Keenum addresses MSU-Meridian milestones, plans for growth at faculty, staff Team Tailgate event

Contact: Marianne Todd

MERIDIAN, Miss.—Mississippi State University President Mark E. Keenum on Friday [Sept. 6] reiterated the university’s commitment to growing its Meridian campus during an address to MSU-Meridian faculty and staff.

In August, MSU welcomed more than 6,000 new students to its Starkville and Meridian campuses, Keenum said, adding both are growing in student population, faculty and facilities.

Keenum welcomed new faculty and staff and detailed the university’s journey in creating the Riley Campus, a story originating in strong community partnerships.

“We’ve been so very blessed to have a community partner who believes in us and who wants to invest in us,” Keenum said of The Riley Foundation. “There are tens of millions of dollars they’re investing in this university. They’re investing in you, because you are the university. It’s a wonderful tribute to you and the wonderful work you do here.”

The brick-and-mortar renovations, which helped pave the way for the MSU Riley Center and regional firsts in healthcare programs, has led the way for continued endowments, support for faculty research, more academic programs and the scholarships needed to assist students in fulfilling their educational dreams, he said.

Keenum detailed the storied history of the Marks Rothenberg Department Store and Grand Opera House restored through a $10 million anchor gift from The Riley Foundation, which shared the university’s vision for the massive restoration project that has helped regenerate economic growth in downtown Meridian.

He also mentioned the foundation’s gift of the adjoining Newberry Building and the city’s donation of the Kress Building, structures renovated to house MSU-Meridian’s Master of Science in Nursing and Master of Physician Assistant Studies programs. A state-of-the-art Interprofessional Simulation Center that trains students from both campuses opened in August as well, he said.

The momentum from these programs, he said, complements MSU-Meridian’s Division of Education with a newly created Doctor of Psychology degree and a Master of Clinical Health and Counseling program already filled to capacity with students. The programs are vital prerequisites in the developing MSU-Meridian Mental and Behavioral Health Clinic, slated to open in downtown next year.

Keenum attended the MSU-Meridian event, replete with a visit from university mascots Bully and Dak, after talking with West Lauderdale High School students earlier in the day.

“High school student populations in the years to come—in the very near years to come—are going to see a stark decline in our state,” Keenum said. “This is not a phenomenon solely with Mississippi. It’s nationwide. We have to position ourselves now with our approach to recruiting and promoting our university, our programs, creating more programs and growing more opportunity to meet the needs here in the state and in our nation. We’re inspiring young people to be motivated to get knowledge, knowledge that has value to help them have a great life and to contribute to our society. That’s what this is all about, higher education.”

Mississippi State University is taking care of what matters. MSU-Meridian is online at www.meridian.msstate.edu.