Macy Brecklein, a 2021 Mississippi State University graduate, first set her sights on MSU after touring the campus as a high school junior and immediately recognizing it as the place she belonged. “The people, campus, and educational opportunities were unmatched,” said Brecklein.

Mississippi State University English Instructor Brett Hanley will celebrate the publication of her debut poetry collection “I Was Your Bird” with a virtual book launch and reading on July 15 at 6 p.m. Hosted by JackLeg Press, the online celebration features Hanley alongside acclaimed American poets Dorsey Craft, Anthony Borruso and Natalie Louise Tombasco.

Alex Forbes, a 2021 Mississippi State University graduate, chose MSU during his college search after noticing the sheer amount of success MSU meteorology majors had in obtaining jobs after college.

Mississippi State University Professor Robert M. West has been named interim associate dean for academic affairs in the College of Arts and Sciences, bringing nearly three decades of teaching, scholarship and leadership experience to the role.

Mississippi State Associate Professor Holli Seitz studies how health messages influence behavior, with research focused on campaigns promoting healthy eating, proper medication storage and vaccine-preventable diseases. A communication expert in MSU’s Department of Communication, Media and Theatre and a 2025 Grisham Master Teacher, Seitz collaborates widely across MSU as well as with researchers at institutions such as Oklahoma State University and Appalachian State University. Her work centers on health and science communication, message effects, and media effects—areas that have gained renewed attention in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and ongoing public health challenges.

“Mississippi State’s steady rhythm drew me in,” said MacKenzie Paul, a 2023 MSU graduate. “The beautiful campus, southern charm, close knit community, and easy living sang to me. I didn’t begin my career in the College of Arts & Sciences, but soon after beginning my studies, I realized my interests were shifting keys. Transitioning to the CAS allowed me to study the ideas that resonated most deeply with me: human relationships, emotions, theology, and philosophy. Joining CAS was like stepping into a choir where every voice mattered, and where the arts and sciences blended into a rich harmony that finally felt like my own song.”

Mississippi State University’s College of Arts and Sciences celebrated the contributions of its staff members during the college’s annual staff luncheon in June at Little Dooey Fellowship Place. The event serves as an opportunity for college leadership to recognize and thank staff members whose work behind the scenes helps support the teaching, research and service missions of the college.

From genetics lessons to environmental education, Mississippi State researcher Lourdes Cardozo Gaibisso is working to make science more accessible for multilingual students. An assistant professor of TESOL and linguistics in MSU’s Department of English, Cardozo Gaibisso studies how multilingual students learn science and how educators can create more effective learning experiences. Through a Design-Based Research and Implementation (DBRI) approach, she develops, tests and refines instructional strategies that help connect science concepts to students’ languages, cultures and communities.

“Mississippi State felt like home. I was drawn to the strong sense of community and the academic foundation offered by the College of Arts & Science,” said Gabrielle Ferreri, a 2023 Mississippi State University graduate.

As orientation season welcomes a new class of Bulldogs to campus, Mississippi State University Academic Advisor Tina Davis is often one of the first people students meet as they begin navigating college life. Whether she’s helping a freshman settle into a new environment or encouraging a senior preparing to graduate, she approaches every student with the same goal: making sure they feel supported, heard and capable of success.

A rare book in Mississippi State University’s archives is reshaping what historians know about the origins of Juneteenth. For years, the earliest widely recognized Juneteenth celebration was believed to be an 1866 observance in Galveston, Texas, marking the anniversary of freedom for enslaved people there. But research by MSU historian Susannah J. Ural and her colleagues points to an even earlier celebration of emancipation in New Orleans during the summer of 1864.

Mississippi State Assistant Professor Lourdes Cardozo-Gaibisso is immersing local middle school students in climate science literacy exploration through podcasting, helping them share experiences, ask questions and engage with environmental issues affecting their communities.