The Call For A Student Center

Our History

The MSC stands as a tribute to Aggies who gave their lives for our country and involves many students in various leadership roles and committee positions. MSC Programs serves as a focal point for many campus-wide programs at Texas A&M.

1935-1936

Association of Former Students donated War Bonds in the amount of $234,000 which helped fund the construction.

1946

Proposal and naming of the MSC.

1947

John Wayne Stark ‘39 was appointed the first Director by President Gibb Gilchrist.

1948

Work began on building the Memorial Student Center.

1950-1951

The building opens and is formally dedicated on Muster, April 21, 1951.

1950

Memorial Student Center Council began and was made up of eight students, five faculty members and two former students. Directly under the council was the Directorate, made up of committees and club chairmen.

1951-1972

During this time, several committees were formed. These committees include MSC Town Hall, MSC Fall Leadership Conference, MSC Student Conference On National Affairs, Opera and Performing Arts Society (OPAS) and MSC CAMAC. The Stark NE Trip was also created during this time.

1980

J. Wayne Stark assumes new role as special assistant to the President. Jim Reynolds named new MSC director.

1986

Jordan Institute for International Awareness was formed by the Leland T. Jordan endowment to promote the knowledge and spirit of internationalism in Texas A&M students. The MSC Jordan Collection of items given for display was from the Jordans’ travels around the world, including several pieces from Queen Elizabeth.

1992

Tom Fitzhugh, son of Thomas “Champe” Fitzhugh Jr., ’38 and classmate of J. Wayne Stark, founded the Champe Fitzhugh International Honors Leadership Seminar (Italy) for incoming freshman national merit students.

1999

Aggie Bonfire, advised out of the MSC, collapses, killing 12 students and injuring 27.

2005

Jim Reynolds assumes new role with the Vice President of Student Affairs to become a MSC development officer.

2006

Luke Altendorf named new MSC director.

2008

Woodson Black Awareness Committee hosts the first Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Breakfast.

2009-2012

Major renovations to the Memorial Student Center building to increase space for meeting rooms, food areas, and department suites.

2019

Champe Fitzhugh International Honors Leadership Seminar’s name changed to Conway-Fitzhugh International Honors Leadership Seminar after Patrick Conway and Champe Fitzhugh.

2023

Luke Altendorf assumes new role for the Division of Student Affairs. Memorial Student Center department was rebranded to be MSC Programs and department committees became Recognized Student Organizations.

2024

Jennifer Boyle ‘97 named MSC Programs director.

2025

MSC Open House reimagined as Club Crawl: The Official Involvement Festival of Texas A&M.

2026

MSC Programs celebrates its 75th Anniversary.

MSC Council Presidents Since 1950

1950-’51: Joe Fuller

1951-’52: Dan Davis

1952-’53: Lamar McNew

1953-’54: John Samuels

1954-’55: Charles Parker

1955-’56: Herbert W. Whitney

1956-’57: Richard M. Wall

1957-’58: Don D. McGinty

1958-’59: Hugh E. Wharton

1959-’60: Ronald E. Buford

1960-’61: Weldon A. Lee

1961-’62: Michael M. Schneider

1962-’63: James E. Ray

1963-’64: Howard M. Head

1964-’65: Terrence A. Oddson

1965-’66: John H. Rodgers

1966-’67: Steven V. Gummer

1967-’68: Scott H. Roberts

1968-’69: Benjamin J. Sims

1969-’70: Joe M. Spears III

1970-’71: Thomas Champe Fitzhugh III

1971-’72: John C. Dacus

1972-’73: C. Sam Walser

1973-’74: Don A. Webb

1974-’75: William W. Davis

1975-’76: N. Jane Logan

1976-’77: John C. Oeffinger

1977-’78: Lynn A. Gibson

1978-’79: Ray James Daniels

1979-’80: Brooks W. Herring

1980-’81: Ernen M. Haby

1981-’82: Douglas W. Dedeker

1982-’83: Todd A. Norwood

1983-’84: Gregory L. Hawkins

1984-’85: Patrick H. Wood

1985-’86: Denis L. Davis

1986-’87: Robert T. Bisor

1987-’88: Linda C. Hartman

1988-’89: Frank M. Muller, III

1989-’90: Jason N. Wilcox

1990-’91: Matthew S. Wood

1991-’92: Jon Christopher Britton

1992-’93: Joe Robert Fowler, II

1993-’94: Heather Hartman

1994-’95: Camm “Trey” Lary III

1995-’96: Patrick Conway

1996-’97: Christopher M. Williams

1997-’98: Nellson Burns

1998 -’99: Will Hurd

1999-’00: William Anderson

2000-’01: Nathan Cray

2001-’02: Jennifer Brashares

2002-’03: Barry Hammond

2003-’04: Elizabeth Dacus

2004-’05: Lindsey Wilson

2005-’06: Andy Liddell

2006-’07: Xuan Yong

2007-’08: Jonathon Glueck

2008-’09: Nick Petree

2009-’10: Stephanie Burns

2010-’11: Collin Laden

2011: Jordan Harris

2011-’12: Elizabeth Andrasi

2012-’13: Tyler Stewart

2013-’14: Will Brooke

2014-’15: Ryan Trantham

2015-’16: Zach Rozinsky

2016-’17: Brian O’Hara

2017-’18: Annie Carnegie

2018-’19: Taylor Welch

2019-’20: Oriana Koot

2020-’21: Mark Sterling

2021-’22: Zachary Summers

2022-’23: Neha Deshmukh

2023-’24: Monserrat Westrup

2024-’25: Patricia Policarpio