Mississippi State’s College of Arts and Sciences invites the campus community to sample something new this month with its first “book tasting” event, a creative twist that pairs books, conversation and Mississippi State flavor.

“From the moment I first toured Mississippi State University during recruitment events, I knew it was the place where I belonged and where I wanted to pursue my bachelor’s degree,” said Ashley Thompson, 2021 MSU graduate. “Every person I met was genuinely kind, welcoming, and eager to help, making me feel like part of the community long before I officially enrolled. That sense of authenticity and support never faded once I became a student.”

Mississippi State University Assistant Professor Candace Lukasik has received a highly competitive 2026 Collaborative Research Grant from the American Academy of Religion to examine religious communities through the lens of diaspora—populations dispersed beyond their ancestral homelands while maintaining strong cultural and social ties.