Mississippi State mourns the loss of Debra “Deb” Mlsna—an associate professor of chemistry since 2009—after a long battle with cancer. She leaves behind a legacy of academic excellence, dedicated mentorship and an unwavering commitment to student success.

While working on her master’s degree in social work at the University of Georgia, Dillard took a chance on an opportunity outside of the classroom to explore different aspects of the career by joining a service-learning course working with people who had burn injuries.

A Mississippi State faculty member steeped in literary knowledge is the new head of the university’s Department of English.