Missouri State’s new alumni center is 100 days from opening doors

The Missouri State University Foundation announced May 27 more new private gifts for the Clifton M. Smart III University Advancement Center, including a custom “Mo State” Steinway player piano.

During Wednesday’s event, the foundation also announced that it is 100 days away from opening its doors.

While Missouri State University Foundation president and CEO Brent Dunn was supposed to speak at the event, a family emergency meant he was unavailable, and MSU President Richard “Biff” Williams took his place.

“This center will be far more than a building,” Williams said. “It will be a welcome front door for our alumni, for our donors and for our friends. It will be a place where relationships are strengthened, Missouri pride is celebrated and the future of our university continues to grow not only through philanthropy but also through engagement.”

The new gifts include:

• The Garnett Family Bears Den, previously referred to as Living Room, from Mark Garnett (1978), Diann Garnett (1996), Kimberly Garnett Foht (1998) and Stephanie Garnett Smith (2004 and 2006);
• A Mo State Custom Steinway Spirio Piano from Gordon Kinne (1975) and Laura Kinne (1979);
• The Bart Bailey and Amelia Bailey Counts Executive Breakout Room from Bart Bailey and Amelia Bailey Counts (1994);
• An advancement office from Clarence E. McElroy (1963);
• Mary Asher Tearney BearMobile from Mary Asher Tearney (1954);
• And the Stan and Ethel Curbow BearMobile from Stan Curbow (1959) and Ethel Curbow (1960).

Between the proceeds from the 2024 sale of the Kenneth E. Meyer Alumni Center and additional foundation contributions, $20 million of the $26 million project is the result of private support.

The alumni center was announced in April 2024 and is named after former President Clif Smart as the result of a gift from an anonymous donor that was more than $1 million.

At the time, Dunn said the donor wanted to “recognize the contributions Clif has made over his tenure at the university.”