| Thursday, June 4, 2026 |
| From rural Mississippi to JSI@HKS to the MPP Program: A Q&A with Lily Langstaff MPP 2027 | |
 | Growing up in rural Mississippi, Lily Langstaff MPP 2027 never imagined she would one day pursue a master's degree in public policy. She was studying conservation biology as an undergraduate at Mississippi State University, when a formative summer internship in Washington, D.C. opened her eyes to the world of environmental policy. Lily's interest in policy and public service deepened when she joined the inaugural cohort of the Public Policy and International Affairs (PPIA) Junior Summer Institute at HKS (JSI@HKS), a rigorous seven-week summer program that prepares undergraduates for graduate programs in public policy and international affairs. As the first JSI@HKS Summer Scholar to enroll at HKS, Lily just wrapped up her first year of the Master in Public Policy (MPP) Program. We asked her to reflect on her journey to HKS and experience so far. Here's what she shared. |
| ERDC Alumni Association awards 11 scholarships | |
| The U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) Alumni Association recently announced the recipients of its 2026 scholarships. Eleven high-school graduates were recognized for their leadership, academic excellence, and promising futures in their respective fields of study. Supported by donations and successful fundraising events, the ERDC Alumni Association awarded a total of $11,000, including: Elizabeth Bednar, a graduate of St. Aloysius High School, will attend Mississippi State University with a major interest in Physics. Hayden Bell, a graduate of St. Aloysius High School, will attend Mississippi State University with a major interest in Microbiology. Laura Ertle, a graduate of Warren Central High School, received the Sills Engineering Scholarship. She plans to attend Mississippi State University with a major interest in Mechanical Engineering. Kinley Lott, a graduate of St. Aloysius High School, will attend Mississippi State University with a major interest in Biochemistry. Austin Watson, a graduate of Lake High School, plans to attend East Central Community College and Mississippi State University with a major interest in Mechanical Engineering. |
| President Nora Miller honored for dedication and service | |
| Mississippi University for Women President Nora R. Miller has been recognized with several accolades for her distinguished record of academic leadership and service to her alma mater and higher education over the last 30 years. Miller was recently awarded an honorary doctorate, the university's highest honor. Each university is allowed to award two honorary doctorates per year, and the selections must be approved by the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning. Dr. Scott Tollison, provost and executive vice president for academic affairs, made the announcement at spring commencement exercises. He was accompanied by Dr. Alfred Rankins, Jr., commissioner of higher education for the Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning, and IHL Trustee Jerry L. Griffith. During spring commencement, Miller was also awarded the status of president emeritus in recognition of her years of leadership and service to the university. Additionally, the Medal of Excellence, the university's highest non-degree honor, was bestowed upon Miller at her retirement celebration in April. |
| LSU names Joseph Messina as senior vice chancellor and provost | |
| LSU announced Wednesday that it has named Joseph Messina as its next senior vice chancellor and provost. This decision comes after a months-long national search, and the new provost will begin his role on Aug. 3, pending approval by the LSU Board of Supervisors. As senior vice chancellor and provost, Messina will serve as chief academic officer and oversee all academic affairs, faculty development and research partnerships to help support LSU's students and its goal of becoming a top research institution. Messina is currently dean of the J. Frank Barefield College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Alabama, a position he has held since 2019. Before becoming dean at Alabama, Messina held a variety of positions at Michigan State University over his 20 years at the school, including assistant vice president for research and innovation, senior associate dean for faculty affairs, associate dean for research and associate dean for graduate studies. "LSU is one of the country's great flagship institutions, and the opportunities ahead are extraordinary," Messina said. |
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