In February, the Missouri State University Foundation announced the sale of the Kenneth E. Meyer Alumni Center to the Community Foundation of the Ozarks. They’re an important community organization that will do great things with that building in the future.  

At the same time, Brent Dunn and his team announced the MSU Foundation was working on a new advancement center here on campus. Last week, it officially got a name, thanks to an anonymous seven-figure gift – and I was humbled.  

The Clifton M. Smart III University Advancement Center will serve as the home base for university advancement, the Alumni Association and the foundation. 

I was stunned to learn someone had given an anonymous lead gift to name the advancement center in my honor. 

Situated across from the Davis-Harrington Welcome Center, construction of the approximately $20 million center will begin in early 2025 and is expected to wrap up in summer 2026.  

Brent and his team have worked on this project for some time and this building will complete the entrance to campus – with the Davis-Harrington Welcome Center serving as the front door and the new Clifton M. Smart III University Advancement Center serving as our living room. The approximately 28,000-square-foot building will be a place to gather, to hang out and to be a Bear.  

Center features

While the design process is still underway, key features will include:  

• Event space: With seating for 200, an indoor event space to serve the university and community will be named for Kenneth E. Meyer.  
• Outdoor space: This area will be used for gatherings and serve as a hangout space with seating for students and visitors.   
• Offices: The foundation and university advancement team – including development, alumni engagement and relations, donor relations and special events, advancement services, and athletics development – will all be housed in the center.  
• Gallery of memories: This area will showcase static and interactive displays featuring the university’s history and the impact philanthropic gifts have made.  

This advancement center will be a brick-and-mortar memory of my time here. I’ve loved being president of this university and am so pleased my name will be forever associated with it.  

Thanks for all you do for Missouri State. 

Clif