MSU’s Stennis Institute celebrates 50th anniversary, legacy of service
Contact: Sarah Nicholas
STARKVILLE, Miss.––Mississippi State University’s John C. Stennis Institute of Government and Community Development celebrates its 50th anniversary April 16, 4:30-7:30 p.m. with a special event at The Mill honoring five decades of service to Mississippi and beyond.
“For 50 years, the Stennis Institute has been guided by a steadfast commitment to strengthening public service through premier research, training and technical assistance,” said Executive Director Joseph ‘Dallas’ Breen. “Throughout its history, the institute has earned the trust of communities, public officials and partners by delivering work grounded in integrity and impact. As we honor the institute’s past, we remain firmly focused on the future and expanding our capacity to meet the evolving needs of the people and institutions we serve.”
The late Sen. John C. Stennis, who represented Mississippi in the U.S. Senate from 1947-1989 and was a longtime national defense and appropriations policy leader, envisioned the institute at his alma mater, which was established in 1976 as a service and research arm of MSU.
Stennis’s goal was to create an entity to support government leaders and encourage citizen engagement in the political process. Since its founding, the institute has worked to integrate research, service and education to improve government effectiveness and prepare future public servants.
Today, the Stennis Institute supports policymakers at every level, from local communities to statewide leadership, while also helping develop the next generation of leaders.
It offers in-person and virtual programming grounded in unbiased, nonpartisan principles, with work that emphasizes collaboration, innovation and practical solutions to complex challenges facing communities across the state and nation.
The April 16 celebration will bring together alumni, partners and public servants to reflect on the institute’s impact and ongoing mission of service. For more information or to RSVP to the event, contact Kendall Sanders at 662-325-3424 or comms@sig.msstate.edu.
For more details about MSU’s College of Arts and Sciences and the John C. Stennis Institute of Government and Community Development, visit www.cas.msstate.edu and www.sig.msstate.edu.
Mississippi State University is taking care of what matters. Learn more at www.msstate.edu.