From the given sentence, extract the phrase (often noun or verb) that carries the given relationship. The generated phrase should be present in the sentence.
Q: Given Relationship: 'be state of', Sentence: 'Mr. Smith has served as a featured speaker for a number of universities throughout the United States , including Colorado State University , Michigan State University , Pepperdine University , University of Florida , University of Texas , San Diego State University , Drexel University , George Mason University , and University of Virginia .'
A:
State