A Mississippi State faculty member’s research is helping inform federal lawmakers as they discuss how private equity impacts one of America’s most important public services: national security.

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.

“I have been a lifelong Bulldog and always wanted to attend Mississippi State University,” said 1999 MSU graduate Carrie-Beth Randall. “However, my decision to pursue a degree within the College of Arts and Sciences came about only after I changed from my initial major, architecture. I had a couple of dear friends majoring in communication, and as I learned more about the degree, specifically public relations, I thought it would be a good fit for me.”