Chris Pulliam
Throughout his time as a construction administrator at 幺力视频, Chris Pulliam has overseen a variety of capital improvement projects including his favorite, the new Dudy Noble Field at Polk-DeMent Stadium.
The projects, he said, have varied in size and scope, but his personal mission has remained the same鈥攚ork with great people, design a great plan, and build a great product that makes the Bulldog faithful proud.
鈥淭he safety and welfare of students, faculty, staff and visitors is always our priority because we want to maintain and continue to grow campus in a direction that is beneficial to everyone,鈥 he said. 鈥淲e have a lot of visitors who come for sports and other events, so we strive to make sure campus leaves them with a wonderful first impression.鈥
Pulliam, who grew up a State fan in nearby Artesia, joined MSU鈥檚 Office of Planning Design and Construction Administration in 2014. He said as a kid, he always had a passion for design and construction, and one of his high school drafting classes affirmed his desire for a career combining both interests. He went on to earn a bachelor鈥檚 in architectural engineering with a minor in construction management from the University of Southern Mississippi. After graduation, he worked for 12 years at Shaffer and Associates Architects in Starkville and for Starkville Electric Department before accepting a full-time position at MSU.
鈥淚 always tell my kids, 鈥榞o after your passion and the reward will come,鈥欌 he said. 鈥淔or me, the reward is getting to do what I enjoy every day for a living with a good team. The people I work with at OPDCA and across the university have a ton of knowledge, and it鈥檚 been a blessing to be a sponge and soak in that knowledge.鈥
Pulliam said campus construction projects present a host of challenges, but seeing a project completed on time and on budget makes the work worthwhile. Witnessing positive reactions or hearing nice comments from his family or others on campus as they observe finished projects also brings him joy.
鈥淢y family and I often like to walk or drive around campus on a Sunday afternoon, and that鈥檚 when I can point out and reflect on different projects. It鈥檚 rewarding to see the expressions of 鈥榳ow鈥 on their faces at seeing a project from start to finish,鈥 he said.
Pulliam said he鈥檚 proud of several campus projects, but the $68 million renovation of MSU鈥檚 鈥淐arnegie Hall of College Baseball鈥 tops the list. The two-year project concluded in 2019.
鈥淐ompletion of the new Dudy Noble Field was a great team effort, from the contractor and design and construction management team, to our OPDCA staff to Athletics,鈥 he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a trophy of its own and something to be admired from other universities across the world. It was a fun project.鈥