Spartan alumni siblings Dave Porteous, Bill Porteous and Ruth Porteous Hamilton, together with their spouses and children, are bringing their family’s MSU story full circle with their recent $1 million gift, which supports a major renovation project that will transform Campbell Hall, a residence hall located in MSU’s North Neighborhood, into a living and learning hub for students in the Honors College.
The Porteous siblings always knew they wanted to find a way to honor their parents William and Mable, who attended MSU — then Michigan State College — from 1937 to 1942. And they could not have found a more fitting tribute, as Campbell Hall is the place where William and Mable first met and fell in love.
Dave Porteous, who served on the MSU Board of Trustees in 1998 and served as board chair from 2003 to 2006, said, “Michigan State provided the opportunity for our parents, for ourselves and then for my children to be able to learn, to grow, to mature and to really become not just Spartans, but members of society.”
“The Porteous family’s deep emotional connection to Michigan State spans generations, and they’ve shown it over the years through their individual service and support for the university,” says MSU President Kevin M. Guskiewicz, Ph.D. “We are grateful for this latest gift, which brings a wonderful family story full circle with continuing impacts on future generations of Honors College students and Campbell Hall residents.”
The Campbell Hall renovation project, which officially began with a ceremonial groundbreaking in May 2024, is a $37.1 million project — $3.1 million of which is to be funded philanthropically. Including the Porteous and Hamilton families’ gift, the Honors College has already raised $2.7 million toward this goal.
Approximately 4,500 students belong to the Honors College, and those who live on campus can choose to live in one of the eight residence halls that have designated Honors floors. Campbell Hall will be the first full residence hall dedicated solely to housing Honors College students.
In addition to structural updates and enhanced accessibility, renovations also include the addition of classroom space, study lounges and breakout rooms, a music practice room, and office space for Honors College staff, optimizing student advising and programmatic opportunities.
In honor of the Porteous and Hamilton families’ gift, a large, newly renovated and flexible gathering space will be named the Porteous Grand Hall — where students can relax, study together and form lifelong friendships and connections.
“I was at Michigan State when the Honors College was first beginning,” Ruth Porteous Hamilton said. “At that point, Campbell Hall was already such a special place.”
For the family, the renovations are deeply meaningful because the Grand Hall will occupy the space that formerly held the Campbell Hall cafeteria . . . the exact spot where William and Mable Porteous, both student cafeteria workers, met on the job more than 80 years ago.
Bill Porteous added, “It is a rare opportunity to name the place where your parents met that will now be a place where the next generation will have a chance to meet and gather.”
LISTEN to the Porteous siblings tell their family’s story in their own words on the MSU Today podcast.
LEARN MORE about how you can support the Honors College by contacting Director of Development Tonya Frisbey at frisbey2@msu.edu or by calling (517) 884-7591.