Miles from Biloxi’s casino row, there’s a place attracting a different kind of tourist: birds migrating down the Mississippi Flyway, placing their bets on the Coast’s mild winter climate.

When Nicole Ashpole arrived at Mississippi State University a year ago to launch the new One Health program in the College of Veterinary Medicine, she brought enthusiasm, a long to-do list and years of academic experience. What she gained this spring was something her previous career hadn't given her: a real understanding of what a land-grant university is—and why it matters.