On Friday, Mississippi State University dedicated the Malcolm A. Portera High Performance Computing Center in honor of the institution’s 16th president who served from 1998-2001. Portera put special emphasis on computer research during his time at MSU. 
According to an Oct. 10 MSU press release, throughout the West Point native’s tenure from 1998 through 2001, Portera continually advocated for the National Science Foundation’s Engineering Research Center for Computational Field Simulation on campus. 
“Eventually, that facility evolved to become the High Performance Computing Collaboratory named for the veteran administrator at the dedication in the Thad Cochran Research, Technology and Economic Development Park,” the release said.
In the release, MSU President Mark Keenum said it is appropriate for Mississippi State University to name a building in the university’s Thad Cochran Research Park in honor of Dr. Malcolm Portera, whose career at MSU was punctuated by so many innovative research-related success stories. 
“Dr. Portera served our university with great distinction and continues to work with us in seeking research opportunities for MSU in the private sector,” Keenum said.
MSU Vice President for Research and Economic Development, David Shaw, said he was very pleased to see  MSU recognize the contributions Portera made to the university and state by naming such an important research facility to honor him.
“There could not be a more appropriate building to name in his honor than the High Performance Computing Center. Dr. Portera used it to have a major impact on economic development in the state, and in turn he helped make it the tremendous success story it is today,” Shaw said.
According to the MSU press release, Portera, who was present at the ceremony on Friday, said the celebration was composed of a fine group of people in and outside of the MSU family. 
“They simply want their school to be the best that it can be. Olivia and I just came at the right time to be part of that.” 
In his professional career, Portera has been the chancellor of the University of Alabama system, president at MSU and interim president at the University of Alabama, Huntsville and Birmingham.