The Distinguished Lecture Committee seeks to promote appearances by nationally and internationally known speakers who focus on the timely discussion of regional, national, and global issues in a variety of fields. Through the Distinguished Lecture Fund, the committee supports academic and other departments that wish to bring to the MTSU campus individuals who represent a recognized level of expertise in their respective fields. The programs sponsored will represent a balance of topics pertinent to the student population of MTSU, and should be designed to elevate the campus dialogue on important current events. Preference will be given to funding the appearance of well-known speakers who can bring educational excellence to our campus. Speakers may include authors, lecturers, politicians, and other relevant individuals. These programs should generally be open to students, faculty, staff, and community members without charge.

Preference for support will be given to those applications that demonstrate collaboration between multiple departments or colleges; inclusion of attendance at the lecture and integration of the speaker's content as a course requirement for one or more classes; and evidence of popular appeal and availability for a variety of audiences. Funding is limited each year, and all proposals may not be funded.

The committee will meet after the deadline to review all applications for the following semester. There will be a deadline each semester for applications and it will be posted on the website.

The Fall 2023 deadline is April 7, 2023.

The Spring 2024 deadline is November 10, 2023.

Interested individuals may complete the online Application for Distinguished Lecture Fund and transmit it electronically to Gina Poff.

If you have questions or need more information, please contact Gina at Gina.Poff@mtsu.edu or 898-2454.