The 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.
Celebrating Mississippi State’s new Randy J. Cleveland Engineering Student Center are, from left, junior biomedical engineering major Andrew Schroeder of Benton, Arkansas; Bagley College of Engineering Dean David Ford; MSU President Mark E. Keenum; Nina and Randy Cleveland; Provost and Executive Vice President David Shaw; MSU Foundation President and CEO John Rush; Senior Director of Development Bennett Evans and senior civil engineering major Matthew Wubben of Starkville. (Photo by Emily Grace McCall)
“When I step back and think about my time on campus, I realize what I gained at MSU was so much more than just an education—it was the building blocks of how to be truly successful,” said Randy Cleveland. “It’s always been important to us to give back in support and recognition of those things that helped us be successful.”
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 MSU’s most historic campus buildings. JESCO C&E Fulton led the renovation, with CDFL Architects handling the architectural design.
“The 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,” said MSU President Mark E. Keenum. “This new center will be an incredible resource for our students and further enhance the collaborative culture we have at MSU.”
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.
“In a time when enrollment is growing, having a place like this to get together means even more than it once would have,” said Bagley College of Engineering Dean David Ford. “Courses aren’t getting any easier, and the world isn’t getting less complex. Students working together are an important part of engineering. Nobody does it on their own.”
Randy and Nina Cleveland of Fort Worth, Texas, visit with MSU Dean Emeritus of Education and Vice President Emeritus for Student Affairs Roy H. Ruby, center, during a luncheon following the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Randy J. Cleveland Engineering Student Center. The state-of-the-art facility provides a new central hub for MSU students in the Bagley College of Engineering. (Photo by Emily Grace McCall)
Cleveland, a Newton County native, was valedictorian of his high school class in 1979. He was inducted into the Mississippi State University 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 MSU’s National Alumnus of the Year in 2022. Cleveland was instrumental in the 2014 re-establishment of MSU’s petroleum engineering program and currently serves on the dean’s advisory council for the Bagley College of Engineering. He also serves as vice chair of the MSU Foundation board of directors. He is a member of Tau Beta Pi, the national engineering honor society.
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.
![MSU President Mark E. Keenum, left, presents a cowbell to Randy Cleveland on the occasion of today’s [Nov. 18] ribbon-cutting ceremony for the university’s Randy J. Cleveland Engineering Student Center. Keenum expressed appreciation for Cleveland, noting that the 2022 National Alumnus of the Year exemplifies the characteristics of integrity, hard work and respect for others. (Photo by Emily Grace McCall)](https://www.themississippimonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Cleveland_Ribbon_Cutting_20251118_E8M0076.jpg)
MSU President Mark E. Keenum, left, presents a cowbell to Randy Cleveland on the occasion of today’s [Nov. 18] ribbon-cutting ceremony for the university’s Randy J. Cleveland Engineering Student Center. Keenum expressed appreciation for Cleveland, noting that the 2022 National Alumnus of the Year exemplifies the characteristics of integrity, hard work and respect for others. (Photo by Emily Grace McCall)
The Cleveland Center joins a growing number of strategic investments aimed at enhancing the MSU engineering student experience. Through this new facility, MSU aims to offer not only academic support but also the space for meaningful student connections, project collaboration and career development.
Learn more about MSU’s Bagley College of Engineering at www.bagley.msstate.edu.
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