Mississippi Lumber Manufacturers Association Partners with MSU to Advance Mass Timber through Endowed Professorship

A new partnership between Mississippi State and the state’s leading lumber organization is positioning the university as a leader in forest products innovation.

The Mississippi Lumber Manufacturers Association has established the Mississippi Lumber Manufacturers Association Endowed Professorship in Innovative Wood Construction and Design at MSU. The endowment—housed in the College of Forest Resources’ Department of Sustainable Bioproducts, with a joint appointment in the College of Architecture, Art and Design’s School of Architecture—aims to drive innovation in mass timber manufacturing, construction and design, with a research emphasis on sustainable wood construction, strength and durability.

Applications for the endowed professorship position will open this fall with an expected starting date of August 2025.

“There are lots of exciting construction technologies using wood that have been developed in recent years, but it’s not guaranteed tomorrow’s architects and structural engineers will get the opportunity to learn about them while in college,” said Trey Hankins, MLMA vice president and chief financial officer of Hankins, Inc., a Mississippi-based lumber manufacturer. “Since forestry is such an important part of Mississippi’s economy, MLMA felt it was worth the investment to ensure our state’s students become familiar with innovative wood technologies. That way, Mississippi’s landowners, loggers and sawmill workers can all benefit from the economic growth these innovations will bring.”

Widely used in Europe, mass timber is gaining traction in North America as a renewable and more sustainable alternative to concrete and steel. Offering fire resistance, seismic durability and faster installation, it reduces carbon emissions in construction, which accounts for 40% of emissions globally. U.S. mass timber projects are growing 18-20% annually, according to Woodworks, a national nonprofit wood products council.

Wes Burger, dean of the College of Forest Resources and director of the university’s Forest and Wildlife Research Center, said the endowment further positions MSU as an innovator in sustainable building products and design.

“MSU’s and MLMA’s commitment to advancing education, research and outreach in mass timber is essential for the growth of sustainable construction in our region,” he said. “This partnership empowers MSU to equip future professionals in wood science, architectural design and construction science with the knowledge and skills needed to drive economic development and environmental stewardship throughout Mississippi and beyond.”

The position will also focus on mass timber learning opportunities for architects in the Magnolia State and across the Southeast.

“This collaborative endowment creates a catalyst for innovation and lays a vital foundation for economic development and the growth of the mass timber industry in our state,” said Angi Elsea Bourgeois, dean of the College of Architecture, Art and Design. “We envision this shared position leading to collaborative growth in advancing a major sustainable resource, both from the perspective of its materiality and its possibilities in design and construction.”

About MLMA

The Mississippi Lumber Manufacturers Association (MLMA) was originally organized in 1954 as the Mississippi Pine Manufacturers Association to promote the sale and use of southern yellow pine lumber produced by Mississippi sawmills.

In 1978, the name was changed to Mississippi Lumber Manufacturers Association to include both hardwood and southern yellow pine mills. MLMA’s hardwood mills are now an integral part of its membership.

MLMA mill members include responsible manufacturers of quality southern lumber, both pine and hardwood, representing all lumber production sections of Mississippi. Associate membership includes business-related companies and suppliers, lumber wholesalers, and lumber producers in other states.

MLMA members contribute to the economy of their local communities, the state, and the nation by providing jobs and products. They play a leading role as good citizens through scholarship and award programs and in the conservation of Mississippi’s most renewable natural resource.

According to the Mississippi State University Extension Service, forestry is the second-largest agricultural commodity in Mississippi, representing a $1.17 billion value of production in 2013. The total industry impact on Mississippi annually is approximately $17.4 billion, 123,000 jobs, and $4.4 billion in wages.

MLMA was founded by Warren Hood, Floyd Sulser, and Richard Molpus in 1954 and has been a leading proponent of the forest products industry for 70 years. MLMA has grown to serve more than 25 sawmills and over 250 associate members.

Contact:

Candie L. Simmons – Media Contact – registration@mlmalumber.com – (662) 528-3774

Source: The Mississippi Lumber Manufacturers Association