A groundbreaking ceremony has taken place for a hall at Missouri Southern State University in Joplin, which will bear the name of Governor Jay Nixon (D).
Senate President Pro Tem Ron Richard (third from left) and Governor Nixon (center) at groundbreaking ceremonies in Joplin on November 29, 2016. Photo courtesy of Governor Nixon’s Twitter feed
Nixon Hall is scheduled to be completed in time for classes for the fall of 2018. It will feature classrooms and offices that will be primarily used for STEM-field programs, which are science, technology, engineering and math.
Governor Nixon signed bipartisan budget bills in June that provide some renovations to colleges and universities across the state. The Governor’s $200 million Building Affordability Initiative addresses deferred maintenance projects at higher education institutions.
The renovations at the new Nixon Hall at Missouri Southern State will include new labs with state-of-the-art equipment and expanded academic space.
“I deeply appreciate this tremendous honor. Missouri Southern State University is a strong anchor of academic excellence for this region and a source of strength for a community that has inspired me, and the world,” Nixon says. “This project is a shining example of our state’s commitment to preparing students for success in a rapidly changing global economy, and I want to thank Dr. Alan Marble, Senator Ron Richard and the many dedicated public servants on both sides of the aisle who worked together to make this investment possible.”
Dr. Marble is president of Missouri Southern State University in Joplin.
Senate President Pro Tem Ron Richard (R-Joplin) participated in Tuesday’s ceremony with the Democratic Governor.