Faculty and Staff

The endowment—housed in the College of Forest Resources’ Department of Sustainable Bioproducts, with a joint appointment in the College of Architecture, Art and Design’s School of Architecture—aims to drive innovation in mass timber manufacturing, construction and design, with a research emphasis on sustainable wood construction, strength and durability.

The William L. Giles Distinguished Professor Emeritus taught for 36 years at MSU and was recognized with some of the university’s highest academic, teaching and research honors.

Angi Elsea Bourgeois will serve as the interim dean of the Graduate School starting in September 2024.

Bimal Balakrishnan joins the group with a common goal of enhancing skills in preparation for future leadership roles.

Gootee’s award winning image, “Beauty of the Moment,” was created with the support of an Arts Fellowship Grant from the Mississippi Arts Commission.

The Professional Horizons team—including MSU professors Hans Herrmann, Abbey Franovich and Ashley Studdard-Hughes, along with the Design Leadership Foundation’s Thomas Kligerman—was honored with the 2024 AIA/ACSA Practice and Leadership award.

William L. Giles Distinguished Professor Emeritus Brent Funderburk, who retired in 2018 after teaching art at MSU for 36 years, is the recipient of this year’s Excellence in Visual Arts and Education award.

She was nominated for the 2023 PCI Foundation Community Engagement Award by PCI Gulf South Executive Director Dan Eckenrode.