverton, a professor of classics at MSU for more than four decades, his legacy award recognizes faculty and friends of the College of Arts and Sciences who have made sustained contributions to its mission and have advocated the ideals of liberal arts education.

Awardees of the 2020 Robert E. Wolverton Legacy Award include:

—Evan Peacock, emeritus director of the Cobb Institute and professor emeritus in the Department of Anthropology and Middle Eastern Cultures.

—Barbara G. Stewart, a retired staff member in the Office of the Dean in the College of Arts and Sciences.

MSU’s College of Arts and Sciences includes more than 5,200 students, 325 full-time faculty members, nine doctoral programs, 14 master’s programs, and 27 undergraduate academic majors offered in 14 departments. It also is home to the most diverse units for research and scholarly activities, including natural and physical sciences, social and behavioral sciences, and the humanities. Complete details about the College of Arts and Sciences may be found at www.cas.msstate.edu.  

MSU is Mississippi’s leading university, available online at www.msstate.edu.