A new alumni center to be built on campus will be named for the university’s outgoing president.
Missouri State University and Missouri State Foundation officials on Friday announced a multi-million dollar gift for a proposed alumni center to be built on the northwest corner of National Avenue and Bear Boulevard. It will be named the Clifton M. Smart III Advancement Center.
The gift comes from an anonymous donor and the exact amount was not revealed.
The announcement was made at the Davis Harrington Welcome Center, south of where the new center will be built. When completed, it will house the foundation, alumni relations and advancement departments.
During the announcement, Smart said that he was caught by surprise about the donation and was deeply grateful for the honor. Smart has been the university’s president for the past 13 years and will retire from the post at the end of June.
“It was frankly stunning,” Smart said. “That kind of generosity and unselfishness, to name a significant building after someone you are not related to or connected with except through the university. It’s truly probably the most significant honor that I’ve had in my life.”
New center to be a home for university community
Projected to cost anywhere from $20 million to $25 million, the new center will offer about 28,000 square feet for meetings, events, collaborative gatherings and more. MSU Foundation Executive Director Brent Dunn said it is intended to be a home for alumni and friends.
Dunn said the university has long wanted an alumni center near its welcome center, similar to what other major universities have.
“Students start their experience before they are officially a student right here in this room,” Dunn said. “This is where you begin your career. Then right across the street is where you continue that relationship after you graduate.”
Construction is hoped to begin in February 2025 and has a targeted completion for the fall 2026 semester.
Dake Wells Architecture was hired by the university’s Board of Governors in February to design the project. While specific details remain under development, the center is expected to offer a number of features:
- An indoor event space with seating for about 200. It will be named after broadcaster Kenneth Meyer, for whom the university’s current alumni center is named.
- A conference room to be named for the Miller-Keltner families. Beverly Keltner is the incoming chair of the foundation’s board of trustees.
- Outdoor event space for gatherings or spontaneous hangouts.
- Offices for the Missouri State Foundation and university advancement team, including development, alumni engagement and relations, donor relations and special events, advancement services and athletics development.
- A gallery that showcases key moments in the university’s history.
The multi-million donation kickstarts funding for the center. Lynn Parman, chair of the Board of Governors, said the board and the university have plenty of work to do in order to raise the money for the building.
“It will take a very concerted effort to raise the funding for the facility,” Parman said.
“From a board perspective, we are so appreciative and grateful for this donor. It is also a testament to President Smart’s leadership and the impact he’s had on this institution, so we are incredibly proud and honored someone would do this for Clif.”
Finally back on campus
The building housing the Kenneth E. Meyer Alumni Center, located at 300 S. Jefferson Ave., was sold in February to Community Foundation of the Ozarks.
As part of the $5.8 million sale, the university will continue to lease and use space from the CFO, including the Turner Family Hospitality Room. MSU will also provide maintenance and security for the building until the alumni center can move into its new home.
When built, the center will be located about a block away from one of its first homes. It was formerly in Burgess House, located at 736 S. National Ave. The foundation bought its Jefferson Street location in 1989 and named it in honor of Meyer.
Smart moved by donation, proud of strong connection
During Friday's announcement, Dunn said Smart was stunned to learn such a significant donation would allow “his name to live on campus forever, and will be associated at the front door of campus.”
In his remarks, Smart thanked a large number of people who have worked at the university alongside him, helping to accomplish significant achievements and milestones. He pointed out that at the beginning of his tenure 13 years ago, several pieces of land for this project weren’t even owned by the university.
“When you get a recognition like this, it’s always the result of contributions from so many people,” Smart said.
“You think about all the things that have been accomplished in the last 13 years, it’s the result of our great team.”
Smart said that Missouri State has become a cherished institution to him and his wife, Gail. He knew early on in his tenure that MSU would be their university, despite how they were not alumni. Each is a graduate of the University of Arkansas.
In 2015, MSU’s baseball team faced Arkansas in a super-regional NCAA tournament, but lost 3-2, Smart said.
“One bad call away from being in the College World Series,” Smart said. “Gail has two degrees from the University of Arkansas, and she was crying because the Bears had lost. That’s just an example of how all parts of this university have become so important to us. I’m so pleased that my name will be associated with the university for the rest of our lives.”
