MacQueen Alumni Center Opens on Campus

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Posted on January 24, 2020

Julie Jackson

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The University of South Alabama National Alumni Association held the grand opening and ribbon cutting for the new MacQueen Alumni Center today on the University’s campus.

For the first time since its founding in 1963, the University of South Alabama has a permanent home for its nearly 85,000 alumni. Located in the center of campus, across from Moulton Tower and Alumni Plaza, the 15,000-square foot-facility houses the Chief Calvin W. McGhee Grand Ballroom, the McKinney Family Greek Plaza in honor of Sigma Chi Fraternity, the USA Foundation Lobby, the Gordon and Geri Moulton Board Room, meeting rooms and administrative offices.

The MacQueen Alumni Center will serve as the new venue for many alumni association events including the annual Distinguished Alumni and Service Awards, football game tailgates and alumni chapter parties. A spacious outdoor plaza features an indoor/outdoor fireplace and large screen television for special events.

In addition to alumni events, the MacQueen Alumni Center will also be available as a venue to its alumni and the community for weddings, corporate events, lectures and meetings.

Discussion and planning for an alumni center began in 2013 and became a reality when Julian, ’73, and Dr. Kim MacQueen came forward with a $2 million gift. Julian MacQueen, founder of Innisfree Hotels headquartered in Pensacola, realized the importance of building a permanent alumni home on campus.

“Kim and I are very proud and pleased to be a part of the development of this important gathering place,” he said. “When I attended USA in 1968, I took a course in the Experimental College, sponsored by the University, on the Baha’i faith — a religion that Kim and I now practice.  Following the principle of unity in diversity that our faith upholds, we are committed to finding opportunities to facilitate meaningful conversations among people.”

“The University of South Alabama helped me to grow as a person and prepared me for a successful career,” MacQueen said. “I am grateful to USA, and Kim and I want to acknowledge the University’s commitment to the investigation of different thoughts and ideas through our contribution.”

USA National Alumni Association President Patrick Dungan, ’06, also emphasized the importance of this historic event.

“Over the past 57 years, the University has grown and thrived, and with it, our alumni base has expanded to almost 85,000 people across the country and the world,” Dungan said. “Now we have a true home for all of our alumni to visit, to bring their children and grandchildren, and to continue South’s legacy for future generations.”

The building project was funded through philanthropic gifts to the USA National Alumni Association from more than 470 alumni, friends, businesses and the community. 

The alumni association selected M.W. Rogers Construction Company LLC through a bidding process to construct the facility. Stacy Norman of Stacy Norman Architects is the architect.

About the National Alumni Association

The University of South Alabama National Alumni Association was founded in 1974. The organization’s mission is to support and positively influence the goals of the University through an active relationship with the University, its alumni, students and friends. The vision of the USA National Alumni Association is to provide comprehensive programs, services and resources to benefit the University, its alumni, students and friends. 

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