Join in a momentous occasion on April 1 as Missouri State University breaks ground on the Clifton M. Smart III University Advancement Center.
This landmark facility will serve as a central hub for university advancement, fostering stronger connections with alumni, donors and the community.
The two-story center will house key areas of development, engagement and alumni relations, university advancement relations, advancement services and athletics development, as well as the Missouri State Foundation and Alumni Association. Expected to open in 2026, the center will provide a dedicated space for collaborations, connections and philanthropic efforts that support the university’s mission for generations to come.
Attend the groundbreaking
The groundbreaking ceremony will take place at 3 p.m. at the site of the new building, located across from the Davis-Harrington Welcome Center, at the corner of National Avenue and Bear Boulevard (in case of inclement weather, the ceremony will be held in the center).
Following the ceremony, attendees are invited to a reception in celebration of this milestone inside the Welcome Center. Several private gifts supporting the new facility will be announced.
This event is an opportunity for alumni, donors and friends to come together, celebrate and mark the beginning of a new era for university advancement.
A vision becoming reality
The center, which will cost about $22 million to build, is made possible by an anonymous seven-figure lead gift in honor of former Missouri State President Clif Smart.
The approximately 28,000-square-foot building will give the university and its friends more space for collaborations, events and meetings.
Support the center
According to Brent Dunn, vice president for university advancement and executive director of the Missouri State Foundation, there will be naming opportunities to raise several more millions of dollars for the project.
“We’ll have some great opportunities for alumni and friends to be a part of this building,” said Dunn.
These include the main lobby and boardroom, an outdoor event space, several offices and areas associated with the gallery of memories and other collaboration areas inside and outside the building.
To find out more about contributing toward this transformative project, call 417-836-4143 or send an e-mail to foundation@missouristate.edu.