MSU Humanities Series to Explore the Mind-Body Connection in Student-Athletes

Mississippi State University’s Institute for the Humanities will launch its 2025-2026 lecture series with an event titled “The Great Balancing Act: Student-Athletes at Mississippi State.” The free roundtable discussion, held at the Duff Center Auditorium on September 24 at 6 p.m., will feature MSU Athletic Director Zac Selmon and several student-athletes.

The event will explore the unique challenges and opportunities of balancing academic and athletic commitments. This year’s series theme, “The Mind-Body Connection: How Movement Makes Us Human,” will highlight how physical activity is central to the human experience.

The discussion comes as the role of collegiate athletes receives national attention, but the daily balance of their lives—including class, practice, studying, and rest—remains a constant. In the previous semester, MSU student-athletes set a school record with a departmental GPA of 3.37, demonstrating their ability to excel in both sports and academics.