Alumni Center Groundbreaking

Dragon alumni will soon have a place of their own. A groundbreaking ceremony for the long-awaited MSUM Alumni Center will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, April 29.

The center, located across Eleventh Street from Bridges Hall and the campus gates, is the culmination of years of dreaming and planning.

“We are grateful for the many generous donors who funded the project so that current and future Dragons will have a place to gather when they come home,” said President Anne Blackhurst.

When completed, the 18,500-square-foot facility will serve multiple purposes. In addition to serving as the anchor for alumni returning to campus, it will provide space for students and community members to interact.

A lobby and event space for up to 300 people will allow for programs, presentations and reunions gatherings on campus. These warm, inviting spaces also will be used for hosting other mid-size events by the university and community. The center’s high-profile location will welcome people to socialize and engage with MSUM.

The building also will be home to the MSUM Foundation – offices for staff who focus on development, engagement and caring for the gifts that are given to support the university. These staff members solicit and steward charitable donations to support the university and its students. Historically, these offices have been scattered throughout campus, making efficiency and communication among staff difficult.

At its essence, the university and its supporters want the Alumni Center to be a place that supports relationships and inspires possibilities. Philanthropy will take center stage. Here current students will witness the generosity of alumni and donors and see firsthand the transformative power of their giving.

When donors meet their scholarship recipients, they see the difference that gift makes. And students are inspired to give back when they become successful alumni.

“The most important purpose of the Alumni Center will be the connections it fosters between MSUM’s alumni and current students. That's where the magic happens," Blackhurst said.

This new facility will further connect MSUM to the community by inviting neighbors to meet students, faculty and staff in meaningful and transformative ways.

The project is paid for through private fundraising by the MSUM Foundation. Together, the Foundation staff and its Board led MSUM’s recent Vision 2020 campaign, which raised more than $59 million—including funding for the Alumni Center.

MSUM has more than 100,000 alumni, former faculty and staff, parents and friends, and a $42.5 million endowment. Construction on the Alumni Center is expected to be complete in summer 2023.