Swalm School of Engineering director’s suite named for former dean

Jason Keith

STARKVILLE, Miss.— Mississippi State University’s Bagley College of Engineering and the Dave C. Swalm School of Chemical Engineering announced the naming of the school’s director’s suite in honor of former engineering dean Jason M. Keith.

The dedication recognized Keith’s leadership and long-standing contributions to engineering education, faculty development and student success within the college and MSU. The naming was made possible through a gift from the college’s Dean’s Advisory Council, and the plaque was presented during the council’s fall session on Friday, September 26.

“Dean Jason Keith’s leadership shaped generations of engineering students and strengthened our college in lasting ways,” said Bennett Evans, director of development for the Bagley College of Engineering. “Naming the director’s suite in his honor is a fitting tribute to his commitment, vision and service. It reflects the deep appreciation our alumni and advisory council have for the impact he made during his tenure.”

Keith joined MSU in 2011 as a chemical engineering professor, director of the Swalm School of Chemical Engineering and the Earnest W. Deavenport, Jr. Chair of Chemical Engineering. He was appointed interim dean of the Bagley College of Engineering in 2014 and was named dean following a national search in 2015. He served in that role until 2024.

During his tenure as dean, the college expanded interdisciplinary research, strengthened industry partnerships and increased support for undergraduate and graduate students. Keith also oversaw growth in scholarship opportunities, outreach initiatives and research activity across the college’s academic programs.

Keith earned his bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from the University of Akron and his doctorate in chemical engineering from the University of Notre Dame. Before joining MSU, he spent five years on the faculty at Michigan Technological University, where he rose to the rank of full professor.

His academic work included research in chemical reactor design, alternative fuels, fuel cells, and engineering education. He authored more than 100 journal articles and conference papers throughout his career and remained active in professional organizations, including the American Institute of Chemical Engineers and the American Society for Engineering Education.

The Bagley College of Engineering is online at www.bagley.msstate.edu and can be found on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube at @msuengineering.

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By Camille Carskadon