Aug 21
0

SAA planning for academic year

By | Alumni | No Comments
Pictured, left to right: Alyssa Johnson, projects chair; Abbey Ray Gordon, vice president; Kaylie Carpenter, social chair; Jessi Massey, secretary; Batesville, Callie Blake Masterson, treasurer; and Brittany Earls, president.

 

Delta State’s Student Alumni Association is hard at work making plans for the 2017-18 academic year.

The SAA, which acts as a bridge between the Delta State student body and the Delta State University Alumni Association, helps with events such as Pig Pickin’, Homecoming and community service projects.

SAA officers for the 2017-18 academic year:
— Brittany Earls — president
Cleveland, Mississippi
— Abbey Gordon — vice president
Senatobia, Mississippi
— Jessi Massey— secretary
Batesville, Mississippi
— Callie Blake Masterson — treasurer
Batesville, Mississippi
— Kaylie Carpenter — social chair
Crystal Springs, Mississippi
— Alyssa Johnson — projects chairman
Lake Village, Arkansas

The Alumni Association recently awarded Hannah Goudy with the H.L. Nowell Student Alumni Association Service Award at the annual 2017 Student Hall of Fame Banquet.

The award is named for Henry Lee “H.L.” Nowell Jr., who worked at Delta State from 1948-1987. During his 40-year tenure, Nowell served in numerous capacities including dean of men, dean of students, director of student activities, director of public relations, Delta State’s first director of the Student Union, and he was the first paid alumni secretary.

The award is given each year to the Student Alumni Association member that has given tireless effort and generosity throughout the academic school year. Goudy will graduate in December with her nursing degree and has been a Student Alumni Association member since her freshmen year.

Follow the SAA on Twitter @DSU_SAA. View SAA photos from 2007 to present at https://www.flickr.com/photos/dsualumni/albums/72157672291991031.

For more information, contact the Alumni Association at 662-846-4660. To stay up to date on the Alumni Association’s activities, follow these social media sites: Facebook (Statesmen Graduates), Twitter (@DSU_Alumni), LinkedIn (DSU alumni), Instagram (dsualumni) and You Tube (dsualumni1). Save the date for this year’s Pig Pickin’ (Oct. 7) and Homecoming (Nov. 11).

Aug 18
0

LaForge outlines bright future at convocation

By | Academics, Community, Faculty/Staff, President | No Comments

Delta State University President William N. LaForge delivered his State of the University address Thursday during opening convocation ceremonies at the Bologna Performing Arts Center.

The address was titled “With Gratitude” and began with a thank you to faculty and staff for their continued efforts at the start of Delta State’s 93rd academic year.

“I am pleased to report that the current state of the university is positive, stable and advancing, and I am optimistic about a bright future,” said LaForge.

President LaForge said the university remains positive thanks to Delta State’s stellar people and programs.

“We embrace and promote core values such as individual worth, a healthy life style, hospitality, a strong work ethic, cultural enrichment, civility and respect for all, loyalty, ethical conduct, and accountability in all we do — for which I am profoundly grateful,” he said.

“We certainly have serious challenges, especially budget related, but we can rightfully commence our new academic year with the confidence that the ship is upright and moving in the right direction — combined with a dose of caution about the budget situation.”

LaForge was referencing major state budget cuts that have trimmed institutional funds by approximately $2.2 million in the last fiscal year. Despite these cuts, the president said the university is stable thanks to a recent recovery from years of eroding enrollment and financial woes.

According to LaForge, Delta State is advancing in response to a slate of new and bigger opportunities available on campus. Among those, he cited the remodeled Wiley Planetarium, the creation of the Dave Heflin Outdoor Recreation Lab, a major increase in the international student body, a long list of athletic achievements, a number of facility remodeling and renovation projects, major campus conferences, and a boost to recruitment and marketing efforts.

Despite the optimism, the president asked faculty and staff to remain extra cautious of the state budget cuts.

“A sad and disappointing statistic to report is that, for the first time in history, state funding is no longer Delta State’s largest source of operating revenue,” said LaForge. “This year, we will derive less revenue from the state than from tuition. Arguably, we have crossed over from being a state-supported university to a state-assisted university.”

“I am truly grateful to everyone on campus for joining our efforts to manage our way through this challenging budget time,” he added. “We will hope for, and work toward, a better budget climate for next year — but, that outcome is largely dependent on the fiscal health of the state.”

The president and his cabinet have enacted a responsible budget process, one that remains visionary and transparent, and guides the university according to strict business and ethical principles.

Like the university community as a whole, LaForge’s optimism will guide the institutional vision in the face of challenges. Delta State will remain committed to its 10 visioning principles, which LaForge outlined at last year’s convocation.

“Why shouldn’t we engage in a sense of idealism about who and what we are at Delta State?” asked LaForge. “After all, our ideas and actions make this university what it is every day. There’s no reason why we cannot apply even better ideas and actions to remaking the reality and condition of Delta State. But we must be intentional about it. It won’t just happen. I firmly believe that there is no limit to the creativity of the human mind.”

Visit www.deltastate.edu to stay updated on university news and event coverage.

Aug 18
0

Koehler honored with retrospective exhibit

By | Academics, College of Arts and Sciences, Faculty/Staff | No Comments
“Ron Koehler Retrospective: 45 Years of Sculpture” opens at the Fielding Wright Art Center on Aug. 31.

 

Delta State University’s Fielding Wright Art Center opens its 2017-18 season on Aug. 31 with “Ron Koehler Retrospective: 45 Years of Sculpture,” an exhibition celebrating the career of the former Department of Art chair.

An opening reception will be held Aug. 31 from 5- 7 p.m.

Koehler taught at Delta State University for 35 years and served as chair of the department for more than a decade. He retired this summer as professor and chair emeritus.

During his long and distinguished career, Koehler participated in over 500 regional, national and international exhibitions, received countless awards, and saw his work enter the permanent collections of museums and galleries across the nation.

The retrospective offers a rare opportunity to absorb the astonishing breadth of Koehler’s artistic pursuits, the subject matter that has occupied him, and the variety of media he has employed.

Koehler said that a casual visitor to the exhibit might get the impression that the work was created by more than one artist, but what connects his wide variety of work is his interest in exploration.

“Exploration of shape, form, media, color, texture, concept and genre,” said Koehler. “Exploration of technique, movement, scale, iconography, purpose and activism. Exploration of personal goals. Exploration of time and place. Exploration of fear, and exploration of the absurd.”

His explorations of a subject matter, or the possibilities of a medium, often lead him to work in a series. Another common element in Koehler’s works is his ever-present sense of humor, as seen in the “Balanced Diet” series, which consists of an assortment of cholesterol heavy food items. Examples from his famous “Brush” series, which numbers in the hundreds, will also be included in the exhibit.

“I’m not sure if I made the choice to devote my life to creating art, or if the choice was made for me long before I was born by some cosmic combustion I was never privy to,” said Koehler, looking back on his career. “What I can say for absolute certain is that art and the creation of it has defined my life in immeasurable ways. This exhibition, I hope, will document the trip thus far.”

“Ron Koehler Retrospective: 45 Years of Sculpture” will run from Aug. 24 to Sept. 21. Koehler will generously donate all proceeds from exhibit sales to the foundation of the Salley/Koehler Community College Scholarship Fund at Delta State University.

Regular gallery hours are Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Fridays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The gallery is closed on weekends, holidays and during semester breaks.

For more information, visit the DSU Art Department’s website at http://www.deltastate.edu/college-of-arts-and-sciences/art/ or contact 662-846-4720. For updates and announcements of upcoming events, follow Delta State Art Department on Facebook or join our email list.

Aug 17
0

Complete 2 Compete Initiative launches website

By | Academics, Continuing Education, IHL | No Comments
Officials, including (left to right) Steve Jaworowski, LK Marketing; John Davis, DHS; Stephanie Bullock, IHL; Governor Phil Bryant; Dr. Andrea Mayfield, MCCB; Dr. Glenn Boyce, IHL; Dr. Casey Turnage, IHL; and Audra Kimble, MCCB; gather to announce the launch of the Complete 2 Compete website.

The portal to a better future is just a click away for thousands of Mississippians. The Complete 2 Compete website provides information and resources available to help Mississippi adults who have completed some college, but not a degree, to return to college and complete the requirements necessary to earn their degrees.

“Complete 2 Compete will grow our skilled, educated workforce, in turn growing economic development across the state,” said Governor Phil Bryant. “This partnership will ensure Mississippi remains attractive to business and industry looking for a favorable tax climate and a workforce ready to excel on day one. I am grateful to everyone involved in making it a reality.”

The website will serve as an important resource for thousands of Mississippians:

  • More than 2,400 former students age 21 or over have enough credits to earn a bachelor’s degree with no additional coursework
  • An additional 28,000 students have enough credits to earn an associates degree with no additional coursework
  • More than 100,000 former students can earn either an associates or bachelor’s degree with some additional coursework

“This website provides important information that can have life-changing results for many Mississippians,” said Dr. Glenn Boyce, commissioner of Higher Education. “Workforce studies have shown that the vast majority of future jobs will go to those with a postsecondary degree or credential of value beyond high school. I would encourage individuals to access this website as it could be an important first step in helping them achieve a goal that will ultimately lead to a better, higher-paying job and greater job and financial security.”

Mississippi Public Universities, the Mississippi Community College Board and the Mississippi Association of Community and Junior Colleges are partners in the effort to identify target groups, implement adult learner services and re-engage adult students to help them complete their degrees.

“As a statewide initiative, Complete 2 Compete has the potential to impact hundreds of thousands of Mississippians,” said Dr. Andrea Mayfield, executive director of the Mississippi Community College Board. “Expanding career and wage opportunities are just two, of many, benefits of Complete 2 Compete. I am excited to see this collaborative effort become a reality. Without the partnership and efforts of many, this initiative would not be possible. I look forward to the positive impact on individuals, employers, and Mississippi’s economy.”

The Mississippi Department of Human Services has provided funding through a grant designed to help low-income Mississippians improve their job skills.

“The Mississippi Department of Human Services proudly supports the Complete 2 Compete Project,” said John Davis, executive director of  MDHS. “Our generation plus approach at MDHS begins by addressing poverty as well as associated barriers encountered by Mississippi families. The approach is designed with an intentional focus on working with the family as a whole. Education is one of the key components to create a foundational framework​ for individuals along their pathway to independence. The Complete 2 Compete Project perfectly aligns with our efforts to holistically assist households obtain livable wages.”

The Mississippi Department of Employment Security also provided a grant for the program.

There is no cost for submitting information through the C2C website and doing so may help an individual determine how close they are to completing degree requirements. Depending on what programs are needed to satisfy an individual’s career and educational interests, the Complete 2 Compete website will match him or her to a list of schools that offer the classes needed to complete a degree.

Tuition and fees for enrollment in courses may be assessed according to the established tuition and fee schedule at each institution. Some incentives, including academic forgiveness, virtual tutoring, adult learner scholarships and tuition assistance, prior learning assessment and repayment plan options may be available at some of the institutions.

# # #

The Mississippi Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning governs the public universities in Mississippi, including Alcorn State University; Delta State University; Jackson State University; Mississippi State University including the Mississippi State University Division of Agriculture, Forestry and Veterinary Medicine; Mississippi University for Women; Mississippi Valley State University; the University of Mississippi including the University of Mississippi Medical Center; and the University of Southern Mississippi.

 

Aug 16
0

Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit opens BPAC season

By | Bologna Performing Arts Center | No Comments
Jason Isbell and The 400 Unit will play the Bologna Performing Arts Center on Aug. 24.

Jason Isbell and The 400 Unit will kick off the Bologna Performing Arts Center’s 2017-18 season on Aug. 24 at 7:30 p.m. Opening the night is special guest Amanda Shires and her band.

The concert is locally sponsored by Wade, Inc.

Amanda Shires

Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter and guitarist Jason Isbell and his mighty band, The 400 Unit, are on a U.S. tour following the release of their highly anticipated new album “The Nashville Sound” on June 16. The album is the followup to 2015’s critically-acclaimed “Something More Than Free,” which won two Grammy Awards and two Americana Music Association Awards.

Isbell has become one of the most respected songwriters of this era, and when he steps onto the stage with the mighty 400 Unit, they become one of the strongest live acts on the road today, captivating audiences worldwide. The 400 Unit features Derry deBorja (keyboards), Chad Gamble (drums), Jimbo Hart (bass), Amanda Shires (fiddle) and Sadler Vaden (guitar).

In March, tickets for a five-night run at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium in October sold out in just two hours. Tickets to their Mississippi Delta performance are now on sale at www.bolognapac.com or by contacting the BPAC Ticket Office at 662-846-4626.

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