EH&S is proud to recognize Andy Rainey of the MSU Riley Center as one of our newest Safety Dawgs, honoring his outstanding commitment to creating a safe environment for staff and patrons alike.

Andy was nominated for his proactive leadership and hands-on approach to safety. He played a key role in acquiring advanced fall protection equipment, ensuring that employees working at elevated heights were properly harnessed and protected. His foresight addressed a critical risk area, preventing accidents before they could happen.

In addition, Andy has taken the initiative during large public events, implementing thoughtful crowd control strategies to reduce hazards and maintain order. Whether behind the scenes or in the front row, Andy consistently puts safety first and leads by example.

His actions reflect the spirit of our safety culture at MSU: Think Safe. Work Safe. Be Safe.

Please join us in congratulating Andy Rainey on this well-deserved honor!

The Campus Landscape team, part of Campus Services, has been honored as December Safety DAWGS for their commitment to safety over the past year. Led by Jim Bo Hearnsberger, Associate Director of Campus Grounds, along with supervisors Jimmy Shannon and Myles Thibodeaux, the team works daily to promote safety for students, faculty, staff, and visitors.

Their proactive approach to safety includes hosting routine safety chats, participating in safety training, and identifying and addressing hazards to maintain a safe workplace and welcoming campus.

The team’s consistent efforts to create a safe environment reflect their leadership and serve as an example for the entire university community. Their recognition as December Safety DAWGS highlights their role in fostering a culture where everyone is encouraged to Think Safe, Work Safe, Be Safe.

Photo Identifiers

Front Row taking knee from left to right: Melvin Turnipseed, Deshaun Blair, Patricia Edminson

Front Row left to right: Myles Thibodeaux, Raphael Leonard, David Davis, Orlando Licor, Pete Moody, Tim Parker, Clark Bullock, Randy Ellis, Gussie Lane Jr, Sammy Vaughn, Anthony Bell, Mitch Freelon, Jimmy Shannon.

Second Row left to right: Dezmond Woods, Katzman Rogers, Robert McCarter, Travis Graf, Aundra Pittman, Marquez Bell, Tylan Carter, James Brownlee, Jason Hillhouse, Brandon Williams, David Long, Jason McQuirter, Quantavious Montgomery, Matthew Henry, Nicholas Moore, JimBo Hearnsberger

3rd Row left to right: Tyreese Shields, Diallo Strawter, Jonathan Hughes, Gevontae Bush, John Cranford, Todd Wilson, Quadarion Brooks, David Sherman, William Smith, Dylan Karges, Mark Murphy

Morgan Smith, a building supervisor for University Recreation, has been recognized as a Safety Dawg after being nominated by Landon Brady. Here is what Landon had to say:

"Morgan showed excellent safety achievement by acting professionally and with great detail during an injury incident. She went above and beyond to ensure the safety and wellbeing of the patron, taking charge of the situation where a patron became injured and after ensuring the wellbeing of the patron, Morgan ensured that the cause of the injury was fixed by going above her normal scope of duties to tie caution tape around the potential hazard. Morgan was extremely detailed in her reporting of the issue and her detailed documentation ensured the hazard was quickly fixed so the safety of all patrons could be better. Morgan showed great proactiveness in this situation and made the MSU campus a safer one through her great work."

Congratulations Morgan! Thank you for being a key component of MSU's safety culture.

Udara M. Kuruppu, a graduate student and laboratory safety officer within the Department of Chemistry, is being recognized as a Safety Dawg after being nominated by Dr. Gangishetty. Here is what Dr. Gangishetty had to say:

"In addition to his exceptional regular job performance, he has taken the initiative to effectively implement safety protocols and housekeeping schedules to support a productive research environment. Recently, Udara responded to a fire within a Hand Lab fume hood. His situational awareness combined with a timely and appropriate response avoided potential disaster. He rapidly notified others of the fire and evacuated the building by pulling the fire alarm station. His actions ensured the safety of all the building occupants as well as ensuring the fire was rapidly extinguished, minimizing facility damage. We are grateful for Udara’s commitment to safety!"

Congratulations Udara! Thank you for being a key component in MSU's safety culture.