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Clif’s Notes for May 3, 2022

May 3, 2022 by Clif Smart

Brad Bodenhausen speaks at Town Hall.

Our arena has a name — the Great Southern Bank Arena.

The naming follows a $5.5 million gift from Great Southern Bank to the Missouri State University Foundation.

Great Southern Bank has given to many areas of the university over the years. They are a phenomenal partner in supporting academics, scholarships and athletics.

I think we can all be proud to attach their name to the arena.

Honoring Hammons’ contributions

While the arena will have a new name, we haven’t forgotten about the legacy of John Q. Hammons. A memorial will be constructed inside the arena to commemorate Mr. Hammons, his dream for a world class athletic and entertainment facility on our campus, and his significant financial contribution to the arena.

Respecting Mr. Hammons’ support for Missouri State University in this way is critically important to me, our board and our friends at Great Southern Bank.

Reaching our goal

Securing a naming gift for the arena has been a goal of mine, the Foundation and our board for a number of years.

However, this is about more than just getting a name for the arena.

Great Southern Bank’s gift, along with payments we received before and during the settlement of litigation involving the Hammons trust, have allowed us to pay down $10 million in auxiliary bonds.

Going forward our bond obligation and payments will be the same as if the Hammons trust paid its full gift commitment on the arena.

Announcing new leadership

I am pleased to announce that Brad Bodenhausen has accepted the vice president for community and global partnerships position. This is the position currently held by Jim Baker.

Jim will retire on June 30, and Brad will start in the new role on July 1.

We had two excellent finalists for this job, both of whom were internal candidates. This is a testament to Jim’s enormous leadership abilities. One of Jim’s greatest strengths has always been identifying and developing talented people.

Thanks to the search committee and everyone who participated in the search process for this important position.

Narrowing the search

I also wanted to provide a brief update on the search for the executive vice president and provost position.

Last week we hosted Meera Komarraju on campus. This Thursday and Friday we will host Zora Mulligan.

You can find information about these candidates in last week’s Clif’s Notes.

Our third candidate — Magesh Rajan — will not be visiting campus next week, as he has withdrawn from the search.

Thanks for all you do for Missouri State!

Filed Under: Clif's Notes, Smart Tagged With: community and global partnerships, Missouri State Foundation, Provost

Clif’s Notes for Aug. 3, 2021

August 3, 2021 by Clif Smart

Fountain with library and Glass Hall behind

Aug. 10 marks the Missouri Bicentennial — the 200th anniversary of Missouri’s entry as the 24th state of the United States.

We are proud to provide members of the university community multiple opportunities to celebrate the bicentennial.

Watch the documentary

Missouri State University will sponsor “Missouri! A Bicentennial Celebration,” a PBS documentary to be broadcast on Ozarks Public Television and other PBS stations across Missouri. The two-hour film includes a sweeping snapshot of Missouri. The documentary features a video clip promoting MSU as the lead sponsor.

The film will screen Aug. 7 at the Missouri Theatre on the campus of the University of Missouri — Columbia. The documentary will premiere on OPT and Missouri’s other PBS stations at 8 p.m. Aug. 12.

You can find additional information about the film, including a promotional clip, on OPT’s website.

Explore Missouri through music

Tomorrow, the American Wild Ensemble will perform a free, outdoor concert reflecting on the Missouri Bicentennial. The concert will begin at 7 p.m. at the Peace Through People Pavilion at Nathanael Greene / Close Memorial Park. The ensemble is directed by Missouri State University faculty members Daniel Ketter and Emlyn Johnson.

Enjoy Bear Week at Dickerson Park Zoo

To celebrate the bicentennial, the MSU Foundation has partnered with Dickerson Park Zoo to make the week of Aug. 9-15 MSU Bear Week. Throughout the week:

  • Receive ½ price daily admission if wearing BearWear.
  • Enjoy a zookeeper “Bear Chat” each day at 11 a.m. at the Missouri State Bear Country exhibit.
  • Pick up a free Bear-themed craft kit and Boomer coloring pages.

On Aug. 10, visit the MSU tent across from the Dickerson Park Zoo train to receive additional Bear-themed giveaways and register for prize drawings. Founders Club members are also invited to attend a Missouri Bicentennial celebration reception that evening at 6 p.m. at the zoo.

Foundation celebrates bicentennial

Throughout 2021, the MSU Foundation has hosted and continues to host webinars celebrating the bicentennial. You can view videos of previous webinars as well as dates for future webinars on the Foundation’s website.

Statewide events

Finally, we were happy to host Gov. Mike Parson on our campus last week between stops on his bicentennial tour. He toured Temple Hall and spoke at the chamber’s State of the State event at JQH Arena.

Gov. Parson’s bicentennial tour will culminate with a Statehood Day celebration in Jefferson City Aug. 10.

The Governor’s office will also host a Bicentennial Inaugural Parade at 10 a.m. Sept. 18 in Jefferson City, followed that evening by the Bicentennial Inaugural Ball outside the Missouri Capitol. The university’s Pride Band will be the featured marching band in the parade.

Details about all of these events can be found on the governor’s website.

Thanks for all you do for Missouri State!

Filed Under: Clif's Notes, Smart Tagged With: Missouri State Foundation

Clif’s Notes for April 17, 2018

April 17, 2018 by Clif Smart

Magers Family Health and Wellness Center

In 2015, our students voted to construct a new health and wellness center on campus with a student fee. Two weeks ago the new 39,000-square-foot, three-story facility opened for business.

In addition to our students who are funding the facility with student fees, I want to thank our donors and supporters who made the new center possible. The Magers family made a naming contribution for the center. The facility has been named the Magers Health and Wellness Center. Other significant contributions include:

  • Richard Biagioni who made a naming gift for the women’s clinic in memory of Dr. Lisa Drabinowicz, an MSU physician who was killed in a car crash in 1994
  • The Sunderland Foundation who made a gift to the support the main lobby in the center
  • The Bee Payne Stewart Foundation who made a gift to support the wellness center suites
  • The Dr. Dave Muegge family

Center sets MSU apart

The Magers Health and Wellness Center demonstrates the value Missouri State places on health and wellness for students, employees and families.

In addition to the services provided at the old center, the new Magers Health and Wellness Center houses the counseling center (formerly located in Carrington Hall), a sports medicine clinic and the Dr. Lisa Drabinowicz Women’s Center.

The Magers Health and Wellness Center features:

  • A full-service pharmacy with drive-through
  • A dedicated travel clinic
  • 33 examination rooms
  • Expanded hours to include evenings and Saturday mornings

I encourage all of our students, faculty and staff to take advantage of the many services offered at the new Magers Health and Wellness Center.

Thanks for all you do for Missouri State!

Filed Under: Clif's Notes, Smart Tagged With: Missouri State Foundation

Clif’s Notes for Nov. 15, 2016

November 15, 2016 by Clif Smart

Students work at Habitat for Humanity

Clif's Notes

The election is behind us, and our elected leaders will soon be sworn into office. I want to take a moment to congratulate our newly elected and re-elected leaders. We look forward to working with them.

Engaging the civic leaders19299-8969-Carrington-700x394

We interacted with representatives for all of the major candidates throughout the election cycle.

We have continued these interactions in the week since the election. For example, we are in communications with Governor-elect Greitens’ office to discuss budget development for the upcoming fiscal year.

We have strong relationships with each of our elected leaders, and I firmly believe we will have great success in joining together to move Missouri State University, our state and our nation forward in the coming years.

We live in a great country where the peaceful transfer of power is treated with respect and admired throughout the world. As we prepare for this transition, Missouri State will continue to move forward with our focus on diversity and inclusion not only as a part of our strategic plan, but also as an integral part of working and studying together in a respectful way each and every day.

Get involved in the community19397-img_4083-700394

Community engagement is an important pillar of our public affairs mission.

Throughout this week, we will put that pillar into practice with our annual community engagement project, a signature public affairs event.

We are calling this year’s project Bear Blitz, and it will focus on a weeklong series of public service activities in northwest Springfield. You can find more information or sign up for a specific project on the Bear Blitz website.

Giving back

Last week marked the end of the United Way and Missouri State Way campaigns.

Through these campaigns, the university community raised $95,030 for the United Way and $206,429 for the Missouri State University Foundation.

The United Way serves the neediest of our neighbors in Springfield and in the Ozarks.

The Missouri State Way campaign provides an opportunity for all members of the campus community to support the areas of the University that are most important to them.

United Way Leadership Level18922_8885-ologie

I want to personally thank each of you who participated in the United Way campaign. Please join me in congratulating our employees who gave to the campaign at the Leadership Level.

  • James Baker
  • Drew Bennett
  • Charlene Berquist
  • Richard Biagioni
  • Bradley Bodenhausen
  • Matthew Bolger
  • Stephanie Bryant
  • Lanette Cadle
  • William Cheek
  • Donna Christian
  • Ethel Curbow
  • Ryan DeBoef
  • Steven Dodge
  • Janice Duncan
  • Frank Einhellig
  • Renee Fogle
  • Steve Foucart
  • Gloria Galanes
  • Terrel Gallaway
  • John Harms
  • Brian Heaton
  • Kathryn Hope
  • Karen Horny
  • Tammy Jahnke
  • Mary Jennings
  • Grant Jones
  • Allen Kunkel
  • Thomas Lane
  • Julie Masterson
  • Victor Matthews
  • John and Sally McAlear
  • Charles McClure
  • Tina McManus
  • David Meinert
  • Michael Merrigan
  • Kyle Moats
  • Matt Morris
  • Jeff Morrissey
  • James Moyer
  • Frederick Muegge
  • Sarah Nixon
  • Tom Peters
  • Wes Pratt
  • Tami Reed
  • Barbara Robinson
  • Jennifer Severson
  • Suzanne Shaw
  • Donald Simpson
  • Dee Siscoe
  • Priscilla Skeeters
  • Clif Smart
  • Rebecca Swearingen
  • Jeffrey Switzer
  • Robert Thurman
  • Thomas Tomasi
  • Paula Wilhelm
  • Ying Zhang

Missouri State University Foundation Founders ClubNaked Carrington without banners. Kevin White/MSU

I also want to personally thank each of you who participated in the Missouri State Way campaign. Please join me in congratulating our current employees who are members of the Founders Club.

  • Jodie Adams
  • Gib Adkins
  • Rickey Albaugh
  • Nancy Allen
  • James Baker
  • Randy Bass
  • Samuel Bass
  • Tracy Beckham
  • Drew Bennett
  • Stephen Berkwitz
  • Charlene Berquist
  • Theresa Bettmann
  • Tara Boehne
  • John Bourhis
  • Stephanie Bryant
  • Steven Bullard
  • Chuck Busby
  • Cindy Busby
  • Sandra Byrd
  • Lisa Casey
  • John Chuchiak
  • Lisa Clark
  • Lynn Cline
  • Angela Cockrum
  • Julie Combs
  • David Cornelison
  • Melissa Dallas
  • Sandy D’Angelo
  • Ryan DeBoef
  • Rachael Dockery
  • Toby Dogwiler
  • Roger Dowdy
  • Janice Duncan
  • Brent Dunn
  • Frank Einhellig
  • Susan Essman
  • Lori Fan
  • Monika Feeney
  • Wendy Ferguson
  • Steve Foucart
  • Gloria Galanes
  • Julie Gallaway
  • Terrel Gallaway
  • Melanie Grand
  • Brian Greene
  • Janice Greene
  • Shellee Haik
  • Stephanie Hein
  • Madeleine Hooper
  • Kathryn Hope
  • Tammy Jahnke
  • Cheryl Jones
  • Robert Jones
  • John Killion
  • Allen Kunkel
  • Diane Leamy
  • Jon Leamy
  • Cynthia Green Libby
  • Day Ligon
  • John Llewellyn
  • Jill Martin
  • Robert Martin
  • Gerald Masterson
  • Julie Masterson
  • Victor Matthews
  • Belinda McCarthy
  • Bernard McCarthy
  • Keri McKee
  • Jonna Montileone
  • Eric Morris
  • Sue Morris
  • Matt Morris
  • Jeff Morrissey
  • Dave Muegge
  • Donald Wendell Northrip
  • Tom Peters
  • Sophie Pierpoint
  • Angela Pinegar
  • John Prescott
  • Kathy Pulley
  • Gay Ragan
  • Kent Ragan
  • Helen Reid
  • Philip Rothschild
  • Michele Rowe
  • Elizabeth Rozell
  • Christina Ryder
  • Alan Schick
  • Karl Schmidt
  • Kishor Shah
  • Suzanne Shaw
  • Dee Siscoe
  • Jeanie Skibiski
  • Clif Smart
  • Karen Smith
  • Gary Stewart
  • John Strong
  • Rebecca Swearingen
  • Mark Templeton
  • Kenneth Vollmar
  • Annette Wardell
  • Tammy Wiley
  • John Williams

Thanks for all you do for Missouri State!

Filed Under: Clif's Notes, Smart Tagged With: Missouri State Foundation, missouri state way, united way

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