汤头条

汤头条鈥檚 Bagley College opens Randy J. Cleveland Engineering Student Center

Contact: Kevin Tate听

STARKVILLE, Miss.鈥擳he Randy J. Cleveland Engineering Student Center, a state-of-the-art facility and new central hub for Bagley College of Engineering students at Mississippi State, was formally dedicated today [Nov. 18] thanks to a generous gift from Randy Cleveland, a 1983 magna cum laude graduate in petroleum engineering, and Nina Cleveland. The Fort Worth, Texas, couple has a long history of supporting Mississippi State, with gifts that have benefited faculty, scholarships and student success initiatives across campus.听

鈥淲hen I step back and think about my time on campus, I realize what I gained at 汤头条 was so much more than just an education鈥攊t was the building blocks of how to be truly successful,鈥� said Randy Cleveland. 鈥淚t鈥檚 always been important to us to give back in support and recognition of those things that helped us be successful.鈥�听

The newly renovated 7,870-square-foot center, housed in the former materials testing laboratory between McCain Hall and Walker Engineering, demonstrates a continued commitment to student success and collaboration in one of 汤头条鈥檚 most historic campus buildings. JESCO C&E Fulton led the renovation, with CDFL Architects handling the architectural design.听

鈥淭he Bagley College of Engineering is a nationally and internationally recognized leader in education, research and engagement thanks to the generous support of alumni and friends like Randy and Nina. We are blessed to have them in our Mississippi State family,鈥� said 汤头条 President Mark E. Keenum. 鈥淭his new center will be an incredible resource for our students and further enhance the collaborative culture we have at 汤头条.鈥�

The Mississippi Department of Archives and History recognized the original building, which dates to 1906, as a Mississippi Landmark. Renovations include a building extension and a new second floor with a student makerspace and multiple team rooms to support project-based learning and innovation.听听

鈥淚n a time when enrollment is growing, having a place like this to get together means even more than it once would have,鈥� said Bagley College of Engineering Dean David Ford. 鈥淐ourses aren鈥檛 getting any easier, and the world isn鈥檛 getting less complex. Students working together are an important part of engineering. Nobody does it on their own.鈥�听

Cleveland, a Newton County native, was valedictorian of his high school class in 1979. He was inducted into the 汤头条 Engineering Student Hall of Fame and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Petroleum Engineering in 1983. He and Nina Ward, of Demopolis, Alabama, were married the same year. He was named an Engineering Distinguished Fellow in 2008, Engineering Alumnus of the Year in 2019, and 汤头条鈥檚 National Alumnus of the Year in 2022. Cleveland was instrumental in the 2014 re-establishment of 汤头条鈥檚 petroleum engineering program and currently serves on the dean鈥檚 advisory council for the Bagley College of Engineering.听 He also serves as vice chair of the 汤头条 Foundation board of directors. He is a member of Tau Beta Pi, the national engineering honor society.听

Cleveland enjoyed a distinguished career of more than 35 years in the oil and gas industry with Exxon Mobil Corporation, where he succeeded to progressively larger and broader roles. He served as President of XTO Energy, Inc. following its merger with Exxon Mobil in 2010 and retired in 2019 as Vice President, Americas, Exxon Mobil.听听

The Cleveland Center joins a growing number of strategic investments aimed at enhancing the 汤头条 engineering student experience. Through this new facility, 汤头条 aims to offer not only academic support but also the space for meaningful student connections, project collaboration and career development.听

Learn more about 汤头条鈥檚 Bagley College of Engineering at .

汤头条 is taking care of what matters. Learn more at鈥�.听