STARKVILLE, Miss. (AP) — A Mississippi State University faculty member has earned an invitation to the White House for a conference focused on better rural development.

John Poros, an associate professor of architecture and director for the Carl Small Town Center at MSU, will attend The White House Convening on Rural Placemaking on Tuesday.

The event will include federal, state and local public sector officials, national nonprofit organizations, foundations and individuals to better align federal, state and philanthropic work to support and leverage the power of “placemaking” — a citizen-led process that helps activate downtowns and community gathering places.

Poros says the Carl Small Town Center has worked with Mississippi communities for more than 30 years. He says his team works on designs for several community projects each year, ranging from parks and plazas to historic structures and downtown districts.

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