Contact: Vanessa Beeson

STARKVILLE, Miss.—The Mississippi State University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station recently honored faculty and staff for outstanding teaching, research and service endeavors.

Scott Willard, CALS dean and MAFES director, spoke about both MSU divisions and their growth and success over the past year.

“CALS enrollment has remained steady with more than 2,400 students, and, each year, we continue to graduate a record number of students, and 2023 was no exception with over 600 students graduating from our college,” he said. “During the fiscal year of 2023, MAFES scientists secured more than 420 extramural awards totaling over $47 million, making up just under 20% of all MSU awards. I want to thank our scientists for the work they do to help fund our research and how that research impacts our stakeholders and students and contributes significantly to Mississippi State’s standing as an R1 institution.”

This year’s honorees include:

Teaching, Advising and Diversity:

—Assistant Professor Kelsey Harvey, Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences, CALS Excellence in Teaching-Graduate Level. She is departmental graduate coordinator, chairs eight master’s student committees and serves on an additional 12 master’s and doctoral committees combined. She led the revision of the Master of Agriculture online curricula to accommodate nontraditional students pursuing the degree. Harvey is stationed at the MAFES Prairie Research Unit in Clay County.

—Instructor II Angel Fason, School of Human Sciences, CALS Teacher of the Year and CALS Undergraduate Teaching Award-Upper Level. Fason, who has been with the school for 18 years, has taught 45 courses over 40 sections, producing more than 2,000 credit hours in the last two years.

— Instructor Cappe Hallberg, School of Human Sciences, CALS Undergraduate Teaching Award-Lower Level. Hallberg teaches four classes a semester and is noted for her enthusiasm and effectiveness in teaching foundational courses relevant across majors.

—Assistant Professor Ben Burke, School of Human Sciences, CALS New Faculty Teaching Award. Burke is noted for his commitment to student engagement and dedication to fostering inclusivity.

—Associate Professor Caroline Kobia, School of Human Sciences, CALS Excellence in Advising Award. Recognized as a fellow for both the Center for Community-Engaged Learning and the Division of Access, Opportunity and Success, Kobia advises nearly 30 upper-level fashion design and merchandising students.

—Kenisha Gordon, agricultural sciences doctoral student in animal and dairy sciences, CALS/NACTA Graduate Student Teaching Award of Merit and the CALS/MAFES Individual Diversity Award. Gordon has been a teaching assistant or guest lecturer for eight courses across two majors. She is president of the MSU student chapter of Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resource and Related Sciences, programming director of the Pipetting Club, served on the Dean’s Council for the College of Forest Resources and was the 2022-2023 Region IV graduate vice president for the national MANRRS organization. She teaches laboratory skills to non-STEM majors and developed STEM curricula and activities for K-12 teachers in rural Mississippi.

—The Pipetting Club, CALS/MAFES Team Diversity Award. The club is an organizationally diverse, student-founded club aimed at teaching and promoting STEM knowledge and skills to a diverse population in a collaborative and inviting space. Shecoya White is faculty advisor and team members are Sarah Broadway, Christina Istiphan, Katie Allgaier, Carlie Willingham and Kenisha Gordon.

Service and Safety:

—Assistant Professor Lorin Harvey, Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, CALS/MAFES Faculty Service Award. Nationally, Harvey is on the Specialty Crop Committee for the National Agriculture Research, Extension, Education and Economics advisory board and is chair-elect for the National Sweetpotato Collaborators Group. He is on the board of directors for the U.S. Sweetpotato Council and the Mississippi Sweetpotato Council Board and is vice president of the Mississippi Chapter of the American Society of Agronomy. Harvey is stationed at the MAFES Pontotoc Ridge-Flatwoods Branch Experiment Station.  

—Cathy Aultman (not pictured), lab coordinator, Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences, MAFES Safety Award. Aultman, who has served in this position for 35 years, is responsible for coordinating all lab activities; training faculty, staff and students; and ensuring the laboratories are run safely and efficiently. Nominators note her meticulous attention to detail, great communication skills and dependability.

Research:

—Thad Cochran National Warmwater Aquaculture Center Research Professor and Coordinator David Wise, Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Aquaculture, Mississippi Land Bank-sponsored MAFES Excellence in Research Faculty Award. The 30-year MSU veteran has published 131 peer-reviewed publications. A leading authority on catfish disease management, he is best known for the development of a live attenuated, orally delivered Edwardsiella ictaluri vaccine. This groundbreaking vaccine has not only revolutionized disease prevention practices within the catfish aquaculture sector but has also played a pivotal role in reducing reliance on medicated feeds and mitigating the emergence of antibiotic resistance. Since 2019, there has been a 90% reduction in incidence of antibiotic resistance in diagnostic submissions to the Aquatic Research and Diagnostic Laboratory in Stoneville. Wise is stationed at Stoneville’s Delta Research and Extension Center.

—Assistant Professor Vitor Martins, Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, MAFES Grantsmanship Award. The award recognizes the scientist who garners the most competitive funds. The MAFES scientist secured $990,000 in extramural funding across various projects.

—Assistant Professor Jagmandeep Dhillon, Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, MAFES Outstanding Publication Award and MAFES Most Impactful Publication Award. Published in Science of Total Environment, “Climate trends and soybean production since 1970 in Mississippi” explores the relationship between climate change and soybean production in Mississippi.

—Ramandeep Kumar Sharma, plant and soil sciences doctoral student under the direction of Jagmandeep Dhillon, MAFES Excellence in Research Award-Graduate Student. Sharma has published 13 peer-reviewed articles in high impact journals, six as first author including the article that received the MAFES Outstanding Publication Award and MAFES Most Impactful Publication Award. He is the associate editor of Agrosystems, Geosciences and Environment, receiving their Editors Citation for Excellence Reviewer Award and the prestigious Gerald O. Mott Award from the Crop Science Society of America.

—Madeline McKnight, a 2023 Bachelor of Science in Animal and Dairy Sciences recipient and current master’s student, MAFES Excellence in Research Award-Undergraduate Student. McKnight published one peer-reviewed publication, four scientific abstracts and contributed to the North Mississippi Research and Extension Center Annual Report. She served as an undergraduate research assistant under the direction of Kelsey Harvey at the MAFES Prairie Research Unit.

Staff:

—Sonya Baird, manager of facilities and research in the Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Entomology and Plant Pathology, CALS/MAFES Professional Staff Award. Baird oversees departmental space and facilities and lab safety and compliance. She was central in coordinating the recent relocation of an entire department during two separate building renovations happening simultaneously. Nominators note her diligence, exceptional work ethic and calm, competent demeanor in the face of uncertainty.

—Terri Shaw, administrative assistant I, MAFES Truck Crops Branch Experiment Station, CALS/MAFES Support Staff Award. A part of the Central Mississippi Research and Extension Center for seven years, Shaw is noted for her work ethic, positive attitude and willingness to go above and beyond. She accomplished administrative duties for both Truck Crops and Brown Loam Experiment Stations during a time of transition while also serving CMREC in Raymond as needed.

For more on the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station, visit www.cals.msstate.edu and www.mafes.msstate.edu.

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