MSSU's Health Science Innovation Center to be named in honor of former U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt

Jan. 19—Missouri Southern State University announced today that it will name its Health Science Innovation Center in honor of former U.S. Senator Roy Blunt.

Ground is expected to be broken on the new building this spring.

Blunt helped spearhead $2 million of federal support for the new center that incorporated a $2 million state match — "essentially a $4 million provision for the new building that will impact thousands of students in the state and region," MSSU said in a statement.

The request to name the building in honor of Blunt was made by Rudy Farber, who addressed the Board of Governors meeting Friday.

MSSU President Dean Van Galen said Blunt is a natural choice to be honored, citing his public service, the way he served his constituents "and his commitment to building strong education programs."

"Throughout his career and even today, Senator Blunt has always had education and the state of Missouri at the forefront of his priorities," Van Galen said in a statement. "Thousands of Missourians benefitted from his leadership in education, and that commitment and legacy will live on through the creation of this new Health Science Innovation Center."