MSU-Meridian expands with faculty, community support
Contact: Marianne Todd
MERIDIAN, Miss.—Mississippi State University-Meridian held its annual fall State of the State tailgate gathering on Friday [Oct. 3] with an inspirational message from MSU President Mark E. Keenum on the growth of the MSU-Meridian campus.
New construction of recently purchased properties soon will house students and faculty, and the university is expanding into nearby existing buildings with the growth of its Healthcare Administration program and its new Behavioral and Mental Health facility, now accepting new clients in downtown Meridian.
“Mississippi State contributes $4 billion a year to Mississippi’s economy, and Meridian is a major part of that contribution,” Keenum said, congratulating the faculty and staff on new programs and milestone achievements.
“We’re soon to welcome our sixth physician assistant cohort, and this year our graduating class has a 100% pass rate on their board exams,” Keenum said. “That’s a testament to the quality of education here, the faculty, the facilities and our clinical partnerships. The School of Nursing saw their very first graduates in August, and that was a long journey to bring nursing to Mississippi State. It took us more than a decade. That’s where persistence pays off.”
Keenum also lauded recent IHL approval to bring a Doctorate of Physical Therapy program to MSU-Meridian and thanked the community for its contributions to the university’s success.
“We couldn’t have done this without the support of Meridian’s community members,” he said to the gathering of MSU-Meridian personnel. “They have faith in you and are heavily investing in MSU-Meridian because of the work you’re doing.”
Student enrollment at MSU is seeing record numbers, Keenum said, a direct result of academic programs and degrees that benefit both students and communities.
“We have a unique culture on our campus. I hear it from people on other campuses as well,” Keenum said. “They say the environment here is so different because we’re a Bulldog family and community and we love one another, and that shows.”
Keenum said he was pleased to see MSU listed in the Chronicle of Higher Education’s “2025 Great Colleges to Work For.”
“That’s a testament to the employees. That’s a wonderful recognition for us,” he said. “It’s amazing what we do collectively as a university.”
Mississippi State University is taking care of what matters. Learn more at www.msstate.edu.