Stephensons Gift State $2 Million To State Excellence Fund
April 13, 2026 | Athletics
STARKVILLE – Longtime supporters Charlie and Dana Stephenson have given $2 million to Mississippi State Athletics. The Stephensons' generosity serves as the most recent key contribution to help elevate MSU in the current landscape of college athletics.
"We're so grateful for Charlie and Dana," Director of Athletics Zac Selmon said. "Their love for Mississippi State is evident, and we can't say, 'Thank you' enough for this selfless gift that will help us keep pushing forward and reaching new heights at State. Charlie and Dana are not only generous supporters of our community, institution and state, they are great friends and trusted partners who care deeply for Mississippi State and have been running shoulder to shoulder with us in advancing Mississippi State Athletics forward from day one."
Charlie's Bulldog roots run deep. He is a 1981 MSU graduate with a bachelor's degree in petroleum engineering. Over the years, he's served as CEO and COO to multiple natural resource companies. He's the current Chairman of Indiana Geothermal & New York Geothermal Supply & CEO of Heartland Natural Resources & Nature's Air & Water. Previously, Charlie was the CEO and a director of Bravo Natural Resources in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
An avid lover of car racing, Charlie has also continuously given back to his alma mater in multiple ways as he's sought to push MSU toward the front of the pack.
Charlie is a former president of the Bulldog Club and has also served on the MSU Foundation Board of Directors and currently serves on the Bagley College of Engineering Dean's Advisory Council.
He's a current member of the Mississippi Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning, representing the Third Supreme Court District.
Charlie and Dana are originally from Meridian, Mississippi, but within the last several years have moved back to West Point, allowing them the opportunity to give back to their community, be near Starkville and be incredibly involved on campus at MSU. Rarely missing a game, you can find Charlie and Dana cheering on the Bulldogs throughout the year.
"Mississippi State is near and dear to our hearts and it's always our desire to see us competing at the highest level," Charlie and Dana said. "We want to do all we can to help bring success to our great university. So many wonderful things are happening at MSU, and we're excited to help that continue."
Mississippi State's fundraising efforts continue as it seeks to support its bold vision for the future. To learn more or support State's initiatives, visit StateExcellenceFund.com and HailState.com/HowardIPF.
