Alumnus Magazine | Summer 2020

A CLOSER LOOK AT INFINITE IMPACT
Support for Scholarships
• New endowed scholarships were increased by 75%. From
the beginning of Infinite Impact until present, the number
of endowed scholarships has grown from 1,038 to 1,815.
Furthermore, endowed scholarship assets grew from $102.3
million to $179.2 million in FY19.
• The Promise Student Support Program is designed to
offer financial and mentorship assistance to students from
economically challenged backgrounds. The program
depends on private support for its success, and campaign
gifts have totaled $7.8 million for this effort. To date,
1,326 students have been accepted into this program, and
580 have graduated.
• The Presidential Endowed Scholarship program is one of
the most competitive programs at MSU. The scholarship
award provides financial support and mentorship to
students over their four-year educational experience. Funds
raised for this program totaled $6.9 million.
• The Compass Scholars program provides awards to
students who are proven high achieving academic
performers in high school or community college. MSU
annually matched funds raised up to $500,000 for this
program. In all, $2.1 million was raised for the program.
• The Legacy and Loyalty Scholarships began with a
partnership with MSU Athletics. These awards are given to
academic achieving students. Funds raised up to $500,000
a year were matched by the Bulldog Club. Campaign gifts
totaled $10.7 million for this program.
• Gifts in support of the Mississippi Excellence in Teaching
Program (METP) bring scholarships to future educators in
Mississippi. The scholarship has awarded 105 students the
opportunity to succeed. In addition, 67 graduates are now
teaching across the state of Mississippi because of METP.
• Universitywide scholarship support for Infinite Impact
totaled $247.4 million.
Support for Faculty
• During Infinite Impact, the number of endowed positions
in the form of chairs and professorships, which assist in
retaining and recruiting high-caliber faculty members,
increased by 88% raising the number to 96.
• The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences gained the
Milton Sundbeck Professorship in Southeastern Cattle
Management in the Department of Animal and Dairy
Sciences for research and the development of sciencebased
solutions for cattle producers in the state and region
to enhance their profitability. During the campaign, the
college raised $10 million for eight endowed positions and
other faculty support.
• The College of Architecture, Art and Design secured the
Mark S. Jordan Endowed Professorship to advance the
mission of the School of Architecture and its nationally
accredited program. At campaign’s end, the college tallied
$1.2 million for endowed positions and other faculty support.
• The College of Arts and Sciences secured its first
endowed professorship position—the Dr. Donald L. Hall
Distinguished Professorship in Biological Sciences. The
holder of the position will mentor and challenge students
extensively and further the college’s groundbreaking
research. Another endowed position, the George
Bishop Professorship in Geosciences, will be part of the
Department of Geosciences, a recognized Center of
Academic Excellence in Geospacial Sciences. The college
raised $5 million in campaign gifts for three endowed
positions and other faculty support.
• The College of Business secured the Jack R. Lee Endowed
Chair in Financial Institutions and Consumer Finance
that provides students real-world insights. The position
serves as a significant resource for the state of Mississippi
and the nation regarding research, consultation and
outreach in the increasingly complicated financial sector.
Overall, the college raised $10.4 million for eight endowed
positions and other faculty support.
• The College of Education received its first professorship,
the Dr. Susan McLaren Brooks Endowed Elementary
Education Professorship to provide a mentor and adviser
for elementary education majors. Over the campaign, the
college raised $2 million in faculty support.
• The James Worth Bagley College of Engineering received
its first endowed professorship that encourages diversity
among faculty. The Dr. Oswald Rendon-Herrero
Diversity Professorship works closely with the college’s
Office of Diversity to further cultivate an environment of
inclusiveness and academic excellence. Additionally, the
college gained the Mary Lyn and Niles Moseley Endowed
Chair of Cyber Security in the Department of Computer
Science and Engineering to conduct research and work
with the university’s Center for Cyber Innovation. During
the campaign, the college raised $31.4 million to establish
18 endowed positions and other faculty support.
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