Dr. Clay Walden serves as the Director and Research Professor of CAVS Extension within the Bagley College of Engineering at Mississippi State University (MSU). He has over 25 years of experience implementing quality and productivity improvements within a variety companies and currently leads the university's industrial engagement efforts.

Under Dr. Walden's leadership, MSU's CAVS Extension has become a nationally recognized leader in university based engineering extension and economic development. This includes receiving national and regional awards from the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP), University Economic Development Association, Southern Growth Policy Board, and the Southern Economic Development Council.

Walden leads MSU's involvement within the NIST-MEP program. This effort focuses on providing technical assistance focusing on increasing profitability and productivity within small and medium size manufacturers. As a result, CAVS Extension has provided direct technical assistance to over 150 companies within the state. These companies have, in turn, reported over $5.5 billion dollars in economic impact and 3,200 jobs either created or saved.

In addition, Walden serves as the Principal Investigator on the Rural Jobs Accelerator program, entitled “Accelerating Jobs and Innovation Through Community and Economic Development in Rural Mississippi.” This grant involves coordination of a broad coalition of statewide resources focused on promoting community and economic development within 61 rural counties. This national program is jointly funded by the Economic Development Administration, USDA Rural Development, Delta Regional Authority, and Appalachian Regional Commission.

Walden has a B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. in Industrial Engineering from Mississippi State University.