NOTE: Offices will be closed at USM's Hattiesburg and Gulf Park campuses on Monday, May 28, in observance of the Memorial Day holiday. The daily media message will resume on Tuesday, May 29.

Welcome to the daily email for media members that includes news and notes from The University of Southern Mississippi. Today's email includes news items about a health initiative targeting rural Mississippi residents, and chemistry Professor Doug Masterson being named a national advocate for high school students. In addition, mass communication and journalism Professor Mary Lou Sheffer is available to discuss social media privacy issues.

Media inquiries can be directed to Van Arnold at 601.266.5568 or van.arnoldFREEMississippi or David Tisdale at d.g.tisdaleFREEMississippi

Today's Top Story

Program Encourages Rural Residents to Participate in Health Research

When the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention makes maps examining the health of Americans, Mississippi lights up red, as do other states in the rural South. Part of the problem is that people living in this state often lack the information they need to stay healthy or manage their conditions. Evidence has shown that people from communities like the Mississippi Delta - rural citizens, those with low incomes, and people of color - tend not to participate in health research.

The Mississippi Network for Cancer Control and Prevention, a program of The University of Southern Mississippi, and theFannie Lou Hamer Cancer Foundation, have been working to advance a new patient-centered approach to research.

http://news.usm.edu/blog/making-health-care-relevant-and-less-feared-mississippi-delta

Additional News Releases

USM Chemistry Professor Selected as Advocate for High School Students
http://news.usm.edu/article/usm-chemistry-professor-selected-advocate-high-school-students

Media Expert Availability

Privacy concerns involving the use of social media have been a major topic in national and world news. USM Associate Professor Mary Lou Sheffer is available to discuss the intersection between social media and the law today. To schedule an interview, email mediaexpertsFREEMississippi. For a full list of USM media experts visit: http://news.usm.edu/resource/usm-faculty-experts-media-requests

Upcoming Photo and/or Video Opportunities
The Children's Center for Communication and Development will be host its graduation ceremony today, May 25, 2018, from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. at the Trent Lott National Center on the Hattiesburg campus. Twenty-one clients will receive their diplomas in the ceremony. For more information, contact Courtney Tesh at 601.266.4742 or Courtney.TeshFREEMississippi