A True Center For Student Life

It might seem like a subtle change, but a new name for an iconic hub of student life on campus reaffirms American University's commitment to providing an exceptional student experience.

On Monday, April 14, the AU community gathered to unveil the newly renamed Mary Graydon Student Center (MGSC) and celebrate the revamped space at the heart of the Student Thriving Complex.

"This name change is so much more than just a title. It represents, symbolically, the true purpose of this fantastic space," said Raymond Ou, vice president of student affairs."It is a hub for student engagement, collaboration, and belonging-and it reaffirms our commitment to putting students at the center of everything we do."

After a brief ribbon-cutting ceremony, the crowd got a first look at the renovated second floor, which carves out dedicated space for student groups and common areas adorned in AU red and blue where Eagles can hang out together.

The second floor completes a transformation for MGSC, including renovating TDR and the third floor-which reopened in fall 2024 and consolidated student-facing offices in the Division of Student Affairs.

The new second floor will be home to student media, the Student Activities Council, AU Student Government, AU Club Council, Fraternity and Sorority Life, and more.

Get to know MGSC's second floor.

Video by Julia Gibson, Division of Student Affairs

Campus speakers reflected on the moment and its significance.

• "Its place of prominence speaks to the prominence of student thriving as being at the core of our educational mission," said AU President Jon Alger.
• "This renovation has given the campus a state-of-the-art centralized hub for gathering, collaborating, organizing, and community building," said JJ Dimino, SPA/BA '25, chair of the AU Club Council. "Each time a student enters MGSC, they can find their community and grow into leaders."
• "When I arrived at AU in 1997, Mary Graydon Center was trying its best to be a university center, but you could tell that it had been built as a women's residence hall," said Gail Hanson, former vice president of the Office of Campus Life, whose donation helped make the project possible. "It was in desperate need of dreaming big about how it could be transformed into a proper center for AU student life and a thoughtful accommodation for student-facing services and activities. . . .My gratitude to all who have had hands in realizing this big dream."