Winter 2025 MTSU magazine

Winter 2025

PASSING WITH FLYING COLORS MTSU turns the Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival into an outdoor classroom each summer Page 28

Getting in the Grove Groove American Idol runner-up artist HunterGirl, who as Hunter Wolkonowski (’20) earned an MTSU degree with a Music Business concentration, headlined the pregame Party in the Grove last Sept. 14. The new Walnut Grove tailgate events are helping build excitement for the Blue Raider football team in the Coach Derek Mason era.

Photo by James Cessna

Table of Contents Departments 05 Editor's Letter 06 Five Minutes with the President 08 Scene on Campus 10 Events Calendar 11 #MyMTStory 12 Campus Culture 32 Faculty Spotlight 34 Old School 36 New School 38 Midpoints 43 MTSUNews.com 46 Class Notes 51 In Memoriam 54 Baby Raiders 55 Last Word

Features 14 Business as Unusual 20 Alumni Awards 28 Passing with Flying Colors 44 A Love Story That Endures

Middle Tennessee State University Winter 2025, Vol. 29, No. 2 University President Sidney A. McPhee University Provost Mark Byrnes Vice President for University Advancement Joe Bales Vice President for Marketing and Communications Andrew Oppmann Senior Editor Drew Ruble Associate Editor Carol Stuart Director of Creative and Visual Services Kristy D. O'Neal Designers Darrell Callis Burks, Brian Evans, Micah Loyed, Brittany Stokes Contributing Editor Nancy Broden Contributing Writers Skip Anderson, Nancy DeGennaro, Allison Gorman, Jimmy Hart, DeAnn Hays, Kailee Shores, Stephanie Wagner, Randy Weiler University Photographers James Cessna, Andy Heidt, J. Intintoli, Cat Curtis Murphy Special thanks to Lynn Adams, Brian Delaney, Ginger Freeman, Matt Posey

Address changes should be sent to Advancement Services, MTSU Box 109, Murfreesboro, TN 37132; alumni@mtsu.edu.

Other correspondence goes to MTSU magazine, Drew Ruble, 1301 E. Main St., MTSU Box 49, Murfreesboro, TN 37132.

For online content, visit mtsunews.com. 136,034 copies printed at Courier Printing, Smyrna, Tennessee.

Designed by MTSU Creative and Visual Services.

0924-406 / Middle Tennessee State University does not discriminate against students, employees, or applicants for admission or employment on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, disability, age, status as a protected veteran, genetic information, or any other legally protected class with respect to all programs and activities sponsored by MTSU. Inquiries about Title IX can be directed to the Title IX Coordinator and/or the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights. The Title IX Coordinator can be reached at Cope Administration Building 116, 1301 East Main Street, Murfreesboro, TN 37132; Christy.Sigler@mtsu.edu or 615-898-2185. The MTSU policy on non-discrimination can be found at mtsu.edu/iec.

The MTSU Alumni Association invites you to campus for spring activities.

Look for the full schedule on mtalumni.com

Presented by MTSU Alumni Association

April 9–19

E V O C S I D RE

R E T A M A M L A R U O Y R June 25–27

Visit mtalumni.com for the 2025 theme and registration.

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EDITOR'S LET TER

Learning on the Job

by Drew Ruble

At MTSU, a degree isn’t just a degree— it’s a resume.

MTSU’s longstanding focus on experiential learning takes students out of the traditional classroom and actively asks them to use their knowledge and skills in a real-world environment, enhancing their personal and intellectual growth and molding them into graduates capable of making an impact Day 1 on the job.

This edition of MTSU magazine includes feature articles on entrepreneurialism and on media and entertainment that are exemplary of the type of experiential learning MTSU students receive. In fact, the cover story on Bonnaroo was penned by an MTSU student—talk about pre-professional opportunities!

Another feature article, on the University’s 2024­alumni awards class, serves as a further testament to the fact that an MTSU education well prepares students for personal and professional success. The economic impact of our alumni on Tennessee tops $15 billion annually, as discussed

by President Sidney A. McPhee on the next pages.

As an alumni reader, you too may have benefitted from pre-professional experiences and opportunities offered through the University’s diverse programs that gave you the confidence to realize your own professional dreams.

If you did, I’d like to ask you a favor. I’d like to ask you to do one of the following three things in the next month to show your gratitude for the role MTSU played in your life.

• Second, consider giving a monetary gift to the University to help MTSU continue to do the good work it’s doing both for students and for the region’s economy.

• Third, speak positively about the University in public situations, whether they be work-related or personal in nature. Let’s increase the buzz about what MTSU is doing and the positive influence it has in middle Tennessee.

Now, don’t let me mislead you into thinking MTSU exists solely as a workforce development pipeline.

While a classroom for our students may be adjusting a robot at the Nissan manufacturing facility, assisting patients on an underwater treadmill, combing an archaeological dig, or helping veterans with equestrian therapy, we are equally proud of the broad-based education we provide our students in traditional classrooms—in the arts, humanities, and sciences.

MTSU values the worth and benefit in helping Tennesseans think critically, broaden their horizons, understand different cultures, and appreciate the beauty, elegance, and nuances of the world beyond a specific vocation.

Through this combined effort, the University challenges itself to produce work-ready graduates who also can reflect, analyze, compare, and understand.

In doing so, MTSU graduates become engaged citizens of our state.

• First, talk to your child or grandchild about MTSU, the experience you had here, and all the wonderful programs of study available to them if they choose to attend here.

Winter 2025 5

5 MINUTES WITH THE PRESIDENT

Making an Impact

A brief conversation on recent events with MTSU President Sidney A. McPhee A new report found that Middle Tennessee State University alumni, including alumni-owned businesses, generated more than $15.2 billion in business revenue in the state over the course of a single year. Tell us more about this report.

The 2024 MTSU Alumni Impact Report by the Business and Economic Research Center (BERC) in our Jennings A. Jones College of Business detailed the positive financial impact made by the University’s graduates throughout Tennessee.

It also reflected how MTSU particularly bolsters the economies of its home and surrounding counties. Rutherford County alone recorded more than $4.1 billion in business revenue, the highest among all counties.

MTSU released the full report to local and state officials based on numbers from 2022—the base statistical year of the study—at an event held last fall at the Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce in Murfreesboro. Also sharing remarks at the chamber event were MTSU Board of Trustees Chair Stephen Smith; report author and BERC Director Murat Arik; Jones College of Business Dean Joyce Heames; state Rep. Charlie Baum, an MTSU Economics professor; Chamber

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President Paul Latture; and MTSU alumnus Ronald Roberts, managing partner at global marketing agency Finn Partners.

These findings underscore the tremendous and positive multibillion-dollar economic impact made by our alumni in Tennessee. We are particularly proud that most of our graduates remain in our state, adding to the workforce, paying taxes, starting businesses, and contributing to our communities.

The state invested approximately $150 million into MTSU this past fiscal year compared to the $15 billion in generated revenue, based on the report. Talk a little more about that incredible rate of return.

MTSU alumni in Nashville and Davidson County, including alumni-owned businesses, recorded the second-highest total in business revenue among Tennessee counties (after Rutherford), generating $2.9 billion.

The Nashville, Knoxville, and Chattanooga metropolitan statistical areas had totals of $11.3 billion, $509 million, and $504 million, respectively, in total business revenue impact by MTSU alumni and their businesses.

“MTSU alumni’s talents, businesses, and leadership are changing the dynamics in the area and demonstrating MTSU’s far-reaching impact.”

“We are very proud of the significant number of our College of Business alumni contributing to the prosperity of middle Tennessee.”

Murat Arik, director of the Business and Economic

Joyce Heames, dean of MTSU’s Jones College of Business

$15.2B

business revenue in Tennessee

In 2022, Rutherford County had the largest number of MTSU alumni residents at 32,500, followed by Davidson with more than 19,300. Williamson boasts 10,000 alumni, with Wilson and Maury next at 6,000 and 4,400.

Bedford County had the largest proportion of resident alumni as a percentage of the degree-holding population at 45%, followed by Rutherford, Cannon, Coffee, and Warren counties with approximately 42%, 37.5%, 35%, and 34%, respectively.

More than 114,900 MTSU alumni lived and worked in Tennessee in 2022. Georgia (4,000-plus), Florida (3,600-plus), Texas (nearly 2,500), and Alabama (2,450-plus) have the largest MTSU alumni populations after Tennessee.

As the report stated, MTSU has consistently been an influential part of communities and economies across Tennessee and the region!

At the center of all of this impact is the quality of an MTSU education and the large number of MTSU graduates who make up the local workforce. Discuss that impact on the communities in which alumni live and work.

We are situated in a dynamic and growing region. The city of Murfreesboro and the middle Tennessee region are experiencing rapid growth and development. This presents us with unique opportunities to forge partnerships, drive economic development, and contribute to the well-being of our community.

Research Center

$11.3B

business revenue in Nashville MSA

MTSU is the No. 1 producer of college graduates for the greater Nashville economy. With a total enrollment of approximately 20,000 students, we are the largest comprehensive university in the Nashville market and the largest locally governed higher-education institution in Tennessee.

We are the premier public university serving greater Nashville.

MTSU’s academic offerings have grown in quantity and quality to better serve the needs of the middle Tennessee region and support the state’s economic growth and development.

MTSU prepares career-ready graduates—more graduates than any other local university (approximately 5,000 each year).

More than 60% of its alumni live within an hour’s drive of Murfreesboro.

One in every six college-educated individuals in the greater Nashville area holds an MTSU degree.

As a result, we have a strong network of alumni who are deeply invested not just in our region’s success but in MTSU’s success as well. Their support consistently provides us with the financial resources and strategic connections needed to pursue ambitious initiatives and expand our impact.

Thank you, Mr. President.

Winter 2025 7

SCENE ON CAMPUS

Aug. 26

Break’s over for first day of classes

Sept. 6

ROTC cadets remembering 9/11 victims

Sept. 27

Raider Roundup ag workshops

for high schoolers

Oct. 3

Hammering walls for Habitat for Humanity home

Nov. 4

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Romance in the air at She Loves Me show

Aug. 29

Flipping out over fight song competition

Oct. 9

Veteran Issac Ford Jr. sharing story of resilience

Sept. 4

Power of One Block Party against power-based violence

Sept. 17

Former Vice President Mike Pence at Constitution Day

Winter 2025 9

EVENTS

Events Calendar Mark your calendar for upcoming events around campus

Jan. 27–April 4 Baldwin Photo Gallery Arno Rafael Minnkinen exhibit

Feb. 15 Murphy Center Women’s basketball vs. WKU

Feb. 20, 5 p.m.

James Union Building Black History Month keynote

Feb. 22 Murphy Center Men’s basketball vs. Sam Houston

Feb. 27–March 2 Tucker Theatre Our Town

Feb. 28–March 1 Miller Coliseum CFRC Rodeo

March 1 Murphy Center Women’s basketball vs. UTEP

March 8

March 3, 5 p.m.

Student Union Ballroom Women's History Month speaker: Amanda Nachman, author of #Qualified: You Are More Impressive Than You Realize

Murphy Center Men’s basketball vs. Fla. International

March 29 April 3–6 and 10–13 Anderson Studio Theatre Tomato Plant Girl (all ages)

MTSU JazzFest 2025 Hinton Music Hall, Wright Music Building

April 24–26, 7:30 p.m.

July 14–18, 8:30 a.m.–4 p.m.

Todd Art Gallery Tennessee Arts Academy multiple exhibits

Tucker Theatre Spring Dance Concert ’25

More events and details at mtsu.edu/calendar

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#MyMTStor y

What MTSU experience prepared you for your career?

We asked alumni what helped them get hands-on experience at MTSU, where students’ opportunities range from real-life psychology clients to a speech-hearing clinic, a neuroscience lab to a forensic response team, and Bonnaroo production to biology research.

Rob Payne (’97)

Jill Napier (’99)

Zoë Henley (’22)

The chance to conduct digestibility trials in dairy cows as an undergraduate!!

Middle Tennessee State University played a significant role in preparing me for a career in the music industry.

Through my involvement with the concerts committee, I gained valuable experience by working in hospitality for various events.

Becoming an RA!

Rachel Hannah Wright (’19)

Will Reynolds (’83) The strength of a college education is the collective whole. There is no one experience that prepared me for career. My career was enhanced at MTSU due to innumerable experiences and opportunities.

The Dale Carnegie course!

Matthew Keylon (’23) Internships through the Career Development Center

Christa Jensen Court (’06) Honors College thesis research experience with Dr. E. Anthon Eff prepared me for a Ph.D. program in Economics and to be a researchfocused economist! Just promoted to associate professor with tenure at University of Florida this fall!

Antonio Dodson (’24) Shelbey Hill-Hughes (’24) The Industrial-Organizational Psychology master’s program offered several opportunities for client-facing work. These opportunities varied from survey development to training needs analyses. Collaborating with clients with diverse needs, expectations, and requirements is a daily part of my career now, and having those opportunities during my time at MTSU allowed me to join the workforce as an employee who’s comfortable and experienced in client management.

Career fairs that led to internships

Ross Sibley (’24) Undergraduate research (SOAR)!!

Winter 2025 11

CAMPUS CULTURE

Collage: A Journal of Creative Expression is a biannual publication of MTSU’s Honors College. Each semester a student-led committee receives entries of creative work, such as art, photography, short stories, essays, short plays, song lyrics, poetry, audio, and video from students and recent alumni. mtsu.edu/collage

A Thousand Wishes Mixed Media

Rachel Booher

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1414 N. Rutherford Blvd.

Poetry

Abigail Wells Feels like the center of the universe.

It feels like all my love is here concentrated into a plastic cup of soda the color of broken glowsticks.

Out in the parking lot, I Become something else— a wild animal a God a better version of myself— and I think about what would happen if this building burnt to the ground. if Dylan or Andre got caught stoned on the clock. if they stopped handing out free locos tacos coupons.

Grim Lynn Lines Charcoal

Lynn Solomon

Out in the parking lot I doomscroll, throw my head back like a baby bird inhaling crunchwrap supreme.

Each sip of baja blast a shot of electricity— of liquid serotonin— each fiesta potato a promise.

The polar bears are starving, the Hoover Dam is dry, and Arizona is nothing but standstorms.

But 1414 N. Rutherford is still here— and somehow— so am I. I remember this address better than my own apartment’s.

I write it on a slip of fabric, sew it into my jacket.

Shattered Reflections Digital Photography

Sofie Clark

New and Old Oil on Canvas

Chloe Hunt Winter 2025 13

MTSU’s Innovation and Entrepreneurship program not only prepares students to become their own bosses, but also equips them with essential skills to climb any career ladder

by Allison Gorman One day in 2018, Tyler Burnett’s side gig—laying artificial turf—turned into his main gig. He’d landed his first big job, designing and installing a backyard putting green. But he hadn’t launched his business yet. It didn’t even have a name.

He googled “animals that graze grass.”

“Goat was the third thing that came up,” he said. “Baseball guys, we’re pretty superstitious, and my number at MTSU was 3, so that just jibed well. I met my wife at a restaurant called The Goat in Murfreesboro. And then I’ve always wanted to be the greatest of all time at whatever I do. So it had a three-way meaning.”

Goat Turf it was.

Magical thinking over, Burnett jumped into what he learned in school: Develop a business plan. Secure the domain, social media handles, and a copyrighted logo.

Get a business license, insurance, and a bank account.

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“I’ve watched a lot of people who haven’t gone through some entrepreneurship [program], and they run their business for six months or a year or two overlapping their personal and business accounts,” he said. “It’s hard to do your bookkeeping that way and understand the true performance of your company.”

This wasn’t Burnett’s first big opportunity. He was drafted by the Houston Astros after his junior year. Burnett played in the minor leagues, then returned to Murfreesboro and eventually to MTSU and the Entrepreneurship program. He graduated in 2017 after a grueling final semester—taking 15 hours, working nights at Nissan, teaching baseball lessons, and doing landscaping, while sharing his home with his fiancée, Sara, and her three children, ages 4, 3, and 3 months.

This time, Burnett was headed for big league success.

The Game Changer The same year Burnett graduated, Marketing Professor Josh Aaron began managing the Pam Wright Chair of Entrepreneurship, a $1.25 million endowment to MTSU’s Jones College of Business. He became official holder of the chair in 2018.

Over the next seven years, Aaron leveraged the untapped potential of that endowment, attracting new investors who recognized the economic impact of entrepreneurship training.

Without that training, Wright (’73, Psychology) had to rely on her instincts as “a calculated risk taker” to grow her own company, Wright Travel. She was wildly successful, and in 2007 she decided to give back.

“The idea for the endowed chair developed through brainstorming with [Vice President for University Advancement] Joe Bales about what I could do long term that would be important and impactful, not only at the University but in the community at large,” she said.

When Aaron assumed management of the endowed chair, it had been in place for a decade. But Entrepreneurship was still a fledgling program with 80 to 90 majors, he said. Its reach was not expansive enough for a curriculum with such broad applicability.

Anyone who’s self-employed needs to know how to monetize their expertise and run a small business.

Joyce Heames, current dean of the Jones College of Business, recalled a talented surgeon who lost $200,000 his first year of practice because he lacked business acumen.

“Vets, doctors, counselors, lawyers, those that are doing any kind of service to the community are going to have to hang a shingle as a business,” she said. “It’s better that they learn it in the classroom than the hard way.”

Goat Turf founder and former MTSU baseball player Tyler Burnett in his backyard Photo by J. Intintoli Winter 2025 15

Photo by J. Intintoli 16 MTSU Magazine

Josh Aaron

Chuck McDowell (’83, Business Administration and Management), founder and CEO of the Wesley Financial Group, learned it the hard way—and well. In his sawtooth journey from abused, impoverished child to side-hustling, hard-partying college kid to wealthy businessman and community leader, he was propelled by one constant: entrepreneurial spirit.

When McDowell met Aaron in 2019, he recognized the promise of MTSU’s Entrepreneurship program and began heavily investing in it.

“Chuck walked up to the campfire and threw a big gallon of gasoline on what was burning and contained—and just kind of there,” Aaron said.

The impact was dramatic and measurable. By fall 2023, the program had a record 219 majors, including 90 freshmen.

Pam Wright

“You know, money just makes everything easier,” Aaron said.

“Everything” didn’t just mean growing the program. It meant changing the program to better serve students and expanding its reach—on and off campus.

Switching It Up Maybe 60% of universities have an entrepreneurship major, Aaron said, and the fundamentals are standard. All programs teach how to vet an idea, research the market, apply for a loan, talk to bankers and investors, manage employees, and market a product. At MTSU, popular electives include classes in family business and social innovation.

But three qualities set MTSU’s program apart: a focus on business innovation, a guided mentorship option, and a variety of competitions with cash prizes.

In 2020 the program name was changed to Business Innovation and Entrepreneurship (BIE), reflecting a curriculum designed to be more marketable to established businesses.

“Anecdotal evidence from parents and hiring companies alike told us that the innovative and creative mindset within the organization was just as important as teaching the new venture creation process,” Aaron said.

The mentorship option was added as an alternative to the internship requirement, which “doesn’t always make sense when you’re talking about the entrepreneur space,” said Deana Raffo, chair of the Department of Management.

Chuck McDowell

Savannah Tucker (’23, BIE), for example, was already making and selling candied pecans when she enrolled at MTSU with an associate degree.

“Every entrepreneurship class I took, I was fully focused on how I could use it to elevate or grow my business,” she said.

Under the new mentorship option, Tucker met weekly with a local bakery owner who understood the market. He helped her assess how to use her time and resources and establish business goals.

Savannah Tucker

Burnett accepting 2024 Railbirds Jacket

“Having done it all by myself, it was so nice to have someone keeping me accountable,” she said.

Savvy Sweet Pecans is now in two storefronts, has an online store, and participates in farmers markets throughout middle Tennessee.

“MTSU has given me so many opportunities to share about my business and do things that were hands-on as opposed to just sitting in a class, listening to a professor talk,” Tucker said.

The Power of Coaching

“We have several funded competitions throughout the program, which sets us apart,” Aaron said. “We’re always looking for ways to give prize money to our students.”

Tucker used her 2023 BPC finalist winnings to buy materials to set up at farmers markets. Then she used feedback from the judges to improve her business plan and win first place (and another $5,000) at the National Small Business Institute Conference Business Plan Competition in 2024.

Meeting and learning from those judges—local business standouts like McDowell—is the real prize, Aaron said.

For MTSU Business Innovation and Entrepreneurship majors, their first big opportunity to pitch a business comes at the end of a junior-level class taught by entrepreneur Dennis Gupton. In his Shark Tank-style competition, students present to a panel of local professionals, including a banker.

“I’ve seen these judges make offers on the spot: ‘I’ll give you $50,000,’ or whatever. That stuff happens. But it’s more accurate to say that after two months of participation in the competition, [participants] have received extremely valuable feedback from a myriad of judges.”

Gupton, who recently secured $8,500 in annual prize money from the Nashville-based Patton Foundation, helps his students refine their ideas so they’re marketable and viable.

Competitive Spirit

“Students are scared to do it,” he said, “but afterward they’re like, ‘OK, I understand now.’ They’re put in that hot seat to answer those questions because that’s going to prepare them to stand in front of a loan officer and ask for $80,000.”

Gupton’s finalists often move on to the Business Plan Competition (BPC), which Aaron organizes once a year.

Open to all MTSU students and recent graduates, the BPC awards cash prizes to winners and finalists.

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McDowell showed his entrepreneurial spirit early, when he got a Creepy Crawler maker and sold plastic bugs to his fellow fourth-graders. But he became an entrepreneur as a student at Mount Juliet High School, when he went from selling Cutco knives to recruiting MTSU students to sell them too.

“That was my first experience making money off someone else selling, and training someone else how to sell,” he said.

Like McDowell, Raymond Clifton (’24, BIE) took two journeys—one personal, one professional—to become an entrepreneur. First, he had to overcome a series of life events

that started with the death of his father and ended with his living in his car. Then his professional journey began.

Clifton enrolled in the BIE program armed with locksmith training and a competitive spirit. (Before family tragedy derailed him, he had an academic scholarship to Mississippi State University and a walk-on opportunity to play football.)

Drawing from his experience in the locksmith business— which he described as both cutthroat and overpriced, with most jobs subcontracted through remote call centers—Clifton threw himself into Gupton’s contest. He thought he had a winning formula with Everything Locks: local operator, lower prices, excellent customer service.

Later he knew when it was worth hiring someone to help with sales and project management, and when it was time to invest in a warehouse so he could buy in bulk.

His family expanded from three to four kids, and he expanded Goat Turf.

By partnering with a brand, SYNLawn, he began to get commercial work. Now it’s half his business.

He came in second.

Goat Turf does pool surrounds, pet runs, vet clinics, rooftops, putting greens and bocce ball courts, indoor baseball and softball facilities, apartment complexes, and restaurants. It has locations in Murfreesboro, Philadelphia, and Huntsville, and it does some work in the Florida Panhandle.

“That tore me up,” he said. “I hate losing more than I love winning.”

In six years, Burnett turned a concept into a $25 million company—and he just sold his first franchise.

If the Business Plan Competition was going to be his redemption, he knew he had to improve.

When most people think entrepreneurship, they don’t think “college.” In fact, they probably think “anti-college.” After all, can you really teach entrepreneurship?

All entrepreneurs have creativity and drive.

Successful entrepreneurs know how to leverage them.

He thought about the judge who criticized his exit strategy, which was to sell when the business was grossing $200,000. Clifton had no plans to expand.

“That judge told me straight up, ‘What you need to do is sell your knowledge. Use the resources that you have’— because I have many suppliers, I can get bulk pricing— ‘and teach people how to locksmith,’ ” Clifton said.

He did some research on franchising and incorporated it into his plan. It didn’t just win him the BPC. It helped him understand what McDowell had learned in high school: the difference between being a worker and being an entrepreneur.

Now Clifton has graduated, and he’s using his trade to make a living while using his knowledge to grow his business and secure his future.

Swinging for the Fences All entrepreneurs have creativity and drive. Successful entrepreneurs know how to leverage them.

MTSU is proving that you can. Graduates like Burnett are the proof.

The method is simple, according to McDowell. Give students the information and support they need between the ages of 19 and 23 that it took him until the age of 35 to learn through the School of Hard Knocks, and they’re going to be able to conquer the world. That’s what motivates him and excites him about the University’s Business Innovation and Entrepreneurship program.

But what if it doesn’t work out? What if a student’s entrepreneurial dreams don’t materialize quite like they did for Burnett?

Aaron assures that if a student entrepreneur shows up on campus with a business idea, by the end of the four years, “we’re going to have that fully vetted for them.” But if for some reason that student decides to turn a different direction in business, Aaron said, the program will have taught them how to think creatively and innovatively, sending them into the business world with a degree titled “business innovation.”

For businesses looking for critical thinkers and problem solvers to join their enterprise, that’s an academic pedigree sure to give graduates of the program firm footing on their career paths. MTSU

Burnett wasn’t sure how to price that first turf job.

But he knew how to figure it out, and he knew to offer a discount for being paid upfront, so he wasn’t buying materials out of pocket.

Winter 2025 19

From aviation, education, and communication to fermentation science and the military, MTSU’s outstanding alumni for 2024–25 represent career distinction and service to community.

Distinguished Alumni Award recipient Peggy Chabrian, who was recently inducted into the National Aviation Hall of Fame, founded and led Women in Aviation International, served in aviation higher education administration, and owns Chabrian Aviation. Jack Daniel’s assistant distiller Lexie Phillips earned the Young Alumni Achievement Award, while True Blue Citations of Distinction were awarded to communicator and community volunteer Kristen Gallant, longtime educator Judy Goodwin, College of Liberal Arts Dean Leah Tolbert Lyons, and retired U.S. Army Brig. Gen. David Ogg. “Their accomplishments show the breadth of personal and professional success of our graduates,” Alumni Relations Director Ginger Freeman said.

photos by James Cessna

Introducing the 2024–25 honorees 20 MTSU Magazine

Winter 2025 21

Top-Flight

From restaurant job to first flight, Peggy Chabrian lands at MTSU and finds sky isn’t the limit

California native and current Florida resident Peggy Chabrian’s career skyrocketed after she earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Aerospace Education and Aerospace Administration at MTSU. Named the Distinguished Alumni Award recipient for 2024–25, Chabrian (’80) is a publisher, higher education administrator, and aviation company owner who was enshrined in the National Aviation Hall of Fame last fall.

Five Questions Peggy Chabrian grew up in Southern California but decided to attend a college in Tennessee.

After a long three-day, two-night trip on a Greyhound bus, she started college in Collegedale, Tennessee, only to be introduced to flying and eventually changing universities and her major—to aviation. She founded Women in Aviation International in 1990; the organization’s first conference had 150 participants.

The Women in Aviation International conference has grown to more than 4,500 attendees, and WAI represents more than 13,000 women and men from all segments of the aviation industry.

Chabrian is only the second woman to hold the position of dean of an engineering school in the United States and has served as dean for Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and Parks College, and as chair of the aviation department at Georgia State University. She is a 2,200hour multi-engine pilot and owns a Cessna 150.

Started in aviation?

I was a college student, majoring in education, working a part-time job in a restaurant. One of the regular customers was always talking about flying and inviting people to come out to the airport and take a flight. I was 21 years old and had never been to an airport, let alone having flown in an airplane. That first flight was in a 1946 Ercoupe, a low-wing two-seat canopy airplane, and the flight was one I’ll never forget.

Biggest challenges?

Having the funds to fly was a challenge. To help pay for my flying, I started an aviation ground school business.

I was teaching ground school three nights in week in three different states—Tennessee, Alabama, and

22 MTSU Magazine

Georgia—in a restaurant, FBO lobby, flight school, and classroom. Many flight instructors didn’t like the ground school portion of flight training, so this market became my first aviation business.

Favorite aircraft?

There’s still a special place in my heart for the Ercoupe.

I have owned two Ercoupes, helping to restore one of them. My other two favorite aircraft are the de Havilland Beaver and the Cessna 150. Last, and certainly not least, is the Robinson R22 helicopter that I flew for my helicopter rating.

How can we get more women/minorities in aviation?

The biggest key to introducing women to aviation is introducing them to it at a young age. Initiatives such as the EAA Young Eagles program, Women in Aviation’s Girls in Aviation Day project, and AOPA’s new high school curriculum are all good examples of reaching young people.

Advice for students?

Make sure you have the right instructor. I find it disheartening to hear of people who share bad experiences with flight instructors and gave up flying.

Remember, you are the customer. Learning to fly takes time and resources, so be sure you are maximizing both with a good instructor.

“Five Questions” is reprinted with permission as a courtesy of the nonprofit Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) from its website, aopa.org

Distinguished Alumni Award Peggy Chabrian Business: Founder, president, and CEO of Women in Aviation International for 25 years; publisher of Aviation for Women magazine (1997–2019) and Aviation for Girls magazine (2015–19); owner of Chabrian Aviation.

Academia: Associate vice president and dean of Parks College, Saint Louis University (1990–95); associate dean, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (1988–90); assistant professor and director of the Center of Excellence, EmbryRiddle (1986–98); aviation department chair, Georgia State University (1985–86).

“Many of the things I learned at MTSU were instrumental in my flying, teaching, and administrative experiences and were a part of the formation of Women in Aviation International.”

Winter 2025 23

Young Alumni Achievement Lexie Phillips Before becoming Jack Daniel’s first female assistant distiller in 2020, Phillips (’11) worked in the 158-year-old company’s quality control and distillery operations as lead operator—one of only six women to achieve this status.

In 2014, the MTSU Agribusiness graduate was inspired by a co-worker and her elective Fermentation Science classes to become a distiller.

Phillips, who lives in Estill Springs, served as brand ambassador for four years and has been heavily involved with the creation and launch of several innovative products, playing a pivotal role in the distillation and launch of Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Rye.

“MTSU was one of my influences that taught me hard work and curiosity can lead you to amazing places in life.”

24 MTSU Magazine

Achievement in Education (MTSU faculty) Leah Tolbert Lyons Lyons (’95), who joined MTSU’s faculty in 2001, has taught French language, literature, and film at the undergraduate and graduate levels and has demonstrated a strong commitment to general education teaching. After 17 years in the classroom and having served in various administrative capacities, Lyons entered full-time administration in 2019 as interim associate dean and is now dean of the College of Liberal Arts.

She has presented research across the U.S., Canada, and Switzerland, publishing in English and French, and is co-editor of Incorporating Foreign Language Content in Humanities Courses (Routledge, 2019).

“My French professor, the late Dr. Nancy Goldberg, encouraged me to spend a year studying abroad.

This prepared me for graduate school and my career in academia.”

Achievement in Education (non-MTSU faculty) Judy Goodwin A 53-year career educator, Goodwin (’70, ’72) worked as a teacher in Williamson and Rutherford counties for 25 years and has spent over 28 years as an administrator, including as Barfield Elementary School’s principal the past 24. The Rutherford County Schools’ 2021 Principal of the Year also was twice a finalist for Teacher of the Year in Tennessee and a two-time finalist for Principal of the Year in Tennessee.

Inspired at age 6 by her first-grade teacher, Goodwin has mentored countless aspiring teachers and administrators.

“At 16, my life changed forever when I entered MTSU through the Pre-Honors Program that set me on a sacred career path, education, a career that I absolutely love!”

Winter 2025 25

Service to Community Kristen Gallant Gallant (’18), of Knoxville, has served as a volunteer for Youth Villages since 2015, raising more than $12,000 and collecting items for foster care and adoptive families for the organization.

A former television reporter and now a communications specialist at the University of Tennessee, the Journalism major established Chances: Creating Families Through Adoption Inc. and created the Rock the Stage fundraising talent competition to benefit Youth Villages and the Children’s Miracle Network.

“Being a part of FSL life, student organizations, and honors societies, along with the education I received, helped me secure three internships and my first job.”

Military Service Retired Brig. Gen. David Ogg Ogg (’78, ’87) served more than 32 years in the U.S. Army, is a former assistant chair of the Military Science Department, and has supported U.S. national defense in various post-retirement positions. In 2010, the Health and Physical Education graduate received the Distinguished Service Medal—the Army’s highest honor outside combat operations.

During 22 years in the Army Acquisition Corps, Ogg also earned the Army’s Project Manager of the Year in 2003 by leading the Stryker Brigade Combat Team’s $9 billion budget and delivering 300 vehicles ahead of schedule.

“Attending MTSU gave me a family, a 32-year Army career retiring as a brigadier general, and friends I’d never have known if not for MTSU.”

26 MTSU Magazine

2025

11 11,, 12, 13 Give to anything you love on campus, including: A Department or Program A Student Organization blue raider Athletics

or give to support students in need: Scholarships Student emergency support Fund

MTSU turns the Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival into an outdoor classroom each summer

by Kailee Shores Photos by James Cessna 28 MTSU Magazine

The Bonnaroo grounds, affectionately dubbed “the Farm,” are a haze of smoke, dust, and glitter each June. Music fanatics of every genre descend on small town Manchester, Tennessee, in classic festival-wear, including but not limited to homemade mushroom hats and rainbow thongs.

The thumping bass can be heard throughout the county, and lights crisscross the sky at night.

But inside “The Truck,” MTSU’s almost $2 million mobile production lab, is an entirely different scene: cables and countdown clocks, screens and buttons, and switches galore. The screens host a live feed from the pit at concerts that the MTSU team is producing for Hulu’s livestream of the festival. BigXthaPlug’s concert on the screens and in the speakers was in direct contrast with director Ava Pardue’s sharp camera cues.

Pardue, a junior in MTSU’s Live Production program, acted as both director and technical director for BigXthaPlug’s Thursday night rap set at This Tent.

That concert was one of 53 that MTSU students produced over the course of the four-day festival— responsible for all the concerts on both the This Tent and That Tent stages in 2024.

Taught by MTSU Associate Professor Robert Gordon, a 47-year veteran in the field, the students are part of MTSU’s Media Arts Department. Students are required to complete prerequisites in multi-camera I and II before they can take the Bonnaroo class. Many of the students, like Pardue, have done live production work in the past with MTSU, but Bonnaroo is its own beast.

“We try to teach them how to do a show like this by the seat of your pants,” said Gordon, interim chair of Media Arts. “This is different from everything else that we do in multi-camera because it is so unrehearsed.”

The unpredictability of live production is exactly what Pardue loves so much. She’s hooked on the adrenaline.

“I don’t really like the editing process and the slow pace of just regular filmmaking,” she said. “This gets me amped up. It’s a whole different high.”

Crash Course Pardue’s job as director was to make viewers at home feel like their couch had teleported to the concert.

“You pay attention to the beats of the music. You want to cut when the beat drops. You want to see who’s actually doing something. It’s like you want to [feel like] a person in a concert standing there, but you just have it on your screen. [I] want to deliver that to [my] people,” she said.

That came easy during the BigXthaPlug concert because he’s one of Pardue’s favorite artists. She knew his music inside and out going into the concert.

Pardue had full creative freedom throughout the concert, cutting from camera to camera—also operated by MTSU students—to generate festival energy in living rooms across the nation.

That’s a lot of pressure on college students who, for many, have never produced such a large concert. “[It’s] a big investment of trust on the part of Bonnaroo,” Gordon said. “They have a bunch of 18- to 21-year-old students handling 40% of their output.”

Even though the students are working on such a large commercial product and such a grand scale, they are still students, and it is student work. Gordon said when the Bonnaroo class first began, he worried about trying to “preserve the integrity” of what the students were doing because even though it is a class, the product they create is representative of the University to such a large audience.

He’s changed his tune over the last couple of years, saying he’s released his perfectionism in exchange for a full and unfettered emphasis on learning.

“Some students do choke, and some students don’t,” Gordon said. “It’s not brain surgery. No lives are going to be lost in an entertainment show. And if it’s kind of wobbly, that’s fine. You still learn from it. And that’s the main point—that they learn.”

The festival is a crash course for students on what working in the concert industry is really like. Days are reflective of what the students’ day-to-day lives will look like if they pursue a career in live concert production. Call times— the industry equivalent of working hours—are the likes of noon to 3 a.m. In the professional world, those hours constitute a normal workday.

“These students get a chance to see, ‘Is this the thing I want to do or what?’ ” Gordon said. “Some students love this, and that’s why they get great opportunities when they leave. . . . Other students think, ‘I’d like to have a normal life, and this was fun for the summer, but no more. . . .’ Both choices are perfect.”

Gold Standard Despite the students’ amateur status, C3 Presents, the production company for Bonnaroo, has been routinely impressed by the quality of their work.

Daniel Gibbs, the director of broadcast and content at C3, said the concerts produced by MTSU students are as

Winter 2025 29

instruction. MTSU’s truck operates under the College of Media and Entertainment, allowing Media Arts students to use it to produce broadcasts of games, concerts, and other events.

That’s what makes the arrangement between MTSU and Bonnaroo unique.

“I do these festivals all over the country, and I’ve never seen another MTSU operation,” Gibbs said. “I’ve never seen another school that has such a program. I think the access to the equipment and tech that MTSU has . . . is top-notch. good as the ones produced by industry professionals, from the camera work and audio to the tech positions and directing.

“We really enjoyed the program and saw that not only do they have the tech and the personnel, but also a great roster of students with a lot of talent,” Gibbs said.

“Over the years, they’ve kind of evolved, and we’ve pushed them to take on bigger challenges.”

It’s a challenge that isn’t likely to be found anywhere else. Gordon said live production trucks at universities elsewhere are usually owned by the athletic department to produce sports rather than by an academic program for 30 MTSU Magazine

“A lot of the people [I’ve worked] with over the years went to MTSU, learned at MTSU, so it does seem like it is the gold standard for live video production. There’s nothing like that in Austin where we do [Austin City Limits]. There’s nothing like that in Chicago where we do Lollapalooza.”

The School of Journalism and Strategic Media also has a class that goes to the festival. Taught by Matt Leimkuehler, students in the Bonnaroo journalism class spend the weekend writing music reviews and features on the culture and people at the festival.

Their work is funneled to any members of the Tennessee Press Association for use, and all the articles are published

by MTSU’s student-run digital news organization Sidelines.

EXPERIENCE THAT COUNTS

7

years MTSU has produced live Bonnaroo concerts for TV

53

live concerts of various genres produced over 4 days in 2024 for Hulu

MTSU President Sidney McPhee said students’ realworld experience at Bonnaroo represents major strategic investments by the University that will position them for jobs in music and video production.

“We don’t come to Bonnaroo and just talk to students about the business,” he said. “We come to Bonnaroo every year to give our students opportunities that will get them in the business.”

Whether as a member of the student production team or a member of the student press corps, the work at Bonnaroo is hard and the hours are long. Students end the weekend far more exhausted even than fans who attended the festival. But the MTSU students wearing the blue “live production” T-shirts gained so much more—a resume bullet point sure to pay off in future professional success. MTSU Editor’s note: Kailee Shores graduated in December with a Journalism degree and served as editor of Sidelines in spring and fall 2024.

32

students from 2 classes (video production and audio production) filling all TV production roles

10

cameras for the This Tent and That Tent stages

0

other universities in the country that do a production like this

500+

events since mobile production truck went online in 2011 (first production at Capitol Records Street Party in Nashville)

Winter 2025 31

FACULT Y SPOTLIGHT

A Winning Argument

by Skip Anderson and Drew Ruble

MTSU debate coach helps University win 11 national championships The recent presidential campaign cycle showcased how significant the art of debate (or failure at the art of debate) can be in determining public sentiment and political outcomes.

Richey first became interested in debate in middle school and was on the debate team in high school, but his nascent interest hadn’t yet sparked a lifelong passion. After graduation, that changed.

Debate has a proud tradition at MTSU dating back decades. Researching and debating the topic of product safety in 1976–77, the MTSU Debate team contributed significant research and personal testimony to legislators as Tennessee led the nation in passing the first state law requiring children to use child safety seats in automobiles. But the last few years have been nothing short of a Golden Era for MTSU Debate.

“I joined the Army Reserves, and that put me on a straight track,” Richey said. “I was doing debate in college and about to get out of the military when 9/11 happened.”

Pat Richey, MTSU’s director of forensics and an Honors professor of Communication Studies, has coached the Blue Raider debate team to 11 individual and team national championships since he became the University’s debate coach in 2011.

Despite being outmatched in team size by nearly 4 to 1 compared to many of the schools it competes with, MTSU is a heavyweight in college debate.

“We have real talent in the student population at MTSU,” Richey said. “We can hold our own against flagship institutions.”

Richey acknowledges taking an underhanded approach to their training, in a way.

“When I practice with the students, I use every dirty trick I can think of,” Richey said. “That way I can see them process something unfair happening and see how they're going to respond.”

A “dirty trick” in debate could be as simple as misrepresenting the words the students say.

“So, for instance, I might say, ‘You said this was the case,’ when they clearly didn’t,” he explained.

Richey also reminds his students not to let go of reason by getting dragged into an emotional debate.

“I remind them that it’s not about winning that argument, it’s about convincing the judge with logic that you’re right,” he said. “I also want my students to kill their opponents with kindness. A lot of people will get very upset, and when that happens, they just collapse.”

The government almost immediately issued a stop-loss order.

“A stop-loss order means they hold onto people with certain skill sets: pilots, medics, special forces, and so forth. As a result, I spent nine years in the military on a four-year contract,” he said.

As a civil affairs sergeant, his skills were in demand.

Attached to the 4th Infantry Division out of Tikrit, Richey served in Iraq during the invasion and the following year. Civil affairs officers are responsible for serving as a liaison between a “host community” and the military.

“Before and during a war, we make sure civilians are off the battlefield, and we mark the heritage sites. After conflict, we help rebuild. In Iraq, we had a tough task as there was very little infrastructure left—no water, no electricity, and very little sanitation,” Richey said.

Being deployed in a war zone largely meant that he wasn’t able to do a lot of formal debating.

However, there was one notable exception.

“While I was in Iraq, I was in an online debate,” he said.

“I debated for the fictitious University of Baghdad, and I ended up winning it. We did that via satellite; this was long before smart phones.”

The world has changed a lot since then. But Richey’s love of debate has not.

Highly recognizable at college debate events because he wears a cowboy hat during competition, Richey has led his undermanned Blue Raider debate team to national prominence in shootouts of words and logic.

I was doing debate in college and about to get out of the military when 9/11 happened.

32 MTSU Magazine

Photo by Andy Heidt Winter 2025 33

OLD SCHOOL

Old School

A look back at MTSU’s past from our photo archives—Ladies from the ’80s celebrate Homecoming as parade participants in 1988, Boots Donnelly’s 10th season as Blue Raiders head coach and a decade before the move to Division I-A.

NEW SCHOOL

New School

Showing their True Blue spirit—MTSU soccer players take part in the Homecoming parade before the football team hosts Duke University in Derek Mason’s first season as head coach.

36 MTSU Magazine

Photo by Cat Curtis Murphy Winter 2025 37

A look at recent awards, events, and accomplishments at MTSU Compiled by Nancy DeGennaro, Jimmy Hart, Drew Ruble, Stephanie Wagner, and Randy Weiler

High-Ranking Assistance Retired U.S. Marine four-star Gen. Jim Mattis saluted the work of the MTSU Charlie and Hazel Daniels Veterans and Military Family Center during a breakfast fundraiser for the center at Nashville’s Hutton Hotel last October.

“We need to make sure there’s something like the veterans center that’s a model [for other universities] and a welcoming place.” A captive audience was treated to a one-hour conversation between longtime friends Mattis, a former U.S. secretary of defense, and former U.S. Sen. Bill Frist, a former Senate majority leader from Nashville. Businesspeople from around the Midstate helped raise more than $400,000 for MTSU’s Daniels Center at the event, including $50,000 each from CoreCivic Foundation and the Tennessee Valley Authority, $30,000 from BNA/Nashville International Airport, and $25,000 from Baker Group Strategies and Haury & Smith Contractors.

The Princeton Review—one of the nation’s leading education services companies—recently included MTSU in its 33rd annual Best Colleges rankings for 2025, the sixth consecutive year that the institution has been recognized. MTSU also placed on the Forbes Best Colleges List, and the Wall Street Journal recently recognized MTSU for the first time on its list of America’s Best Colleges 2025.

And U.S. News and World Report ranked MTSU as No. 152 among public schools and No. 273 among national universities.

38 MTSU Magazine

MIDPOINTS

The Presence of Leadership MTSU’s Student Government Association (SGA) received a spot in the Top 25 of The Princeton Review’s annual list of the nation’s best college and university SGAs. Under the leadership of second-term president Michai Mosby, a senior Public Relations major and Political Science major from Memphis, the University’s SGA ranked 20th in the nation for the Most Active Student Government category in the publication, moving up two spots over last year’s rankings.

Down to a Science A cohort of MTSU faculty recently landed a $3 million National Science Foundation (NSF) grant to develop local middle school teachers in the subject areas of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) into data science instruction experts who will go on to develop educators in their communities.

Gregory Rushton, director of MTSU’s Tennessee STEM Education Center, leads the five-year grant project in collaboration with Ryan “Seth” Jones, Kevin Krahenbuhl, and Keith Gamble. A separate trio of MTSU professors was awarded a $1.2 million NSF grant to advance research in improving the teaching of the STEM fields in general.

Rushton, Sarah Bleiler-Baxter, and Grant Gardner head that research project titled “Advancing the Culture of Teaching in STEM through Diffusion of Strength-Based Reflexivity.”

Open Book MTSU is helping ensure student success with free digital access to scholastic materials through the James E. Walker Library’s Open Educational Resources (OER) program, with approximately $1.4 million in textbook savings since the program was implemented in 2021. More than 14,200 students have benefitted from at least one of the 78 OER courses, which have more than quadrupled in number over the past two years, according to data collected since 2022 by the MTSU Office of Institutional Effectiveness, Planning, and Research.

College textbooks have nearly doubled in cost over the past decade, according to the nonprofit Education Data Initiative.

Winter 2025 39

MIDPOINTS

On-the-Job Training MTSU's College of Education, led by Dean Neporcha Cone (pictured here), recently joined Nissan's community partnership collaboration to boost skills by training career technical educators for local high schools. The workforce development program will prepare students for careers in the automotive industry by offering a curriculum that combines theoretical knowledge with practical experience. MTSU's College of Education faculty are helping train Nissan employees to teach those courses full time.

London Calling Seventeen students from MTSU’s College of Media and Entertainment traveled to London with faculty members Odie Blackmon (Commercial Songwriting) and Bill Crabtree (Audio Production) for a study-abroad class titled London Calling: The Recording Industry. During the weeklong trip, students from the Commercial Songwriting program within the Recording Industry Department wrote songs with students from the Institute of Contemporary Music Performance in London; took a backstage tour of the Royal Albert Hall and attended Swan Lake there; toured Peter Gabriel's Real World Studios in Box, England; attended the musical Back to the Future at the Adelphi Theater in London’s West End; and took in historical sites of music history interest on a “London Rock Walk Tour.” Blackmon, a songwriter known for hits such as “She'll Leave You with a Smile” (George Strait) and “I May Hate Myself in the Morning” (Lee Ann Womack), said the trip's goal was to get students out of their comfort zones and provide them with experiential learning, cultural depth, and a global understanding of the music business and life.

40 MTSU Magazine

MIDPOINTS

On Air The national commander of Civil Air Patrol (CAP), the volunteer civilian auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force, recently paid a visit to MTSU to celebrate the decade-long partnership between the two institutions. Maj. Gen. Regena Aye, CAP’s highest-ranking officer, leads the organization’s nearly 70,000 members. Air Force Col. Aaron Reid (’02), an alumnus and former combat pilot honored by MTSU at last July's EAA AirVenture, serves as commander of the Civil Air Patrol-U.S. Air Force unit.

Making a Mark A classroom assignment laid the groundwork for MTSU sophomore Political Science major Yusuf Dogan to contribute to a nonbinding resolution later passed by Metropolitan Council of Nashville and Davidson County. During the spring semester of his freshman year at MTSU, Dogan was required to write a mock piece of legislation for a project.

That experience would translate from the classroom to the real world as part of his internship with Metro-Nashville Councilwoman Delishia Porterfield. Last May, his draft of legislation condemning white supremacy was adopted as a resolution by Metro Council. The resolution was a response to flyers promoting racist, xenophobic, antisemitic, and anti-LGBTQ+ ideas that were distributed in early May in historically Black areas of North Nashville.

Growing Stronger MTSU experienced a second consecutive year of enrollment growth in 2024, recording a 1.7% year-overyear increase in its fall semester census. The student population at MTSU currently stands at 20,488 for 2024–25. This includes an increase of 1% in new freshmen, which is on top of a record 12% increase in this category the previous year.

Bright Outlook Three MTSU faculty members have an opportunity to take their research and teaching passions overseas after being selected as Fulbright Scholar Program recipients for the 2024–25 academic year. Sylvester Lamin, a Social Work associate professor, will head to Sierra Leone in West Africa.

The transcontinental country of Georgia in Eastern Europe and West Asia is the destination for Journalism Professor Gregory Pitts, while Center for Asian Studies Director Guanping Zheng will travel to Taiwan in East Asia.

An MTSU Welcome MTSU announced a planned public-private partnership to build a campus hotel on campus that will serve the campus community, bolster tourism in the area, and be a favorite destination for visitors to campus. On- or near-campus hotels at other universities accommodate sporting events, graduations, parent visits, speaker appearances, and more. MTSU’s facility will also provide educational opportunities for students. According to MTSU President Sidney A. McPhee, MTSU’s hotel “will be a learning laboratory and a place for practical experience for students in our newly accredited Tourism and Hospitality Management program,” the only such program in the state accredited by the national Accreditation Commission for Programs in Hospitality Administration (ACPHA). The University hopes to begin construction this year and open the hotel in 2026.

Winter 2025 41

MTSU NEWS

NEWS ANY TIME MTSUNEWS.COM TRUEStayBLUE up to date all year round

Olympic Dreams

Country Music Star

First in Flight

Soon-to-graduate MTSU Video and Film Production student Tobin Smith spent nearly a month in Paris interning for NBC Sports during the 2024 Summer Olympic Games. Smith worked as a senior utility and Steadicam assistant.

His role consisted of transporting gear from place to place, building the Steadicam, and taking care of it and its operator as part of the Maria Taylor Late Night Show.

Liliana Manyara (’24) had a remarkable internship with the Country Music Association (CMA) her final semester, covering the annual CMA Fest in Nashville.

First and foremost, she met Dolly Parton, but also captured and edited content for CMA’s social media pages.

Manyara, who worked on MTSU’s regional Emmy-winning “We Do It All” ad, is now a licensing coordinator at performing rights organization SESAC.

Aerospace Professor Paul Craig was honored with MTSU’s 2024 Career Achievement Award.

Craig was the University’s first flight instructor for MTSU’s renowned aviation training program. Aside from his time in the cockpit, Craig has authored 15 books on aviation safety and flight training, has also worked for NASA, and received numerous other University and industry awards.

mtsunews.com/mtsu-student-worksparis-olympics

mtsunews.com/liliana-manyara-profile

mtsunews.com/mtsu-fall-facultyawards-2024

Ever Blue

Taking a Risk

Cyber Experts

MTSU's School of Journalism and Strategic Media launched a student-powered communications agency, Ever Blue Branding, intended to boost area businesses while providing students with job-ready experiences in a fully functioning agency. The agency is building its professional advisory board, which includes inaugural member and MTSU alumnus Brooks Christol of the advertising agency Barker & Christol in Murfreesboro.

The Society of Actuaries recently recognized MTSU as a Center of Actuarial Excellence. The University also hosted one of the premier annual events for actuaries around the world, the 2024 Actuarial Research Conference. Actuarial science applies mathematical and statistical methods to assess risk in insurance, pension, finance, investment, and other industries and professions.

With electronic data being so foundational to modern commerce and industry, MTSU’s Jennings A. Jones College of Business now offers the only bachelor’s degree in Cybersecurity Management in the state of Tennessee.

Curriculum includes development and programming for cybersecurity, cloud computing, digital forensics, infrastructure design and management, database design, and systems analysis and design.

mtsunews.com/mtsu-launches-everblue-branding

mtsunews.com/mtsu-center-healthopioid-grant-rcorp-hrsa

mtsunews.com/new-cybersecuritymanagement-program Winter 2025 43

Couple endows three education scholarships to support the next generation

by Brian Delaney For Elaine and Richard “Rick” Warwick, MTSU was not just the place where they received their education, but also where they met and began a life of shared passions.

It’s only fitting that decades later they chose to give back to the university that shaped their lives—establishing three endowed scholarships in the College of Education to ensure that future students can follow their dreams, just as the Warwicks did.

As champions of education and preserving history, their idyllic log home symbolizes their commitments, having restored the historic dwelling from 1831.

Rick, who serves as Williamson County’s official historian, has authored 20 books on local history and culture, 44 MTSU Magazine

underscoring his dedication to preserving the past. Elaine devoted her life to educating students of all ages, but she became especially aware of the need to support those pursuing degrees in education after becoming a supervisor of student teachers at MTSU. “One of my student teachers looked at me with tears in her eyes, and she said, ‘I’ve got a quarter tank of gas in my car, and I don’t know where the money’s coming from to put any more in.’ ” The student declined an offer from Elaine for monetary support, but Elaine informed the student about emergency funds available at the college, which helped her “make it through the end of the semester.”

Elaine later noticed one student was always late turning in assignments and learned the student was working two

12-hour shifts on weekends at a hotel to make ends meet.

She recalled another student whose family kicked her out of the home at age 16 but who had managed to finish high school and worked her way through MTSU by working double shifts at Sonic.

As more students confided in Elaine with their personal struggles, it demonstrated how “the need was there for all the support they can have,” she said.

Fond Memories Elaine and Rick’s paths first crossed at MTSU in a library science class, Books for Young Children, in fall 1967. “He stood out as the only male in the room,” Elaine said.

A month later, they became closely acquainted when they happened to ride in the same car together for a church group retreat from the University to Fall Creek Falls. By May 1969, they were married.

Rick (’69, ’71), who later earned a master’s in teaching, began teaching American history and then served as the school librarian at Hillsboro School in Williamson County. After 23 years in education, he pursued other interests in history, curating several exhibits, and served on the Tennessee Historical Commission.

Elaine (’69, ’76), who added a master’s in teaching, primarily taught second grade at Fairview Elementary School during a teaching career that spanned 35 years. Even after retirement in 2004, her passion for education brought her back to MTSU, where she supervised Early Childhood student teachers until 2020.

Two scholarships they endowed honor their University teachers Christine Vaughan and Leniel Edwards.

“We named the scholarships for these ladies because they meant so much to us,” Elaine said.

While Rick was working as a student teacher in Manchester, Vaughan arranged for him to stay at her house during the week while he taught, and she waved off his offer to pay.

Edwards, a teacher and librarian at MTSU for 22 years, was known for her high standards, ensuring every detail was correct. It was Edwards’ class where Rick and Elaine first met.

Supporting Future Educators When students face financial challenges, their education goals are more attainable thanks to donors like the Warwicks.

“If our scholarships can help them to worry less about how they’re going to make it, then they can pay more attention to what they’re learning and put more energy into it,” Elaine said. “That worry about money is real.”

History major Evan Wiggs said the Warwick scholarship will be “immensely helpful” as he begins a teacher residency program this spring semester and will be unable to work elsewhere.

“I will be able to worry less about finances while taking classes and hopefully work less to focus on school,” said Sarah Potter, a recipient of the scholarship named for Vaughan.

Master of Library Science student Megan Johnson, who aspires to become an elementary librarian to inspire youths with an imaginative spark, said representing the Edwards and Vaughan scholarships “is truly an accomplishment that I will cherish forever.”

The Warwicks began by making annual gifts, supporting the College of Education with a $1,000 current-use scholarship, and eventually endowed three scholarships.

As members of the University’s 1911 Society, the Warwicks have also included a gift to MTSU in their estate plans.

The couple hopes the recipients stay within the teaching profession, inspire other students, and eventually give back to their alma mater.

Helping students To learn more about supporting the College of Education, contact Trisha Murphy at trisha.murphy@mtsu.edu, call 615-898-5032, or visit development.mtsu.edu/types-of-gifts.

For more information about MTSU Education scholarships like the Warwicks created, visit education.mtsu.edu/scholarships.

Student applications for emergency funds are accepted throughout the academic year, while Feb. 15 is the scholarship deadline for 2025–26.

COLLEGE OF EDUCATION NUMBERS

$137,359 in

scholarships

$5 million of

endowed support

$498,978 in gifts in 2023–24

18,959 living COE alumni

Winter 2025 45

CL ASS NOTES

1970s Jo Ann Campbell Jeffries (’70), Horseshoe Bend, Idaho, published three new books: Astronaut Kids, Have You Seen Tucker?, and Loloa the Floppy Eared Puppy.

Deborah Faulkner (’79), Franklin, was awarded the Chief Joe Casey Award from the Tennessee Association of Chiefs of Police, the organization’s top law enforcement award given annually in recognition of a chief of police who has served with

distinction through their character, effort, and dedication. Faulkner is the police chief in Franklin.

1980s Richard D. Pugh (’80, ’86), Las Vegas, recently retired from UCLA as an internal audit manager following 23 years of service to the university. Following his retirement, Pugh and his wife, Rachel, relocated from Los Angeles to begin the next chapter in their lives.

1990s Frank Elston (’90), Spring Hill, was appointed chief information officer for Crossroads Treatment Centers, tasked with improving patient care through innovative IT initiatives and streamlined processes.

Christine Grzybowski Potts, (’91, ’97), Columbia, was named the new principal of E.A. Cox Middle School.

She has served in various educational leadership roles in her career,

including as principal of Spring Hill High School.

Martina Suttle Harris (’92), Chattanooga, was inducted into the National League for Nursing Academy of Nursing Education. Harris is the dean of the Nursing and Allied Health Division at Chattanooga State Community College.

Jonathon Hawkins (’93, ’00), Murfreesboro, was appointed director of alumni and development at the Webb School in Bell Buckle.

Capt. Jennifer Bowden When Bowden’s parents took her to a Coast Guard Festival in Grand Haven, Michigan, during a summer break from college in the early 1990s, Bowden (’94) knew she wanted to join the U.S. Coast Guard.

Bowden was contemplating how and where to pursue ministry at that time, but the Coast Guard didn’t have chaplains then—it used Navy chaplains. Fast forward to July 2024, and Bowden became the 13th chaplain of the Coast Guard and the first woman to hold the role.

Bowden was ordained in the United Methodist Church (North Georgia Conference) as an elder in 2001, joined the Navy shortly after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, and served around the world in a variety of Navy and Marine Corps commands (including deployments to Iraq, Japan, and throughout the Pacific) as a Navy chaplain. Her first Coast Guard posting was in 2004 at the Coast Guard Academy in New London, Connecticut. In addition, she’s served at First Coast Guard District, Sector Southeastern New England, and most recently as Coast Guard District Eight chaplain. Along the way, she has assisted survivors of hurricanes and offered counseling and pastoral services to Coast Guard first responders and others who witnessed the tragic events of the Boston Marathon bombing in 2013, among other experiences.

Now in Washington, D.C., at Joint Base Anacostia–Bolling, she leads a team of active duty, reserve, and auxiliary chaplains throughout the Coast Guard dedicated to serving the moral, spiritual, and mental health needs of the workforce and their families.

46 MTSU Magazine

MORE THAN

70 ONLINE

GRADUATE AND UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAMS Learn more at mtsu.edu/online

Alaba Akintola

Leonie Beu

John Sherman

Leonie Beu and Alaba Akintola Beu (’24) and Akintola (’23), two recent Blue Raider track and field competitors, represented their countries in the 2024 Paris Olympics along with current MTSU sophomore sprinter John Sherman. Beu, the fastest woman from Papua New Guinea who reached the 100-meter semifinals in Paris, established a national record of 11.73 seconds earlier in the year. Akintola competed in the 4x100-meter relay, the first time in 16 years that the Nigerian men qualified for the event. Sherman, a LaVergne High graduate whose late father’s family immigrated from Liberia, was part of a 4x100 squad that set a Liberian record at the 2023 African Games.

Winter 2025 47

CL ASS NOTES

Jeff Lysyczyn Lysyczyn (’14), was appointed as the first executive director of the nonprofit Rutherford Arts Alliance (RAA), founded to promote and preserve the arts in Rutherford County. A veteran of the music business, he spent more than 25 years as an artist manager, major label employee, public relations and marketing consultant, and staff songwriter.

Lysyczyn co-founded Big Show Music Co. in 2007, which reinvigorated the careers of several veteran recording artists as well as launched the careers of many developing talents such as Joe Diffie, Alex Williams, Lorrie Morgan, Raul Malo, Restless Heart, Mickie James, and others. In his new position, he’ll be able to assist a whole new generation of artists from a wide variety of mediums and styles.

Kevin Armstrong (’95), Antioch, principal of DuPont Hadley Middle School, was named president of the National Association of Elementary School Principals Board of Directors.

Renita Wade (’96), Murfreesboro, was named adjunct professor in the School of Journalism and Strategic Media at MTSU. Nina Joines (’97), Murfreesboro was recognized by BestAgents.US as a 2024 Top Agent. She is a licensed realtor with Parks Compass Real Estate.

Marisa Massey (’99), Columbia, was named principal of Randolph Howell Elementary STEM School. She previously served for 13 years as Marvin Wright Elementary's principal and has almost three decades of overall experience teaching and working in Maury County Schools.

48 MTSU Magazine

2000s Janet Aaron, (’00, ’23), Lawrenceburg, was named dean of students at South Lawrence School.

John Strickland (’00), Murfreesboro, was promoted to effective utility management coordinator with the Murfreesboro Water Resources Department, where he initiates, monitors, and measures the department’s performance in accordance with the attributes of effective utility management and serves as a technical resource in water and wastewater treatment operations, process evaluation, and data management.

Darren Buck (’01), Arrington, was promoted to principal at executive search firm Caldwell’s Nashville office. Buck has more than 17 years of experience recruiting senior

leaders within private equity-backed health care services, medical device, health care systems, and health care technology organizations across multiple functions, including CEO, chief financial officer, and chief operating officer, as well as sales leadership roles. He joined Caldwell’s Life Sciences and Healthcare Practice as a consultant in 2019 after successful leadership roles within Fortune 50 organizations and leading a regional firm as managing partner for more than seven years.

Melanie Blair Riddick (’01), Murfreesboro, was promoted to director of accounting operations at Miller Tanner Associates.

Cindy Watts (’02), Smyrna, joined American Songwriter as senior writer, leading Nashville insider beats. Watts spent more than 20 years reporting

on country music, with the bulk of her career with the USA Today Network.

Jon Hathcock (’03), Fayetteville, is the new associate director of Madison Baptist Association. Hathcock previously served as children’s pastor at Calvary Baptist Church in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, as well as pastor of East Athens Baptist Church and Fayetteville First Baptist Church.

Nicole L. Stirbens (’04), Murfreesboro, was appointed principal of Daniel-McKee Alternative School.

Meredith Walker Gilliland (’05, ’18), Christiana, was promoted to principal of Eakin Elementary School.

B J Kerstiens (’06), Murfreesboro, was promoted to senior vice president of services for Vortex Companies, a

leading provider of trenchless infrastructure rehabilitation products and services.

Brad Hutson (’07), Pleasant View, was named principal of Northeast High School in Clarksville.

M’Lisa Bryant Miffleton (’07, ’09), Murfreesboro, is the new principal of Northfield Elementary. She was assistant principal at Northfield Elementary since 2020 and previously assistant principal at Eagleville, Homer Pittard Campus, and McFadden schools.

Marybeth Stanbrough (’07), Murfreesboro, completed her Master of Jurisprudence in Compliance and Enterprise Risk Management from Loyola University Chicago School of Law.

Matthew M. Smith (’09), Nashville, was selected by Captive International as one of the 2024 honorees for its 40 under 40 awards list in the captive insurance industry. A senior account manager for Strategic Risk Solutions, Smith focuses on the management of a portfolio of captive insurance companies domiciled in Tennessee and other locations throughout the Eastern U.S. He began with Strategic Risk Solutions in 2017 as a CPA with more than 10 years of accounting experience, including as an audit manager with Crowe Horwath, where he oversaw the audit of more than 60 831(b) captive insurance companies and several GAAP and statutorybased audits of traditional property and casualty insurance companies.

Todd Shipley Shipley (’09) was named program director for the Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation. The 501(c)(3) organization established in 1996 by Michael Kamen, composer for the motion picture Mr. Holland’s Opus, donates musical instruments to music programs where students have access to a music curriculum but lack the resources and support base to adequately keep up with equipment loss due to attrition, depreciation, and wear over time. Shipley previously served as director of arts education for the Tennessee Department of Education, where he launched the Tennessee Arts Education Data Project, a $1 million music education grant program. He also created the Tennessee Arts Education Network and implemented a first-of-its-kind statewide arts education landscape study with the collaboration of the Musicians Hall of Fame and the CMA Foundation in Nashville. Shipley previously served as a middle and high school band director and music teacher in the Nashville area, earning distinction as the recipient of the inaugural CMA Foundation Music Teacher of Excellence award in 2016. He was also named a Metro Nashville Public Schools Blue Ribbon Teacher in 2018. While the Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation is based in California, Shipley works remotely from Nashville and remains active in arts education both locally and nationwide.

Winter 2025 49

CL ASS NOTES

Kevin Vaughn (’09), Smyrna, changed careers after 15 years of teaching in Rutherford County Schools to open Anchor Creek Counseling, a marriage and family therapist consultation specializing in working with men, couples, and pastors.

2010s Christine Gillett (’12), North Richland Hills, Texas, was promoted to sales and events manager at Fort Worth’s Will Rogers Memorial Center.

Kayleigh Shoemaker (’13), Antioch, was promoted to director of public programs at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. Since joining the museum in 2017, she has served in many roles, most recently as senior public programs manager.

Sarah Poss (’14), Watertown, was promoted to director of retail banking at First Freedom Bank.

Haley Adams (’15), Murfreesboro, was promoted to vice president of marketing and communications at the United Way of Rutherford and Cannon Counties.

Emily Peoples (’15), Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, joined Chernoff Newman as media supervisor, digital lead, based in its Charleston, South Carolina, office.

Kelsey Hoggard (’16), Knoxville, is owner and creative director of Voyage Productions, a designdriven production company specializing in video content that improves sales and increases engagement for its clients. Hoggard is an animator, designer, and producer specializing in the advertising and film industries. Her work focuses on visual storytelling for brands through the creative use of animation and motion design.

50 MTSU Magazine

Tyler Smith (’16, ’18), Franklin, completed a Ph.D. in Earth System Science at Auburn University, focusing on geoscience education, environmental geology, and environmental psychology.

Joel Norris (’18), Old Hickory, joined the communications team at the Tennessee Electric Cooperative Association as digital media manager. Norris served in the U.S. Army for four years with tours in South Korea and Iraq, earning the Army Commendation Medal and a Purple Heart.

2020s Andrew Carpenter (’21, ’22), Brentwood, was appointed member engagement manager by the Nashville Health Care Council. In his new role, Carpenter will be responsible for prospecting new members while also engaging early to mid-level careerists within the Leadership Health Care program.

This role will involve building and maintaining strong relationships with council members, stakeholders, and investors.

Joe Fisher A veteran Nashville sportscaster and playby-play announcer, Fisher returned to his alma mater this season after Dick Palmer stepped down as the voice of the MTSU women’s basketball program. Fisher has four decades of experience in the Nashville market, including at Nashville Sports Radio, TV stations WKRN and WTVF, Tennessee Tech and Vanderbilt universities, and Dye, Van Mol, and Lawrence Public Relations.

Katelyn Sanders (’22), Winchester, was inducted into the Marquis Who’s Who biographical registry.

Sanders has served as the airport manager at Winchester Municipal Airport since 2023. She was previously airport manager at Smithville Municipal Airport.

Carlee Heming (’23), Murfreesboro, joined PLA Media, a Nashvillebased, full-service public relations and marketing company, as a publicist.

Sara Cardona Cardona (’16) was named the main sports anchor and reporter for Miami’s WTVJ, a television station owned and operated by NBC. The bilingual broadcast journalist began her new role in June 2023. She also contributes to sports coverage on WSCV (Telemundo 51). Cardona previously covered University of Kentucky and University of Florida athletics in Lexington, Kentucky, and Gainesville, Florida, respectively.

IN MEMORIAM

1950s Travis Lee Akin (’58, ’59) German M. Carlisle (’59) Doyle M. Caffey (’55) Earl N. Condra (’57) Ruth Beaty Cunningham (’57) James W. Drake (’59) John Fultz (’53) Mary Copeland Goode (’52, ’57) Novus H. Henry Jr. (’57) William “Bill” Hooper (’58, ’62) Charles Robert “Cisco” Jenkins (’55, ’70) John F. “Jack” Jolly III (’55, ’66, ’75) William “Bill” Karnes Sr. (’57) Jerry L. Kemp (’57) Billy B. Kerr (’59) David C. Leverette (’54) Shirley Turner Moran (’55) Donald C. Plonk Sr. (’57) Ann Satcher Porterfield (’58) Georgianna West Russell (’57) Dan Dryden Scott (’50) Virgil Hal Smith (’56) Alton “Wayne” Tipps ('58) Robert Underwood (’59) Dan Warmbrod (’53)

1960s Donna Shoulders Adcock (’65) Alice “Faye” Gist Bolin (’68) Maurice Richard “Bemo” Bowen Jr. (’61) Bergen I. Bull (’65) Charles “Bill” Burns (’60) Richard “Dick” Clark (’66) Billy G. Dial (’65) Terry Douglas (’68, ’72) Kenneth Forte (’64) Kenneth L. Gerdes (’66) Sue Summers Grubbs (’67) Joseph W. Guthrie (’68) Alfred M. Harris (’69) Thomas Edwin “Ed” Hays (’60) Donald Holland (’69) Roger Kirby (’65) Jeanette Ellison Knight (’68) Howard Glenn “Buck” Locke (’65)

Kenneth Prince Lord III (’66, ’78) Jon Garland Major (’69) Mallory “Wayne” Marlin (’64) James David Maynor (’69) Joseph Lee Moses (’67) Allen F. Parker (’66, ’69) James “Jimmy” E. Parton (’69) Kenneth Hall Pinkston (’64) Clarence Eugene “Gene” Postins (’66) Gladys Rowlett Reising (’63) Edmund “Frank” Roleff Jr. (’64) Oliver F. Shalibo (’62, ’73) Ronnie H. Smith (’61) William “Bill” Snyder (’68) John Walker Taylor (’65, ’71) James Morgan Toon (’64) Belva Lee Vance (’69, ’72) Carolyn Maupin White (’66)

1970s Glenda Perryman Baldwin (’71, ’77) Betty Elam Barnes (’77) Ronald Barnes (’74) Richard “Dick” Booher Jr. (’77) Teresa Loftis Browning (’77, ’79) Elizabeth “Jeannie” Collins (’72) Robert C. Coolidge (’72) William “Alan” Copeland (’71) Anthony L. Dobert (’70) Janna Duke Drake (’77) Barbara Head Duvall (’70, ’72) Joyce Grammer Farmer (’74) Regina Owens Featheringill (’76, ’77) James “Steven” Fulks (’77) Thomas Garmon (’73) Roy “Randy” Gilliam (’74) William “Bill” Haralson (’71) Philip W. Holder (’70) Randall “Randy” Howell (’74, ’76) Nelson Ewin Johnson (’71, ’72, ’79) Clement Joseph Kalas Jr. (’75) May Elizabeth Kiser (’75) Sandra Pigg Linville (’71, ’76) William Davis “Buddy” London (’77) Richard “Joe” Malone (’70) Pamela Matthews (’76) Sharon McClanahan (’71)

James “Jim” McFarlin (’76) Virginia “Dianne” McGregor (’75) Marilyn Marie Midgett (’75, ’77) Jane Davis Modrall (’70) Michael Moss (’72) Tracie Reynolds Moss (’74) Cynthia Smith Mowl (’79) Anedra Newman (’79) Winn McLean Peebles (’78) Thomas A. Rainey (’72) James “Jimmy” Rogers (’70) Winford L. Sadler (’75) Louise Gray Sams (’73, ’77) Iva “Lisa” Spencer Schmitt (’73) Ann M. Spencer (’74) Barry A. Stacey (’73) Bill G. Thornton (’73) Julia Armendariz Tirres (’77, ’86, ’93) Nancy Bidinger Vaden (’78) Gerald “Jerry” Watkins (’72) Jay Watson (’73) Paul Lindsey Webb (’73) Pamela Smithson Whittaker (’78) James “Jim” Hill Williams (’71) Marsha Williams (’71, ’76) Marilyn Corley Willoughby (’74) Larry Cecil Wynns (’79) Robert Youngblood (’76)

1980s Mark J. Benedict (’85) Constance Bereyso Bunio (’88, ’91) Gregory Gordon Caldwell (’87) Ritch Campbell (’89, ’93, ’95) Barbara Rietema Cooper (’83) Rufus Norman Crossing (’82) Cathy Lee Sellers Cullum (’84) Patricia Hollingsworth Farrar (’86) Linda Roberts Harris (’82) Phyllis Bolin Heath (’86) Jennifer Jordan-Henley (’84, ’88) Steven Holmes (’85) Ronnie Humphrey (’80) Robert LaFever (’82) Ronald “Moose” Marshall Jr. (’80) Timothy McAnally (’87) Elizabeth Ragan McClendon (’83) Winter 2025 51

IN MEMORIAM

Randall “Randy” Joe Nance (’85) Sean Derrick Perkins (’88) Sylvia D. Rubley (’89) Mamie Howlett Scott (’83) Nanzy Porter Stewart (’81) Curtis Dale Wall Sr. (’86) Christopher C. Woodfin (’81)

1990s Oliver “Keith” Adams (’94) Douglas Blackwell II (’94, ’99) Valarie Kay Holman Carpenter (’97) Eric Wakefield Cook (’96) Brian DeMoss (’97) Joseph Fergusson (’94) Georgianna Hitchcock Fortier (’91, ’97) Mike E. Hays (’92) Kerry Huckaby (’90) Virginia “Eve” Morris Lane (’91) John “Whit” Linder (’94) Carl “Mike” Lindler (’90) Kimberly Winfree Luffman (’90) Alfreida Blackwell Morris (’94) Ivan Paul (’92) Ann Beth Wilkinson (’94) Kimberly Kennedy Woody (’93)

2000s Anne Marie “Ree” Jessel Channel (’01, ’03) Lakesha Oldham-Dorsey (’00) Stephanie Papuchis (’05) Daniel Humberto Pastrana (’05) Stanley J. Rys (’01) Robert G. Shapard (’06) Gregory Slagle (’04)

Billy Joe Evans Former Blue Raider football standout Billy Joe Evans (’63), of Fayetteville, died at the age of 83. A 1958 graduate of Moore County High School, he attended MTSU on a football scholarship and lettered all four years. Evans was voted most valuable lineman, served as team captain during his senior year, and played in two Tangerine (Citrus) Bowls. After graduation, Evans began a lifelong career in coaching and education. Evans started working at Moore County High School and later at Fayetteville Central High School as both the football coach and an educator. In the age before playoffs, he won seven championships in 14 years of coaching. Evans later served as the first principal at Lincoln County High School. In 1988, he became director of Fayetteville City Schools, where he would retire after 22 years. Evans was a member of the TSSAA Hall of Fame, Lincoln County Football Hall of Fame, Lincoln County High School Hall of Fame, and Bank of Lincoln County Board of Directors, and he served in leadership roles on countless other boards and organizations.

2010s Jonathon Paul Hickey (’11) Wendy D. Howell (’11) Madisen Minter (’18) Edward “Clay” Morgan III (’15) Stewart A. Nichols (’13) Brandy Jo Revis (’11)

52 MTSU Magazine

Submit updates through mtalumni.com or email alumni@mtsu.edu

Mark Gwyn Former Tennessee Bureau of Investigation Director Mark Gwyn (’85), who became the bureau’s first African American leader in 2004 and held the post until 2018, died at age 61. Gwyn started his career as a police officer in his hometown of McMinnville in 1985. Three years later, he joined the TBI, where he worked for 30 years. Gwyn was recognized by MTSU in its 2010–11 class of Distinguished Alumni.

Dan Scott Former MTSU Department of Chemistry Professor Dan Scott (’50) died Sept. 16, 2024, at age 96. Drafted into the Army while teaching at Flintville High School, he served as a hospital laboratory technician during the Korean War. Upon returning from military service, he joined the then-Middle Tennessee State College’s Campus School faculty in 1955, later completing his Ph.D. at Peabody College.

He retired from MTSU in 1992 as a professor emeritus.

Winter 2025 53

BABY R AIDERS

01 Ashlyn Maria Adams born Sept. 1, 2023 to Jason and Angela Hefley Adams (’08) of Smyrna

02 Asher William Stluka born Dec. 11, 2023

01

02

to Dustin and Amanda Cook Stluka (’12, ’16, ’19) of Wartrace

03 Mya James Way born Feb. 13, 2024 to Derek and Shelby Gray Way (’12) of Murfreesboro

04 Oliver James Moore born March 21, 2024

03

04

to Garrett (’20) and Claire Reagan Moore (’20) of Manchester

05 Sophia Lilli Schmoling and Avery Diane Schmoling born March 22, 2024 to Peter (’12) and Katherine Schmoling of Fayetteville, Georgia

06 Klover Mielle Smith-Williams 05

06

born April 10, 2024 to Kelcey (’22) and Tahjaneal Smith-Williams (’21) of Clarksville

07 William Wayne Choi born May 21, 2024 to Jay and Kelsey Vandiver Choi (’19) of Murfreesboro

08 Bristol Lee Freeman 07

08

born May 30, 2024 to Cory (’09) and Brandie LeeAnn Nelson Freeman (’11, ’12, ’16) of Murfreesboro

09 Patrick Jameson Nolan born June 10, 2024 to Patrick (’23) and Meredith Sullins Nolan (’12, ’22) of Mount Juliet

09

10

10 Eleanor Rose Lay born June 19, 2024 to Lucas and Traci Colvin Lay (’19) of Spring Hill

11 Eli King Mahaffey born June 19, 2024 to Gary and Aimee Mears Mahaffey (’23) of Bradyville

12 Brayson Merritt Basler 11

54 MTSU Magazine

12

born Aug. 7, 2024 to Tyler (’13, ’15) and Ashlynn Trotter Basler (’15) of Pigeon Forge

L AST WORD

Legal Prowess MTSU and the Nashville School of Law (NSL), two storied institutions founded in 1911, are now pairing their various areas of instructional expertise to train students and working professionals seeking deeper legal knowledge to enhance their careers.

The collaboration for MTSU’s planned Legal Studies master’s degree also will help fulfill a growing Midstate workforce need.

Approved by MTSU’s Board of Trustees and submitted to the Tennessee Higher Education Commission to consider final approval in early to mid-2025, the M.S. in Legal Studies will be offered primarily through MTSU’s Jennings A. Jones College of Business.

NSL faculty will teach initial core coursework online or at its Armory Oaks Drive campus, and students complete the program through MTSU. The nonprofit law school, which boasts over 50 adjunct legal professors who are practicing attorneys and active judges, offers a high-quality legal education through night classes.

“MTSU continues to pride itself on developing unique degree programs to directly address workforce needs in our region and state,” MTSU President Sidney A. McPhee said.

“Successful graduates of this program will be well positioned to fill the high-paying, in-demand legal roles for which they’ve been trained, with the vast majority of our graduates remaining in this region to invest back into the community with their time, talents, and skills.”

From the region’s robust financial services industry to health care, logistics, entertainment, cybersecurity,

MTSU partners with Nashville School of Law to offer master’s degree

manufacturing, tourism and hospitality, and others, many industries are seeking to employ in-house professional staff with deep legal knowledge in areas such as compliance and regulatory guidelines.

“Today’s businesses rely on competent legal professionals to be successful. However, they will also benefit from the assistance of employees who have paired their business experience and substantive knowledge with a heightened understanding of the legal system,” NSL Dean William C. Koch Jr. said.

Designed for those who do not need or want to pursue a Juris Doctor degree, the 30-hour program aims to sharpen students’ and working professionals’ understanding of the law, including in the areas of contracts, critical legal thinking, legal ethics, writing, and case analysis.

Coursework, which could begin as soon as summer 2025, will allow students to further develop in-depth knowledge in one of three concentrations: General Business, Compliance, or Entertainment—the last offered through MTSU’s College of Media and Entertainment.

“It is projected that the compliance field will continue to grow over the next decade, driving up the demand for employees in the field,” said Ralph Schulz, Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce president and CEO. “The M.S. in Legal Studies will not only provide graduates with the legal knowledge required to succeed in many industries, but also the skills to help large and small companies navigate the various regulatory environments across the state.” MTSU Email sandy.benson@mtsu.edu for more info.

At the announcement (l–r): MTSU’s Joyce Heames (business dean), Stephen Smith (board chair), and Sidney A. McPhee (president); Nashville School of Law’s William C. Koch Jr. (dean) and Aubrey Harwell (board chair); and MTSU’s Beverly Keel (media dean)

Winter 2025 55

Nonprofit Organization U. S. Postage PAID Murfreesboro, TN Permit No. 169

1301 E. Main Street Murfreesboro, TN 37132

Among America’s

Best

Middle Tennessee State University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age,status as a protected veteran, or any other category protected by law. See our full policy at mtsu.edu/iec.

From The Princeton Review. ©2024 TPR Education. All rights reserved. Used under license. The Princeton Review is not affiliated with Princeton University.