Mississippi State University’s Department of Communication, Media and Theatre is making waves nationally with Assistant Professors Rex Jones and Marty Lang earning two of the four Best of Show awards in the Broadcast Education Association’s 2025 Creative Media Competition.

From the language of diplomacy to the history of environmental conservation and the fight against disease, Mississippi State’s 2025 Humanities Summer Scholars have been exploring what it means to be human across cultures and centuries. Their research will be shared Wednesday [Oct. 22] during presentations hosted by the Institute for the Humanities, part of MSU’s College of Arts and Sciences.

For Lourdes Cardozo Gaibisso, “home” is more than just a place—it’s something people create. “I believe el lugar lo hace uno: ‘the place is made by the person,’” she said. “My mom taught me this when I was a child, and I carry that lesson with me. I try to foster a sense of belonging for students who are far from home by creating a welcoming environment where they feel valued and respected.”