Bagley Bound Newsletter – March/April 2022
March 21, 2022
Spring is here, Future Bulldogs!
March is upon us which means there are so many dates to remember! The end of the school year is quickly approaching, and I don’t want you to miss anything!
Below are updates to keep you in the know about the BCoE and what to expect:
- Orientation registration is LIVE! Are you ready to be #BagleyBound? Register for orientation today! Spots are filling up fast!
- Have you filled out the FAFSA? The Free Application for Federal Student Aid is encouraged for all students looking to attend Mississippi State. The FAFSA application is live now for 2022-2023 school year.
- The Housing Priority Date is April 1! If you haven’t completed your housing application, complete your application here.
- The national date for accepting and declining your scholarship award is May 1.
- It’s not too late to be admitted for Fall 2022! What are you waiting for? APPLY NOW!
- Have you visited campus? I encourage you to schedule a visit with the Bagley College of Engineering to experience all that we have to offer you as a student. Book your campus visit now!
Fast Fact from the Dean
“Mechanical engineering students designed and validated an Abaqus simulation for the curved panel forming process for the core stage of the Space Launch System for The Boeing Company. This will save the company time and money when developing new geometries for the core stage panels.”
Dr. Jason Keith
Professor Profile
Adam Jones
Assistant Professor
Department of Computer Science and Engineering
Hometown: Laurel, MS
Degrees and Universities:
A.A. – Jones County Junior College
B.S., M.S., Ph.D. – Mississippi State University
Post-doctoral Fellowship – University of Southern California
Post-doctoral Fellowship – Clemson University
What do you teach and in what department?
Virtual Reality, Human Centered Computer, Data Science in Computer Science & Engineering
Why did you want to get into your current field?
I enjoy the thrill of discovery. Working in Computer Science, and specifically with Virtual Reality, lets you engage in many different facets of science and engineering. Using these technologies to learn more about ourselves and the universe that we live in is one of the coolest things that I can imagine.
What research(if any) are you working on?
High Fidelity Virtual Reality – studying how to make virtual and extended reality more compelling and useful. Whether using off-the-shelf technology or building prototype hardware, we are trying to expand what is possible with virtual and extended reality.
Neuroscience of Spatial Vision – using virtual reality to study how the human brain processes and interprets the world around us. Virtual reality enables us to conduct experiments that are difficult or even impossible to do in the real-world.
What brought you to Mississippi State University?
As a native Mississippian, I wanted to come back to help train the next generation of engineers, researchers, and scientists. Mississippi has massively talented and enthusiastic youth, and there is no better place to work with them than Mississippi’s flagship engineering university.
What has been your favorite part of teaching future generations of engineers?
My favorite part of teaching future engineers is seeing them realize that there is pretty much no limit to their capabilities. When students get their hands into a problem and start building unique solutions using cutting edge technologies, they are learning skills that will shape both their future and the future of Mississippi.
What is a fun fact about you that you would like to share?
It’s a longer story, but I helped name Oculus VR.
What piece of advice would you give a student that is thinking of pursuing engineering at Mississippi State?
There is so much diverse knowledge and experience at MSU. Explore broadly. Take interesting classes. Attend presentations in other disciplines. Learn another language. Visit all the campus museums. Go to plays and concerts. Soak it all in.
"I discovered that IE was exactly what I always wanted to do.”
Where are you from?
Columbia, TN
Course of study:
Industrial Engineering with a Math minor
Classification:
Sophomore
What are you involved in?
I am a Freshman Year Navigator, an Engineering Recruitment Leader, an Orientation Leader 2022, and an Information Assistant in the Residence Halls. I am Vice President of Girls Engineering Change and a member of the Society of Women Engineers. I am very involved with Theatre MSU, and I participate both in the acting side of shows and helping with tech and crew behind the scenes.
Why did you choose the major you did?
I have always loved math and science and had a natural knack for problem-solving, but never wanted to study engineering. However, during my junior year of high school one of the reading sections on the PSAT was about an Operations Researcher. After reading that, I was very intrigued and started to do a lot of research into what that job entailed and I discovered that it was actually an industrial engineering job. I then connected with a current IE student who told me about the classes and labs she was taking, and I discovered that IE was exactly what I always wanted to do – it’s the perfect blend of problem-solving, analysis and numbers, and recognizing patterns to find the best solution.
Why did you choose MSU?
For the longest time, MSU was at the bottom of my list. I only really considered it because one of my mentors in high school recommended it because of the scholarships. However, when I toured in February of my senior year, I felt like I was home. There was no big moment where it all clicked, but it just felt right.
I remember when we left my dad asked me, “So what did you think?”
I replied, “That’s where I’m going to school.”
And when he asked, “You loved it that much?”
I responded, “No, but it just felt like home.”
And it has been my second home ever since.
Favorite spot on campus:
The Bungalow! (The study room just for IE students on the 3rd floor of McCain)
Favorite place to eat in Starkville:
Recently I’ve been loving Bin 612 (cheese fries!!) and Bulldog Burger (Freshman 15 burger!!!)
What is a fun fact that you wish every student knew about the BCoE or MSU?
Every professor, employee, and student at MSU (specifically in the BCoE) are so beyond happy to help you with classes, give life advice, and just help you in any aspect of college life. Every person I have met at MSU has had such a genuine love for this university and has genuinely wanted to help and see me succeed. And now that I am an upperclassman and student employee, I feel the exact same way towards other students. MSU is truly such a family and the spirit of togetherness is unmatched – especially within Bagley.
ECE alum selected to lead NASA’s rocket propulsion test program office at Stennis Space Center
STENNIS SPACE CENTER, Miss. — Longtime Stennis Space Center employee Christine Powell has achieved federal senior executive service status and been selected to lead NASA’s rocket propulsion test program office located at Stennis near Bay St. Louis, Mississippi.
In her new role, Powell will lead an RPT team responsible for managing NASA’s chemical rocket propulsion test facilities, activities, and resources across the agency. The office also leads in identifying and integrating agency rocket propulsion test requirements and advancing propulsion test technologies.
Powell’s appointment to the key role was made possible by her attainment of SES status. Created in 1979, SES classification is designed for federal employees who use well-developed executive skills to administer programs at the highest levels of the government. The leadership program requires candidates to demonstrate skills in five key areas – leading change, leading people, results driven, business acumen, and building coalitions.
Article excerpt from Biz New Orleans.
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