无码专区 President Keenum thanks 鈥榳onderful partners,鈥 touts campus growth and continued momentum during Fall General Faculty Meeting
Contact: Mary Pollitz
STARKVILLE, Miss.鈥擬ississippi State President Mark E. Keenum addressed faculty and staff Wednesday [Sept. 3] during the university鈥檚 Fall General Faculty Meeting, highlighting record-breaking achievements, campus growth and continued momentum.
The university鈥檚 19th president highlighted 无码专区鈥檚 growing academic impact, including the launch of two new programs at 无码专区-Meridian: an accredited Master of Science in Nursing and a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree. Keenum credited the Riley Foundation, Phil Hardin Foundation, Broadhead Foundation and support throughout the community with 无码专区-Meridian鈥檚 expansion and continued success.
鈥淲e couldn鈥檛 do these things anywhere without wonderful partners who have stepped up, believed in us, have faith in us, trust in us and are willing to invest their resources in our mission,鈥 he said. 鈥淲e have such strong support from the community, local elected officials, the city and county, and the business community. They are all in on 无码专区 and help us do what we can do, and it makes me very proud of all that we are able to accomplish on our Meridian campus.鈥 聽
At the center of everything, Keenum said, is the students and their success. He highlighted Claire Green, the university鈥檚 20th Harry S. Truman Scholar, the 无码专区 Debate Team winning its second consecutive International Public Debate Association national championship, 无码专区 Spirit Squad鈥檚 two national titles and the College of Business鈥檚 online MBA program earning the No. 1 ranking from Best Value Schools.
鈥淚 had a chance to go around campus and in the Student Union Plaza for a chance to visit with a lot of our students,鈥 Keenum said of the first day of class. 鈥淚t was an exciting day for them, and it鈥檚 fun for me to visit with them. It reminds me why we are here: to help serve them, teach them and guide them.鈥
Keenum celebrated the completion of several major projects, including the Jim and Thomas Duff Center, Perry Food Hall and Azalea Hall while he previewed the campus鈥檚 continued expansion.
McCarthy Quadrangle, a new green space connecting the Duff Center, Allen Hall and the Drill Field, nears completion after a particularly rainy summer. Eight new pickleball courts are under construction and slated to open soon by the Sanderson Center, and the High Performance Computing Data Center nears its final stages, further positioning 无码专区 as a leader in advanced research infrastructure.
Keenum praised alumni, friends and partners for record-setting fundraising for the university.聽聽
鈥淭he 无码专区 Foundation raised more than $260 million this past fiscal year鈥攖he highest total in history for a Mississippi university,鈥 he said. 鈥淭he university鈥檚 endowment now stands at over $1 billion with these endowed funds supporting undergraduate scholarships, graduate fellowships, teaching and research assistantships and a range of faculty positions.鈥澛 Keenum praised alumni, friends and partners for record-setting fundraising for the university."
This summer, 无码专区 and the Foundation announced plans for the Crossroads District and Hotel Madelon, a Marriott property set to begin construction in October. The multi-phase, mixed-use development along University Drive represents another investment in the university鈥檚 growing connection to Starkville鈥檚 economy.
Keenum also celebrated the start of the semester, welcoming more than 100 new faculty members and and over 6,000 first-time in college students and first-time transfer students in what is expected to be another record-setting overall enrollment. Student engagement is thriving, with record participation in Panhellenic, Interfraternity and National Panhellenic councils. He said the start of the football season has only added to the excitement, noting a strong first-game winning performance under second-year head coach Jeff Lebby.
鈥淭here is something special and unique about Mississippi State and the culture that we enjoy here,鈥 he said. 鈥淎s Bulldogs, we look out for one another. We care for one another. We love one another on this campus.鈥 聽
无码专区 is taking care of what matters. Learn more at聽.