The newest addition to the collection, a mural by MSU Texas alumna and visual artist Selena Mize, celebrates student success, military service and the Wichita Falls community.

Now located on the second floor of the Bridwell Activities Center at Midwestern State University (MSU Texas), the Student Success and Military Education Center serves as a dedicated hub for student support. The Military Education Center expands the space and services available to military-connected students by providing high-quality programs that deliver in-demand skills. The Student Success Center is designed to create an environment for academic success and personal enrichment through proactive and individualized success coaching services to students from their first semester through graduation. 

Located between these two meaningful Centers, “Bridging the Gap,” a mural by Mize and commissioned by the Texas Tech University System (TTU System) Public Art Program, is a vibrant visualization of the history, significance, and mission of the two programs, as well as the broader MSU Texas and Wichita Falls communities. Optimism and aspiration radiate from the central students, one of whom sports the MSU Texas logo and a “first gen” sticker. Representations of various U.S. military service members frame the work, determined and proud, an homage to those who will be among the users of this space. Around the piece are iconic regional symbols, including Texas wildflowers and representations of the nearby Sheppard Air Force Base. The base of the mural reads “SPIRIT ALWAYS BOLD” — the university’s motto and a line from the MSU Texas Fight Song — words of courage and strength. At about 17 feet long and eight feet high, the work is an inspirational addition to the Student Success and Military Education Center.

About the Artist

Selena Mize is a professional Wichita Falls–based visual artist and muralist from Burkburnett, Texas. She earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts from Midwestern State University in 2018. Selena’s work is well-known for vibrant color palettes, dynamic compositions, and stylized realism that blends fine art with illustrative motifs. Throughout her career, Selena has expanded beyond her small studio to the outdoors of public art.

In 2019, she was awarded her first mural project by the Wichita Falls Alliance for Arts and Culture through their Eastside Mural Project initiative. Since 2019, Selena has been a part of several juried exhibitions and public art projects across North Texas and the Dallas/Fort Worth area. Her largest mural to date is a 2,750-square-foot mural of Roy Orbison located off Main Street in Vernon, Texas. She has collaborated with the Deep Ellum Foundation in Dallas regarding their Blues Alley mural project, Musical Art Garden project, and now their International Cultural Showcase for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Mize will be painting in Miami, Oklahoma, this year for the centennial celebration of Route 66.

As her career evolves, Mize remains focused on creating art that transforms spaces and connects with people beyond traditional gallery settings. Her goal is to create artwork that brings communities together and uplifts one another in more ways than one, and to leave places a little brighter than they were before.

About Midwestern State University

Midwestern State University, located in Wichita Falls, Texas, joined the Texas Tech University System in 2021. Founded in 1922, MSU Texas is a regional comprehensive university known for its accredited professional programs in health sciences, mechanical engineering, business, and education. Designated as a First-Gen Forward Institution, MSU Texas offers several programs that assist first-generation students, including the transformational Priddy Scholars Program, which supports students throughout their four years at MSU Texas.

Discover Public Art on the MSU Texas campus.

About the Texas Tech University System Public Art Program

The Public Art Program at the Texas Tech University System was initiated by the Board of Regents in 1998 to enrich the campus environments and extend the educational mission at each of its universities. Through the program, public artworks are funded using one percent of the estimated total cost of each major capital project. Since then, over 150 items created by some of today’s leading artists have been added to the TTU System’s multiple campuses.  

The Public Art collection ranges from antiquities to modern and contemporary art, featuring works by American and international artists. The collection is thoughtfully curated by a panel of faculty, staff, community members, and artists. Almost all pieces are site-specific commissions, selected to reflect the spirit of the building where the piece is located. The collection is firmly rooted in the culture of all campuses in the TTU System, and new important works are added regularly, both through original commissions and donations. The TTU System Public Art Program operates out of the TTU System Office of Facilities Planning & Construction. Visit ttuspublicart.com to learn more.