Each of the colleges and academic units at MTSU maintains a high level of activity and produces news worth crowing about. Here are just a few recent examples.
Campuswide
MTSU’s expanded Board of Trustees welcomed its three newest members, each serving six-year terms: John Floyd of Murfreesboro, founder and owner of Ole South Properties; Jimmy Granbery of Nashville, chair and CEO of H.G. Hill Realty; and Chad White of Murfreesboro, executive vice president, general counsel, and secretary at Brookdale Senior Living. The board also honored the service of outgoing trustee, alumna, and accomplished businesswoman Pam Wright, who was an inaugural board member, having served since 2017 when she was appointed by then-Gov. Bill Haslam. Lastly, MTSU Trustees unanimously reelected Stephen B. Smith as chair and Christine Karbowiak Vanek as vice chair for two-year terms.
Our Board of Trustees took initial actions in December to create new graduate degree programs in Health Care Administration as well as Film and Television. Trustees unanimously approved consideration of a Master of Health Care Administration (M.H.A.) in the Jennings A. Jones College of Business, the first regulatory step necessary in the process. Trustee Michael Wade, chair of the board’s Academic Affairs, Student Life, and Athletics Committee, said data and industry support letters demonstrate high demand for health care administrators. The M.H.A. proposal may now be developed for consideration by the campus community and staff at the Tennessee Higher Education Commission, and, if approved, returned to the trustees for a final vote. The board granted its final vote of approval for a proposed Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A.) in Film and Television in the Scott Borchetta College of Media and Entertainment. Wade said the program will provide advanced instruction in production, directing, editing, cinematography, sound design, and emerging technologies. The M.F.A. proposal was presented to the University’s Graduate Council on Dec. 5, and a request will be made to place it on the February 2026 agenda for the Tennessee Higher Education Commission. If approved by THEC and SACSCOC, the University’s accreditation body, the M.F.A. will be available this August.
Scott Borchetta College of Media and Entertainment
MTSU’s Department of Recording Industry was named among Billboard’s Top Music Business Schools for the 11th consecutive time, earning recognition in the publication’s 2025 list. The recognition places MTSU among just over 40 institutions worldwide selected based on industry recommendations, alumni success, and sustained excellence in music business education.
Media Arts Video and Film Production students gained high-profile live-event experience working the Country Music Association’s CMA Awardsred carpet broadcast for WKRN News 2. Students assisted the WKRN-TV crew with red carpet coverage and served as production assistants for the CMA main show, providing behind-the-scenes support for a major national broadcast. During the year, students on MTSU’s Media Arts Productions team produced 24 live productions across sports and music, totaling 70 hours of live programming, and executed eight live events.
The University’s student-run media platform, Sidelines, celebrated 100 years of serving campus and the community through award-winning journalism. Originally a printed newspaper, Sidelines has evolved into a news website and email newsletter while remaining true to its mission as a student-led news organization that has provided scores of student journalists with an opportunity to put their classroom knowledge to use.
Jennings A. Jones College of Business
2025 keynote speakers and guest lecturers included experts on the cutting edge of emerging technologies. CEO and entrepreneur Jessica O. Matthews served as keynote speaker for the September 2025 Jones College Leadership Summit, themed “The AI Revolution at Work: Leading Change and Overcoming Fears in a Rapidly Evolving World.” Matthews urged those attending her presentation to fully embrace artificial intelligence and its many benefits in propelling innovation, while also acknowledging the ecological, ethical, and other challenges that come with it. In October, the Jones College hosted Alessandro Cannas, a Google Gemini marketing manager, for a guest lecture on how Google is shaping the future of marketing and customer experience through AI innovation and product strategy. Launched initially as Bard, Gemini now powers tools across Google’s ecosystem, including Gmail, Maps, Docs, and the Gemini app on iOS. Cannas showcased features like Deep Research, Quiz Generator, and AI-powered app prototyping, all designed to enhance learning and productivity. Following Cannas’ presentation, students engaged in a lively Q&A, asking questions about intellectual property, user interface, personalization, and the role of AI in future careers.
Kristen Shanine, a Management associate professor, was named the Pam Wright Chair of Entrepreneurship and director of the Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation. Meanwhile, Bichaka Fayissa, professor emeritus of Economics and Finance, retired in 2025 with 45 years of service— the longest term of employees recognized at the December faculty and staff recognition ceremony.
College of Basic and Applied Sciences
MTSU’s Data Science program has launched a forward- looking undergraduate certificate, Using Artificial Intelligence. Designed for MTSU students and working professionals eager to explore the transformative power of AI, this 10-credit-hour program is designed to provide students with foundational knowledge and the ability to implement AI ethically and responsibly. The certificate courses are currently a mix of on-ground and online options, with potential for a fully online option in the near future.
MTSU broke ground on its new $73 million-plus, state-of- the-art Aerospace facility in Shelbyville on Dec. 3, marking a major step forward for one of the nation’s most highly recognized aerospace and aviation programs. MTSU’s Shelbyville operation plans, announced in September 2023, will result in an aviation hub that addresses the critical need for expansion and growth of the Department of Aerospace and its exploding pilot training program—while also meeting an important aviation industry need. With new hangars, classrooms, offices, and ramp space, the project will accommodate future fleet expansion and offer dedicated instructional spaces for training the next generation of aviation leaders. With its 20 full-time faculty, more than 100 flight instructors, and over 1,400 students representing 32 states and 10 countries, University leaders believe the Aerospace program is poised to reach even greater heights once the new operations are completed in an estimated two years. 2025 marked a milestone for CBAS and an inflection point for its Department of Engineering Technology when we officially opened the $74.8 million, 89,000-square-foot Applied Engineering Building last August. Equipped with millions of dollars’ worth of advanced technology, this facility will forever change the way our students learn and our faculty teach. More than just a new building, it represents an investment in Tennessee’s future workforce and a commitment to innovation in engineering, technology, and advanced manufacturing. The Applied Engineering Building provides world-class laboratories, robotics and automation spaces, and collaborative areas designed to prepare students for the rapidly evolving careers that await them. This remarkable facility also will support the addition of new undergraduate and graduate programs in engineering that are currently under development. The building is the latest addition to our Science Corridor of Innovation, a nexus for cutting-edge research and experiential learning that also includes the MTSU Science Building, School of Concrete and Construction Management Building, Davis Science Building, and Wiser-Patten Science Hall.
College of Behavioral and Health Sciences
CBHS is undergoing a significant reorganization, effective July 1. The Department of Health and Human Performance and Department of Human Sciences are being dissolved and their degree programs realigned to become three new academic departments: Kinesiology and Sports Medicine; Health Sciences; and Sport and Hospitality Management. Additionally, the Department of Criminal Justice Administration will become the Department of Criminal Justice. The Textiles, Merchandising, and Design degree program, which will be renamed Fashion Studies, will be directly served by the CBHS Dean’s Office as a temporary measure to maintain its unique focus and to facilitate growth. One undergraduate degree program— Human Development and Family Science—will move to the College of Education, and another—Interior Architecture— will relocate to the College of Basic and Applied Sciences.
The School of Nursing maintained its exceptional track record with a 100% NCLEX pass rate and 100% graduate employment rate. The program recently earned full eight-year approval and national recognition as one of U.S. News & World Report’s “Best” B.S.N. programs for 2025–26. These outcomes reinforce MTSU’s standing as a premier institution for nursing education.
The Physician Assistant Studies program continues to attract unprecedented interest from prospective students. For the fifth cohort, the P.A. master’s program received more than 1,400 applications for just 30 seats—a testament to both the program’s reputation and the growing demand for qualified health care providers. This competitive selection process ensures MTSU trains the highest-caliber students entering the medical
profession.
Through a new partnership with Thrive Therapies, the Speech-Language Pathology program is piloting innovative AI-assisted clinical technology. The platform supports real-time data collection and progress documentation in the University’s clinic, streamlining administrative workflows so student clinicians can dedicate more time to patient care while receiving enhanced, data-driven feedback from supervisors.
College of Education
THEC recently approved a restructuring for the College of Education to ensure that academic programs are housed within departments that reflect their primary disciplinary and professional focus. The new structure will enhance academic coherence, streamline oversight, and better position the college to meet the evolving needs of Tennessee’s PK–20 education workforce—particularly in high-demand areas such as teacher preparation and school leadership. Effective July 1, the Department of Elementary and Special Education will be renamed the Womack Department of Teaching, Learning, and Innovation, and the Womack Department of Educational Leadership will be renamed the Department of Leadership, Development, and Educational Systems. Majors, minors, and certificates will be moved to the appropriate department homes.
COE received a $150,000 grant from the Truist Charitable Fund to boost support for students in the Tennessee Teach Back Initiative (TTBI), an MTSU program helping prepare and inspire future teachers to serve in their own hometowns across the state. The grant will expand the wrap-around services offered to TTBI students, such as test prep, licensure support, and one-on-one mentoring. It will also help launch a first-year induction program to support graduates as they begin their teaching careers. Created to address the statewide teacher shortage, the initiative focuses on developing licensed educators who return to teach where they grew up, helping strengthen local schools and communities. Since our founding as a teacher’s college, MTSU has prided itself on its ongoing tradition of training the next generation of educators to fill the critical role of providing high-quality classroom instruction to communities locally and far beyond.
TCOE will launch the Difference Maker Innovation Micro-Grants Program in Spring 2026, a new initiative designed to accelerate high-impact innovation in educator preparation. Supported by a $10,000 investment from the Jennings and Rebecca Jones Foundation, the one-semester pilot will fund faculty, staff, and student projects that advance instructional innovation, strengthen district partnerships, and prepare future educators to meet emerging PreK–12 needs—including differentiated instruction, support for gifted and advanced learners, and responsible integration of artificial intelligence in teaching.
Honors College
The Honors College and MTSU’s American Democracy Project received a $25,000 National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) “Celebrating America” grant, a significant award that will support the University’s preparations for the United States’ semiquincentennial celebration throughout 2026 This grant strengthens MTSU’s commitment to exploring America’s founding era through public-facing humanities programming and student engagement. As part of this initiative, the MTSU Foundation has established a matching fund endowment to expand the reach and longevity of these efforts. In recognition of the nation’s 250th anniversary, the Honors College is inviting supporters to contribute $17.76, a symbolic gift that helps unlock the full potential of the NEH award and ensures these programs continue to grow. Find out more online at amerdem.mtsu.edu/mtsu-250.
Funding from the grant and matching endowment will help expand a series of events leading into the anniversary year, including the Honors Buchanan Lecture Series “Revolutions,” a campus partnership with Nashville PBS featuring screenings and discussions of the Ken Burns documentary The American Revolution, and an Evacuation Day commemoration, which includes historical printings on MTSU’s replica Franklin press and a public reading of the Declaration of Independence preamble. Additional programming will continue into Fall 2026 with the “Legacies of the American Revolution” lecture series and community-centered historical presentations.
College of Liberal Arts
MTSU Theatre alumnus Cal Mitchell visited MTSU while in the Nashville area to perform as Lion in The Wiz at the Tennessee Performing Arts Center last September.
The Forensic Institute for Research and Education hosted forensic expert Eric Bartelink last fall for his lecture “Sifting Through the Ashes:
Recovery and Identification of Wildfire Victims.”
The Albert Gore Research Center hosted an exhibit highlighting the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, featuring letters, photos, and artifacts that tell stories from the war’s final year.
Dean Leah Tolbert Lyons completed the Fulbright International Education Administrators Program in France, strengthening international partnerships and expanding opportunities for students and faculty.
Walker Library Since 2022, Zero Textbook Cost (ZTC) courses at MTSU have saved students a cumulative $2.84 million. In Summer 2025 alone, ZTC courses accounted for 8% of all course offerings, saving students approximately $105,000. Total savings are expecting to exceed $3 million after finalization of Fall 2025 data.
Walker Library awarded a second round of Affordable Course Materials Grants for the 2025–26 academic year. These faculty-led projects are expected to save MTSU students more than $203,000 annually by replacing high- cost textbooks with open or no-cost alternatives.
Collection Development and Management licensed a new ProQuest subscription that gives MTSU students, faculty, and staff access to essentially all subscription research databases and primary sources available from ProQuest. ProQuest Central Premium is an interdisciplinary academic database with thousands of scholarly and popular journals, newspapers, and more in all major subject areas. Additionally, we purchased 1,500 new print books and provided access to 244,009 new e-books and 36,925 streaming videos.