[421] MTSU Professor Discovers New Use for Dental Technology

FOR RELEASE: April 30, 2012

EDITORIAL CONTACT: Gina Logue, 615-898-5081

MTSU PROFESSOR DISCOVERS NEW USE FOR DENTAL TECHNOLOGY

Dr. Shannon Hodge Combines Computer-aided Research with Respect for Deceased

MURFREESBORO—Research by Dr. Shannon Hodge, assistant professor of anthropology at MTSU, could provide archaeologists with a new way to investigate the past while respecting the wishes of living Native Americans for the treatment of their ancestors’ remains.

“The human skeletal remains contained in these burials can be closely examined to reveal patterns of past health and nutrition and to illuminate some of the social, economic and political impact on past people’s lives,” notes Hodge.

With existing computer-aided technology used by dentists for restorations such as crowns, Hodge produced replicas of human teeth for study so that the natural teeth could be returned to the grave.

“Each natural tooth and replica were … compared under a scanning electron microscope to see if the copy was accurate enough to stand in for the original,” Hodge says. “We discovered that the technique works very well.”

In fact, Hodge learned that the surface features on the replica teeth were reproduced at a level of detail even smaller than surface features produced on natural teeth by damage, disease or cultural modification.

Under the 1990 Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, skeletal remains of Native Americans and their funerary objects can be repatriated to Native American descendants of the dead. The remains and artifacts often are reburied out of respect for tribal traditions, but that means they’re also permanently removed from academic study.

“We are proud to report that, for prehistoric human skeletal remains, this technique can provide one approach to preserving irreplaceable scientific data while also respecting Native America’s call for timely repatriation,” Hodge explains.

Hodge’s research was funded by a $23,282 grant from the National Park Service’s National Center for Preservation Training and Technology and a matching amount from the MTSU Office of Sponsored Research.

For more information, contact Hodge at 615-494-7681 or shannon.hodge@mtsu.edu.

PHOTO ATTACHED.

                                                               --30--

Celebrating its 100th anniversary and faithful to its roots as a teachers' college, MTSU continues as a top producer of teachers in Tennessee. Pride, Tradition and Excellence are the cornerstones of "Tennessee’s Best"! For MTSU news and information anytime, visit www.mtsune

[420] Dance Theatre of Tennessee Presents 'Coppelia' Comic Ballet at MTSU

FOR RELEASE: April 27, 2012

EDITORIAL CONTACT: Christopher Mohnani, 615-391-5500 or cmohnani@dancetheatretn.org

Dance Theatre of Tennessee presents ‘Coppelia’ comic ballet at MTSU

MURFREESBORO—Be whisked away to a toymaker's workshop as Dance Theatre of Tennessee presents the comedic storybook ballet “Coppelia, The Girl with the Enamel Eyes” May 5 and 6 at MTSU’s Tucker Theatre.

Performances are set for 7 p.m. on Saturday and 2 p.m. on Sunday. A special performance for schools also is scheduled for 10 a.m. Friday, May 4.

For additional enjoyment, children are encouraged to bring their favorite dolls to the Sunday matinee for a 1:30 p.m. doll parade. Ticketholders for both the Saturday and Sunday performances can register to win an “American Girl” doll, complete with ballerina attire.

"’Coppelia’ offers an absolute delight to ballet newcomers and families as well as Dance Theatre of Tennessee's most seasoned patrons," says Christopher Mohnani, artistic director of Dance Theatre of Tennessee. "The dancing is of course lovely, while the characterization and comic timing of this classic will keep audiences enchanted the entire time."

Presented in three acts, Coppelia is a comedic ballet based on “Der Sandmann,” a book by E.T.A. Hoffman, the author of “The Nutcracker.” The story involves a mysterious toy-maker, Dr. Coppelius, who shares his house with the beautiful life-size doll, Coppelia, he created to keep himself company in his workshop.

Coppelia is seated every day on the front balcony of the workshop with a book, and the toymaker’s neighbor, Swanhilda, and her fiance, Franz, believe the doll is real. Franz falls in love with Coppelia, and the comedy of errors begins as the pair sneak into the workshop, separately, to meet her.

Dance Theatre of Tennessee regularly presents classical ballets that might be unfamiliar to the community, like “Coppelia,” to “encourage appreciation of the art form and hopefully develop a wider and more appreciative audience for dance and ballet in general,” Mohnani says.

The performance also will honor the late Robert Flavel “Lee” Green, a longtime ballet supporter and a driving force in Nashville and middle Tennessee theater from the 1970s to the 1990s. “Coppelia” was one of his favorite ballets, and Dance Theatre of Tennessee will be accepting memorial contributions with a notation made for the "Lee Green Tribute."

Advance and online tickets for “Coppelia” are $20 for adults and $15 for children and are available at www.mtsu.edu/tuckertheatre or by calling 615-391-5500. Tickets also will be available at the door before each performance and will cost $25 for adults and $20 for children.

For more information about the Dance Theatre of Tennessee performance, please call 615-391-5500.

—30—

The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching has recognized MTSU for its outstanding curricular engagement, community outreach and partnerships. As MTSU celebrates its 100th anniversary, Pride, Tradition and Excellence are the cornerstones of "Tennessee’s Best"! For MTSU news and information anytime, visit www.mtsunews.com.

[419] MTSU To Award 100,000th Undergrad Degree During Spring Commencement

FOR RELEASE: April 27, 2012

EDITORIAL CONTACT: Office of News and Media Relations, 615-898-2919

MTSU to award 100,000th undergrad degree during spring commencement

MURFREESBORO—Middle Tennessee State University will award its 100,000th undergraduate degree during the spring 2012 commencement ceremonies, which will officially conclude the University’s yearlong Centennial celebration.

MTSU will again feature dual ceremonies and dual speakers beginning at 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. Saturday, May 5, in Murphy Center. More than 2,541 students are expected to receive their degrees that day, according to a report from the University’s Registrar’s Office.

The University’s 100,000th undergraduate degree will be presented 100 years after the doors of Middle Tennessee State Normal School opened in 1911 to educate Tennessee’s teachers. In that century, MTSU has grown one of three small state schools with 125 students on 100 acres to Tennessee’s largest undergraduate institution with more than 26,400 students on 500-plus acres.

“Our commencement ceremonies are always special and significant, but these upcoming exercises mark the conclusion of a remarkable yearlong celebration of our Centennial,” said President Sidney A. McPhee. “It is fitting that we reach this important milestone as part of our commemoration of our founding.”

MTSU now boasts more than 111,000 degreed alumni, a tally that includes both undergraduate- and graduate-degree recipients.

Of the 2,541 set to receive degrees during the spring 2012 ceremonies, 2,103 are undergraduates and 438 are graduate students, including 350 master’s candidates, 72 education-specialist recipients and 12 doctoral candidates. Four graduate students also will receive graduate certificates.

Candidates from the College of Graduate Studies, Jennings A. Jones College of Business and the College of Education and College of Mass Communication will receive their degrees in the morning ceremony. That afternoon, degrees will be conferred on candidates in the College of Basic and Applied Sciences, College of Behavioral and Health Sciences, College of Liberal Arts and the University College.

Dr. Mark A. Emmert, president of the National Collegiate Athletic Association, will serve as the guest speaker for the 9 a.m. ceremony. Before he took the reins as the NCAA’s fifth president in October 2010, Emmert was president of his alma mater, the University of Washington.

He led that university to its standing as second among all public and private institutions in research funding with $1.3 billion in grants and contracts per year. During his six-year tenure, the University of Washington also concluded a $2.6 billion fundraising campaign. Emmert also is president emeritus of the University of Washington.

Before returning to his alma mater, Emmert was chancellor of Louisiana State University; his administrative appointments in higher education include provost and chancellor at the University of Connecticut, provost and vice president for academic affairs at Montana State University and associate vice chancellor for academic affairs at the University of Colorado.

Dr. Ribo Huang, president of Guangxi Academy of Sciences in China, will speak to the graduates at the 2 p.m. ceremony. Huang, who earned his doctoral degree in biotechnology from the University of Reading in the United Kingdom, has devoted himself to the research of microbial biotechnology, enzyme engineering and the development of biotechnology products

He has been working as a professor and a president of Guangxi Academy of Sciences since 1999 and is a highly active scientist involved in molecular enzyme technology. In addition to publishing numerous papers in international journals, Huang has been granted eight invention patents, three new-product certificates and one new-medicine certificate in China.

Huang is director of the National Engineering Research Center for Bioenergy and director of the China State Key Lab for Bioenergy & Enzyme Tech, and he also serves as vice president of the Guangxi Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference.

On commencement day, the University’s graduation committee stressed that MTSU students who participate will be required to stay for their entire scheduled ceremony. Each event should last about two hours, so graduation candidates planning celebration activities should be aware of this time commitment.

For more information about commencement, please visit the Records Office website at www.mtsu.edu/records/grad.shtml. Questions about graduation may be directed to the Records Office at 615-898-2600.

MTSU SPRING 2012 COMMENCEMENT AT A GLANCE

Who: A projected 2,541 graduates* (2,103 undergraduates, 438 graduate students)

What: 2012 MTSU Spring Commencement

When: 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. Saturday, May 5

Where: Murphy Center on the MTSU campus

Commencement speakers:

·         Dr. Mark A. Emmert, NCAA president, 9 a.m. ceremony.

·         Dr. Ribo Huang, president of China’s Guangxi Academy of Sciences, 2 p.m. ceremony.

*— Approximate numbers as of April 27, 2012.

—30—

The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching has recognized MTSU for its outstanding curricular engagement, community outreach and partnerships. As MTSU celebrates its 100th anniversary, Pride, Tradition and Excellence are the cornerstones of "Tennessee’s Best"! For MTSU news and information anytime, visit www.mtsunews.com.

[418] MTSU Selects Follett to Manage Phillips Bookstore

For release:  April 26, 2012

News and Media Relations contact: Randy Weiler, 615-898-5616 or Randy.Weiler@mtsu.edu

Second MTSU contact: Name Name, 615-xxx-xxxx or Name.Name@mtsu.edu

Follett Higher Education Group contact: Elio DiStaola, 800-323-4506 or edistaola@fheg.follett.com

MTSU selects Follett to manage Phillips Bookstore

MURFREESBORO — Follett Higher Education Group of Oak Brook, Ill., has been selected to manage operations of MTSU’s Phillips Bookstore, which will be relocating to the new Student Union this summer. The takeover is effective May 9.

John Cothern, senior vice president in the Division of Business and Finance, and Kathy Crisp, assistant vice president for Administrative and Business Services at the University, made the announcement.

A selection committee consisting of administrators, faculty and students chose Follett as their partner through an extensive evaluation process. Follett was identified as the company that had the technology, experience and resources to best serve MTSU and its greater community.

“Many changes have and are taking place in the college textbook and bookstore service industry,” Cothern said. “It is important for MTSU to be in the best position it can be in order to provide the most up-to-date textbook and course materials service that our students demand and need.”

“We are pleased that Follett Higher Education Group is joining our team,” Cothern added. “They bring an expertise to our campus that will enable us to enhance the level of bookstore service and support needed by our students as they prepare for their professional careers. This change is part of our continued efforts to position MTSU for the future.”

Follett has committed to providing first-class service to MTSU students, faculty and staff by offering a variety of affordable choices maximizing access to the materials and supplies necessary for student success, Elio DiStaolo, director of public and campus relations for Follett, said.

In addition to Rent-A-Text, a robust textbook rental program that saves students 50 percent or more compared to new, Follett also offers smarter digital textbooks with their cloud-based CafeScribe digital platform. These cost-saving options can be explored both in-store and online through a link on MTSU’s website to efollett.com, the nation’s largest textbook portal.

Students, faculty, staff and visitors to the new Phillips Bookstore can rely on a dedicated bookstore team, comprised of familiar faces, to help navigate these options. Jeff Whitwell will remain director and textbook manager.

To ensure a seamless transition, all current Phillips Bookstore associates have been invited to remain and will be provided additional training development opportunities specifically designed to enhance each associate’s retail and customer-service skills.

In this transition, Phillips Bookstore will be moving to the first floor of the new Student Union building after decades in Keathley University Center. With relocating, the new store layout accommodates space for expanded products and services.

The new location also positions the bookstore near other central campus resources, including dining areas, retail outlets and meeting rooms.

“We are excited to be serving Middle Tennessee State University,” said Thomas Christopher, president of Follett Higher Education Group. “We’ll bring our best to the community — using all of our resources, best-in-class technology and our newest product offerings to provide a retail operation that will only enhance the MTSU campus.”  

###

About MTSU

Middle Tennessee State University, founded in 1911 as one of three state normal schools for teacher training and located in Murfreesboro on its 500-plus acre campus, enters its second century of higher education with the largest undergraduate student population in Tennessee. With a total enrollment of 26,412 students in fall 2011, MTSU offers nearly 150 programs — including aerospace, concrete industry, business, recording industry and nursing — in nine colleges and 37 departments within the university. MTSU is home to 12 centers, three centers of excellence, 10 chairs of excellence and two endowed chairs.

About Follett Higher Education Group

Oak Brook, Ill.-based Follett Higher Education Group is the leading provider of bookstore services and the foremost supplier of used books in North America. Follett services five million students and more than 400,000 faculty members through 930-plus stores. Follett also services more than 1,600 independent campus stores with its wholesale services, and has the most visited ecommerce collegiate website, efollett.com, that provides services and products through its network of campus stores.

            The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching has recognized MTSU for its outstanding curricular engagement, community outreach and partnerships. As MTSU celebrates its 100th anniversary, Pride, Tradition and Excellence are the cornerstones of "Tennessee’s Best"!

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For MTSU news and information anytime, visit www.mtsunews.com.

[417] WMOT-FM Airs The Buzz about MTSU Beekeeping Course

FOR RELEASE: April 26, 2012

EDITORIAL CONTACT: Gina Logue, 615-898-5081

WMOT-FM AIRS THE BUZZ ABOUT MTSU BEEKEEPING COURSE

Short, Compact Spring Session is Sweet Deal for Beginning Beekeepers

MURFREESBORO—MTSU Farm Manager Tim Redd and beekeeper Ed Holcombe will discuss their beginning beekeeping course on the next edition of “MTSU on the Record” with host Gina Logue at 5:30 p.m. Monday, April 30, and 8 a.m. Sunday, May 6, on WMOT-FM (89.5 and wmot.org).

The MTSU Farm Labs and Dairy Science Club sponsor the eight-week course each spring. The course registration fee covers all materials, including the materials for constructing a hive, the bees to start a colony and the equipment to practice beekeeping safely.

Although this spring’s class is slated to end Thursday, May 10, a waiting list is available for next spring’s class. Also, MTSU honey is available for $5 for a half-pound honey bear and $8 for a one-pound bottle. To order MTSU honey, contact Kym Stricklin at 615-898-2523 or kym.stricklin@mtsu.edu.

To listen to previous programs, go to www.mtsunews.com and click on “more” under the “Audio Clips” category.

For more information about “MTSU on the Record,” contact Logue at 615-898-5081 or WMOT-FM at 615-898-2800.

                                                               --30--

Celebrating its 100th anniversary and faithful to its roots as a teachers' college, MTSU continues as a top producer of teachers in Tennessee. Pride, Tradition and Excellence are the cornerstones of "Tennessee’s Best"! For MTSU news and information anytime, visit www.mtsunews.com.

[416] Educators Can Learn to Prevent Classroom Problems at MTSU Positive-Behavior Conference

Educators can learn to prevent classroom problems at MTSU positive-behavior conference

FOR RELEASE: April 25, 2012

EDITORIAL CONTACT: Dr. Zaf Khan, zkhan@mtsu.edu

MURFREESBORO—Educators, school administrators and members of the academic community are being invited to attend the sixth annual Positive Behavior Support and Inclusion Conference on Thursday, May 17, at MTSU.

“This conference is special because it does not focus on outdated ways of classroom management,” explains conference founder and organizer Dr. Zafrullah “Zaf” Khan, an assistant professor of elementary and special education at MTSU.

“Instead, it centers on an innovative way of dealing with problem behaviors by using prevention logic applicable to grades K-12.”

Dr. Tim Lewis, an international speaker and expert in the field of positive-behavior support, will address attendees. He has been involved in special education for 25 years and has taught students with emotional and behavioral disorders in elementary and high schools as well as self-contained psychiatric settings.

Lewis currently is a professor of special education at the University of Missouri and he is the co-editor of the journal “Behavioral Disorders,” associate editor of “Journal of Positive Behavior Interventions” and a member of nine other editorial boards. 

Lewis has worked for more than 20 years with the development of schoolwide systems of behavioral support and has worked directly with educational teams around the world. His primary focus includes work in social-skill instruction, functional assessment and proactive school-wide discipline systems.

At the MTSU conference, Lewis will explain user-friendly ways for teachers to strategically address students with challenging behaviors by using positive and proactive methods suitable for all curriculums.

“At the forefront of this conference are the needs of each child, and Dr. Lewis will discuss the psychosocial, emotional needs of the children,” Khan says. “The conference will provide methods to create systemwide, alternative and positive options based on data to help teachers make decisions regarding classroom behavior.”

The day will feature roundtable discussions hosted by education leaders who are using positive-behavior support methods. They’ll also discuss methods of inclusion and ways to successfully incorporate children with disabilities into general-education classrooms.

The conference is free and includes a continental breakfast and catered lunch. Breakfast begins at 7 a.m., and the conference will conclude at 5 p.m.

Space is limited, so Khan says attendees should reserve a seat soon. Priority registration ends Friday, May 11.

For a full conference itinerary, registration information and ways of establishing a PBSI team for your school or organization, visit www.mtsu.edu/pbsi or contact Khan at zkhan@mtsu.edu.

Contributing members of Khan's team include Dr. Lana Seivers, dean of the College of Education; Dr. Connie Jones, chair of the Department of Elementary and Special Education; Joseph Fisher, assistant commissioner, Tennessee Department of Education, Division of Special Education; and Linda Copas, director of behavioral and autism services and PBS coordinator for the state Department of Education.

—30—

Editors: Lauren Price, a graduate student in the Office of News and Media Relations, wrote this article. Please use her byline on it if possible. Thanks!

The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching has recognized MTSU for its outstanding curricular engagement, community outreach and partnerships. As MTSU celebrates its 100th anniversary, Pride, Tradition and Excellence are the cornerstones of "Tennessee’s Best"! For MTSU news and information anytime, visit www.mtsunews.com.

[415] April 25 Engineering Technology Event Celebrates Students' Work

For release:  April 24, 2012

News and Media Relations contact: Randy Weiler, 615-898-5616 or Randy.Weiler@mtsu.edu

Engineering Technology contacts: Dr. Walter Boles (department chair),           615-898-2776 or Walter.Boles@mtsu.edu

and Dr. Saeed Foroudastan (experimental vehicles), 615-494-8786 or Saeed.Foroudastan@mtsu.edu

April 25 engineering technology event celebrates students’ work

MURFREESBORO — The general public and MTSU community are invited to the sixth annual Engineering Technology Open House and Awards Ceremony.

The department will celebrate the work performed by its students Wednesday, April 25, from 3 until 5 p.m. in the Tom H. Jackson Building’s Cantrell Hall.

There will be student poster presentations along with some of the student experimental vehicles and projects on display outside, including the Baja, Moon Buggy and Formula SAE. Awards will be presented at 3:30. Dr. Charles Perry, chair of the Russell Chair of Manufacturing Excellence, will be master of ceremonies.

Perry’s research project, the Honda station wagon that has the prototype wheel-hub motor plug-in hybrid retrofit kit on both rear wheels, also will be on display.

Parking will be limited around the Tom Jackson Building. Visitors are encouraged to park in the South Rutherford Boulevard lot and ride the Raider Xpress shuttle into the campus core to reach the Jackson building, which is located next to Voorhies Engineering Technology.

For more information, call 615-898-5009.

###

Media welcomed.

            The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching has recognized MTSU for its outstanding curricular engagement, community outreach and partnerships. As MTSU celebrates its 100th anniversary, Pride, Tradition and Excellence are the cornerstones of "Tennessee’s Best"!

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For MTSU news and information anytime, visit www.mtsunews.com.

[414] Leaders Needed to Help Diabetics Manage Their Illness

FOR RELEASE: April 24, 2012

EDITORIAL CONTACT: Gina Logue, 615-898-5081

LEADERS NEEDED TO HELP DIABETICS MANAGE THEIR ILLNESS

MTSU Offers Free Training under Stanford University-Created Program

MURFREESBORO—The MTSU Center for Health and Human Service will present five more leadership-training sessions for the Yes I Can! Diabetes Self-Management Program May 10, 11, 17 and 18 at Murfreesboro’s Primary Care and Hope Clinic.

The sessions are scheduled from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the clinic, located at 1453A Hope Way.

Participants who complete the four-day training regimen will co-facilitate community workshops under a program developed by Stanford University. The Yes I Can! program helps people learn techniques and strategies they need for day-to-day management of diabetes.

Characteristics of a workshop leader include problem-solving abilities; a commitment to help others; a willingness to listen, learn new skills and become a healthy role model; openness to new ideas; and an ability to protect confidentiality.

The training is free, and all materials will be provided. This project is funded under an agreement with the State of Tennessee.

To register or for more information, contact Cindy Chafin, project manager, at 615-898-5493 or cynthia.chafin@mtsu.edu. An online application form is available at http://mtsu.edu/achcs/YesICan.shtml.

                                                               --30--

Celebrating its 100th anniversary and faithful to its roots as a teachers' college, MTSU continues as a top producer of teachers in Tennessee. Pride, Tradition and Excellence are the cornerstones of "Tennessee’s Best"! For MTSU news and information anytime, visit www.mtsunews.com.

[413] Senior's National TV Award Paves the Way for Industry Success

[412] MTSU Sustainable Agriculture Class Plants Trees to Improve River's Water Quality

For release: April 20, 2012 News and Media Relations contact: Randy Weiler, 615-898-5616 or Randy.Weiler@mtsu.edu Sustainable agriculture class contact: Dr. Wendy Francesconi, 615-898-5833 or Wendy.Francesconi@mtsu.edu MTSU sustainable agriculture class plants trees to improve river’s water quality MURFREESBORO — Just in time for Earth Day, lecturer Dr. Wendy Francesconi in the MTSU School of Agribusiness and Agriscience and her sustainable agriculture class are using the warm spring weather to get outside and work at the Middle Tennessee State University farm. The students have been planting buttonbush and cottonwood trees to help improve the water quality of the nearby East Fork of the Stones River. Earth Day is Sunday, April 22. MTSU Earth Day-related events and efforts were celebrated since April 13. The Center for Environmental Education will participate in the Saturday, April 21, Earl Day event from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. outside the Rutherford County Courthouse in downtown Murfreesboro. Francesconi's class planted rows of trees at the MTSU farm off Guy James Road in Lascassas on Wednesday, April 4. One row served as a living fence along the old farm road. Another, planted along the river, will increase the area of the riparian buffer strip between land and the river, which, Francesconi says, will further the sustainability of the MTSU farm. "Most non-ag students would probably have an old-fashioned image of farming,” says global-studies major Elizabeth Grady, one of Francesconi's students. “I would encourage them to go out to the farm for field days and get a tour." “The MTSU farm is becoming a role model for sustainable farming," Francesconi says. “The farm currently uses clean energy technology, rotational cattle grazing and nutrient recycling practices. The farm is also engaged in the organic production of fruit and vegetables as well as in the production of alternative farm goods such as honey.” She says planting trees along the river is important for both wildlife and people. “Planting trees or shrubs along the river is important to help trap sediments and nutrients from the farm operations,” Francesconi says. “The trees can also help stabilize the river bank, remove excess water during the rainy season through evapotranspiration and provide habitat to many birds and beneficial insects and wildlife in general, and make our farms and landscapes a much more beautiful place. The tree enrichment of the riparian buffer is part of the course curriculum. The students had to design their own tree-planting plan that will restore their assigned portion of the river edge. With proper execution, each student's design will help limit some of the erosion that occurs often during flooding season. Francesconi joined MTSU's faculty in January 2011 as a Minority Dissertation Fellow, which is an initiative from the provost’s office to provide minority graduate students with the opportunity to improve their teaching skills. She calls teaching at MTSU "a wonderful experience," and her students seem to agree. Before class even began, they enthusiastically discussed a new study on ways of disposing of waste. One student mentioned that she had so much to say on her mid-term exam, she added extra pages to the test. With such a passionate group of farmers, the MTSU farm is sure to reap more benefits in the future. Grady says she feels “sad that this is Wendy's last semester at MTSU. She brings fun, energy and excitement to her class. She is also very well informed and educated in a diverse field of agriculture and sciences. Coming from Colombia also helps her to bring a world viewpoint to bear on agricultural practices.” ### PHOTO CAPTIONS (Students plant trees1.jpg) As part of a sustainable agriculture class, Courtney Bowers, left, and Claire Barnett plant a row of trees that will serve as a living fence along the old farm road adjacent to the East Fork of the Stones River that flows through the MTSU farm off Guy James Road in Lascassas. The students planted buttonbush and cottonwood trees to help improve the river’s water quality. Barnett is a senior agribusiness major from Normandy, Tenn., while Bowers is a junior animal science major from Ooltewah, Tenn. (Photo by Randy Weiler/MTSU News and Media Relations) (Ag class group.jpg) Sustainable agriculture class members take a break from planting buttonbush and cottonwood trees to help improve the water quality of the East Fork of the Stones River at the MTSU farm off Guy James Road in Lascassas in early April. (Photo by Randy Weiler/MTSU News and Media Relations) (Kimberly Foster.jpg) Sustainable agriculture class member Kimberly Foster of Murfreesboro plants trees to help improve water quality of the East Fork of the Stones River that flows through the MTSU Farm off Guy James Road in Lascassas. (Photo by Randy Weiler/MTSU News and Media Relations) The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching has recognized MTSU for its outstanding curricular engagement, community outreach and partnerships. As MTSU celebrates its 100th anniversary, Pride, Tradition and Excellence are the cornerstones of "Tennessee’s Best"! ------- For MTSU news and information anytime, visit www.mtsunews.com.

[411] Mass Comm's 'Wall of Fame' Grows by 5 Distinguished Names

Mass Comm’s ‘Wall of Fame’ grows by 5 distinguished names FOR RELEASE: April 20, 2012 EDITORIAL CONTACT: Gina E. Fann, Gina.Fann@mtsu.edu; 615-898-5385 MURFREESBORO—Three accomplished alumni and a pair of “Friends of the College” have been added to the growing roster of the College of Mass Communication’s Wall of Fame at MTSU. Dean Roy Moore announced today at a special ceremony that alumni Carrie Dierks, Luke Laird and Mikki Rose will be honored with plaques and photos installed on the northwest interior wall of the Bragg Mass Communication Building. Also being recognized are Friends of the College Dale and Lucinda Cockrell of the University’s Center for Popular Music. The Wall of Fame began in 2000 as a way to both honor successful mass-communication graduates and inspire current students to continue working toward their goals. Each year, each of the college’s departments solicits nominees from faculty, chooses an honoree and submits his or her name to the dean. The Wall of Fame ceremony then becomes a part of the college’s annual Awards Day for students. Making special note of this academic year's developments, which included the launches of MTSU’s new $1.4 million Mobile Production Lab and new Center for Innovation in Media, Moore told attendees at today's event that "the students in this college have seen it change and grow in wonderful ways. "And thanks to private giving (from alumni and others) to the college, we will be able to award 68 students more than $35,000 in scholarships," the dean added. After recognizing students from across the college for academic and professional accomplishments, the Wall of Fame honorees were introduced. Dierks (B.S. ’99), an alumna of the School of Journalism and a Chattanooga native, graduated magna cum laude from MTSU and worked in sports publishing, marketing for a Fortune 150 company, and media design before becoming vice president for B2B operations for True North Custom Media, a full-service media-marketing firm. Laird (B.S. ’01), an alumnus of the Department of Recording Industry and a native of Conneaut Lake, Pa., is the writer of nine No. 1 Billboard country hits, including Carrie Underwood’s “So Small,” “Last Name,” “Temporary Home” and “Undo It, ” Blake Shelton’s “Hillbilly Bone,” Sara Evans’s “A Little Bit Stronger,” Rodney Atkins’s “Take a Back Road,” Eric Church’s “Drink in my Hand” and Chris Young’s “You.” He was named Billboard’s No. 3 Hot Country Songwriter of 2011. Rose (B.S. ’05), a Murfreesboro native and an alumna of the Department of Electronic Media Communication, earned dual undergraduate degrees in mass communication and computer science at MTSU. She began working in technical animation in Los Angeles, contributing to “Alvin & the Chipmunks,” “Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian” and the Academy Award-winning “The Golden Compass” before joining Sony Pictures Imageworks to work on “Alice in Wonderland,” “Arthur Christmas” and “Hotel Transylvania” as cloth and hair technical director. The Cockrells, the 2012 “Friends of the College,” have loved, preserved and shared music for decades via Dale’s doctorate in musicology and Lucinda’s degree in historic preservation. In addition to their work as director and assistant director, respectively, of MTSU’s Center for Popular Music, the Cockrells founded, own and operate Pa’s Fiddle Recordings LLC, a recording, scholarly and educational project built around the great American music embedded in the "Little House" books by Laura Ingalls Wilder. One of the largest communication programs in the nation, the MTSU College of Mass Communication offers degree concentrations in 14 major areas—ranging from journalism to digital media and media management to recording industry management—and is accredited by the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication. —30— The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching has recognized MTSU for its outstanding curricular engagement, community outreach and partnerships. As MTSU celebrates its 100th anniversary, Pride, Tradition and Excellence are the cornerstones of "Tennessee’s Best"! For MTSU news and information anytime, visit www.mtsunews.com.

[410] MTSU, Metro Schools Partner for Academies of Nashville Video Awards Show

MTSU, Metro Schools partner for Academies of Nashville Video Awards Show FOR RELEASE: April 19, 2012 EDITORIAL CONTACTS: Doug Williams, 615-494-7800 or Doug.Williams@mtsu.edu; Meredith Libbey, 615-259-8405 or Meredith.Libbey@mnps.org NASHVILLE—The best video projects from students from Metro Nashville Public Schools will be celebrated at the Academies of Nashville Video Awards show April 21. Students from Metro Schools and Middle Tennessee State University will direct, produce and perform in the inaugural awards show, a districtwide video competition created to tell the stories of the Academies of Nashville offerings in Metro’s 12 zoned high schools. “This awards show gives our students a hands-on learning experience, a platform to share how their Academy of Nashville experiences are preparing them for college and careers—and a chance to knock the socks off the audience,” said Dr. Jesse Register, director of Metro Schools. “Our students are talented!” Student teams will receive Academy “statuettes” for their winning video entries in 14 categories, including Best in Show. Metro high-school students completely produced each video production, and MTSU College of Mass Communication students mentored several teams. The unique partnership between Metro Schools and MTSU began in fall 2011 when the University agreed to be the title sponsor for the show. “We are pleased to partner with Metro Schools because we see the great things happening in their schools and the caliber of students they are sending to college,” said Dr. Sidney A. McPhee, MTSU president. “What makes this project so perfect is that it unites their talented students with our exceptional students from the Department of Electronic Media Communication.” Alex Gibson, a junior EMC major at MTSU, will produce the show with the help of 30 of his fellow MTSU students. The entire student-run production will use MTSU’s $1.4 million Mobile Production Lab, which has been used for events ranging from Music Row’s “Capitol Street Party” to ESPN coverage of Blue Raider athletic contests. The hourlong MNPS video awards production will be aired on tape delay on Nashville’s NECAT, Channel 10. —30— The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching has recognized MTSU for its outstanding curricular engagement, community outreach and partnerships. For MTSU news and information visit www.mtsunews.com.

[409] MTSU Sustainable Agricultural Class Plants Trees to Improve River's Water Quality

FOR RELEASE: April 19, 2012 EDITORIAL CONTACT: Gina Logue, 615-898-5081 MTSU FRATERNITY ROCKS THE HOUSE FOR CHARITABLE CAUSE Recording Industry Students Help Youth Empowerment though Arts and Humanities MURFREESBORO—MTSU’s chapter of Omega Delta Psi will host a concert to benefit Youth Empowerment through Arts and Humanities at 7 p.m. Sunday, April 22, at Social Nightclub and Bar, 114 N. Church St. in Murfreesboro. The Horror Vacui, The Ghost Ballerinas and Yer Heart are scheduled to perform with all proceeds going to YEAH, a nonprofit Murfreesboro-based organization that strives to create a safe environment in which youngsters can hone their creative talents. ODP is the first recording industry coed professional fraternity in the world. Its purpose is to help future professionals in the recording industry network with other students and professionals and gain experience in their chosen career fields. Doors open at 6 p.m. Tickets are $5 in advance from an ODP member or $7 at the door. For more information about the concert, contact Susanne Smith at susannesmith08@gmail.com. For more information about YEAH, go to www.yeahintheboro.org. FLYER ATTACHED. --30-- Celebrating its 100th anniversary and faithful to its roots as a teachers' college, MTSU continues as a top producer of teachers in Tennessee. Pride, Tradition and Excellence are the cornerstones of "Tennessee’s Best"! For MTSU news and information anytime, visit www.mtsunews.com.

[408] WMOT-FM Remembers MTSU President Mel Scarlett (1920-2012)

FOR RELEASE: April 19, 2012
EDITORIAL CONTACT: Gina Logue, 615-898-5081

WMOT-FM REMEMBERS MTSU PRESIDENT MEL SCARLETT (1920-2012)
Served During Turbulent ’60s, ’70s, Supporter of Students, Emphasized Teaching

MURFREESBORO—WMOT-FM (89.5 and wmot.org) will air an encore presentation of Gina Logue’s Aug. 9, 2004, interview with the late president emeritus of Middle Tennessee State University, Dr. Mel Scarlett, on “MTSU on the Record” at 5:30 p.m. Monday, April 23, and at 8 a.m. Sunday, April 29.

Scarlett, who served as MTSU president from 1968-1978, passed away on April 16, 2012, at the age of 91. The interview is about his 2004 book “The Great Rip-Off in American Education: Undergrads Underserved.”

In the book, Scarlett asserted that numerous institutions are sacrificing their paying students’ education on the altar of research and financial expediency, leading frustrated young adults to leave college unprepared and take their chances in the work force.

To listen to previous programs, go to www.mtsunews.com and click on “more” under the “Audio Clips” category.

For more information about “MTSU on the Record,” contact Logue at 615-898-5081 or WMOT-FM at 615-898-2800.


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Celebrating its 100th anniversary and faithful to its roots as a teachers' college, MTSU continues as a top producer of teachers in Tennessee. Pride, Tradition and Excellence are the cornerstones of "Tennessee’s Best"!


For MTSU news and information anytime, visit www.mtsunews.com.

[407] MTSU Professor Tapped to Chair Private Equity Conference

FOR RELEASE: April 19, 2012
EDITORIAL CONTACT: Gina Logue, 615-898-5081

MTSU PROFESSOR TAPPED TO CHAIR PRIVATE EQUITY CONFERENCE
Entrepreneurship Expert Doug Tatum to Oversee Powerhouse Lineup of Speakers

MURFREESBORO—Doug Tatum, holder of the Wright Chair of Entrepreneurship at MTSU, will chair “Where the Middle Market Shines,” a private equity conference, April 25-27 at the Gaylord Texan Hotel in Dallas.

More than 2,000 people are slated to attend and more than $100 billion worth of capital will be represented at the gathering, which is sponsored by the Association for Corporate Growth.

Scheduled speakers and panel moderators include Dr. Condoleezza Rice, former U.S. Secretary of State; Karl Rove, former deputy chief of staff and senior adviser to President George W. Bush; James Carville, political consultant and key architect of Bill Clinton’s 1992 presidential campaign; Stephen Moore, senior economics writer with the Wall Street Journal; and Nolan Ryan, former Major League Baseball pitcher and CEO and president of the Texas Rangers.

Tatum, who also is an associate professor in the Department of Business Communication and Entrepreneurship, was chairman and CEO of Tatum LLC for more than 17 years.

He grew the company to the largest executive-services consulting firm in the United States with more than 1,000 employees and professionals in 30 offices. He later served on the firm’s board and as chairman emeritus until the company merged with Spherion Corporation in early 2010.

In 2011, Tatum was asked to lead concentrated research for the Institute for Exceptional Growth Companies to investigate the performance of EGCs through economic cycles and how they contribute to job creation and economic prosperity.

Tatum’s 2007 book, “No Man’s Land: What to Do When Your Company is Too Big to Be Small but Too Small to Be Big,” is included in the recently updated edition of “The 100 Best Business Books of All Time.”

For more information about the conference, go to www.acg.org.

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Celebrating its 100th anniversary and faithful to its roots as a teachers' college, MTSU continues as a top producer of teachers in Tennessee. Pride, Tradition and Excellence are the cornerstones of "Tennessee’s Best"! For MTSU news and information anytime, visit www.mtsunews.com.

[406] MTSU's Dodson Earns Prestigious Goldwater Scholar Award

For release: April 19, 2012

News and Media Relations contact: Randy Weiler, 615-898-5616 or Randy.Weiler@mtsu.edu
University Honors College contact: Laura Clippard, 615-898-5464 or Laura.Clippard@mtsu.edu


MTSU’s Dodson earns prestigious Goldwater Scholar Award

MURFREESBORO — After first being “shocked” by the news, MTSU sophomore Jordan Dodson said he became “very honored, humbled and thankful” to learn he had been named a recipient of the prestigious Goldwater Scholar Awards.

Peggy Goldwater Clay, chair of the board of trustees of the Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation and daughter of the late U.S. senator from Arizona, announced in late March that 282 sophomores and juniors at colleges and universities nationwide are 2012 recipients.

Dodson, 20, who has a 3.97 GPA as a double major in professional chemistry and professional mathematics and a minor in biology, received a two-year, $15,000 Goldwater Scholarship.

“This is a pretty significant award,” said Dodson, a lifelong Murfreesboro resident and 2010 Oakland High School graduate. “I’m so thankful for the great people in the Honors College who help students. They are very supportive and a great joy to be with.

“In terms of recognition, this award will be recognized at any graduate schools because it is a national award. It will be very helpful in applying for graduate school.”

Dodson does not have a job. He studies an average of nine hours a day and is able to perform his research in his room at home. He said the annual $7,500 Goldwater Scholarship will be in addition to the Hope Lottery, Merit Scholarship and biology and chemistry scholarship awards he receives.

“I always say, ‘School is my job,’” Dodson said. “My tuition is already paid. I’m making similar to what somebody with a part-time job and in college. With the Goldwater, you can’t have a job that interferes with your studies. They want you to focus on your academic work.”

“Jordan has outstanding scientific abilities,” said Dr. Preston MacDougall, chemistry professor and Dodson’s mentor. ”When his curiosity leads him to hypotheses that cannot be conveniently tested with conventional resources, Jordan seeks out other research methods to accomplish the same goal.

“In addition to his intellectual and scientific abilities, Jordan has great people skills that enable him to work well with others. When students, faculty, staff or administrators meet Jordon, they always say, ‘What a great guy!’”

Dodson recently traveled to the Symposium on Molecular Structure and Dynamics in Dallas, where his poster titled “A Computational Investigation of the Anomeric Effect and the Generalized Anomeric Effect” received high praise from university scholars, many of whom assumed he was a graduating senior, Honors College Dean Dr. John Vile said.

This semester, he is taking a graduate-level applied computational science course that is part of the computational science Ph.D. program.

While Dodson definitely studies, he said he enjoys golf. He played at Oakland, where he shot in the 70s and has a low handicap. He also briefly led the Rubik’s Cube Solving Club. He loves to play chess, is a dapper dresser (including bow ties and sport coats) even for class. He is engaged to Brittany Robertini, a junior biology major at MTSU.

Dodson joins a growing list of Goldwater Scholars.

Evan Matthew Craig, a sophomore Buchanan Fellow from Arlington, Tenn., who is majoring in biology and received a Goldwater in 2011, has a second year of support, Vile said.

Alumnus Taylor Barnes was MTSU’s first Goldwater recipient in 2007 and also recommended by MacDougall.

Dodson is the son of Dewey and Linda Dodson of Murfreesboro.

Heidi Klumpe of Murfreesboro, the daughter of MTSU physics and astronomy professor Dr. Eric Klumpe and his wife, Dr. Marynelle Klumpe, received a Goldwater Scholar Award. She is a North Carolina State University student.

The Goldwater Foundation is a federally endowed agency established by public law on Nov. 14, 1986. The scholarship program was designed to foster and encourage outstanding students to pursue careers in mathematics, the natural sciences and engineering, the website for the program states.
The foundation has bestowed more than 6,200 scholarships worth $39 million.

MTSU’s scholarships are coordinated through Laura Clippard in the Undergraduate Fellowship Office in the Honors College.

To apply for a Goldwater Scholarship for 2013-14, contact Laura Clippard in the Honors College by calling 615-898-5464 or email Laura.Clippard@mtsu.edu.

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PHOTO CAPTIONS

(Jordan Dodson.jpeg)

Jordan Dodson of Murfreesboro is the recipient of a two-year, $15,000 Goldwater Scholarship Award. Veteran university scholars outside MTSU assume the research performed by Dodson is that of a graduating senior. Dodson, shown outside the Paul W. Martin Sr. Honors Building, is a sophomore with a 3.97 GPA.
MTSU Creative and Visual Services photo by Andy Heidt


(Dodson and MacDougall.jpeg)

Jordan Dodson, left, “has outstanding scientific abilities,” said Dr. Preston MacDougall, an MTSU professor and mentor to the Goldwater Scholars Award honoree. Dodson, of Murfreesboro, received a two-year, $15,000 award.
MTSU Creative and Visual Services photo by Andy Heidt



The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching has recognized MTSU for its outstanding curricular engagement, community outreach and partnerships. As MTSU celebrates its 100th anniversary, Pride, Tradition and Excellence are the cornerstones of "Tennessee’s Best"!
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For MTSU news and information anytime, visit www.mtsunews.com.

[405] MTSU Students Talk Their Way to Win in Japanese Contest

FOR RELEASE: April 19, 2012
EDITORIAL CONTACT: Gina Logue, 615-898-5081

MTSU STUDENTS TALK THEIR WAY TO WIN IN JAPANESE CONTEST
Language Students Speak Japanese with Ease, Fluency, Earning Awards

MURFREESBORO—MTSU students captured two awards in the fifth annual Tennessee Area Japanese Speech Contest on April 7 at Vanderbilt University in Nashville.

Seth Graves, a global-studies major from Thompson’s Station, Tenn., minoring in Japanese language, won the overall Grand Prize for the competition’s best speech. For his work, Graves received two round-trip tickets to Japan courtesy of American Airlines.

Alex Chambers, a non-degree-seeking undergraduate from Smyrna, Tenn., won first prize in Level 2, the intermediate level of the contest.

Other MTSU competitors included Mitchell Plumer, a global-studies major from Murfreesboro; Franklin, Tenn., chemistry major Andrew Witt; Ryan Parrow, a global-studies major from Smyrna; Franklin mass-communication major Preston Nalls; Knoxville English major Shannon Laney; and Tyler Whitaker, a Nashville anthropology major.

“This regional-level contest invited 52 participants from nine universities and offered an invaluable opportunity for the students of Japanese to compete in their language skills,” says Dr. David Schmidt, vice provost for international affairs.

The MTSU contingent was supported by Dr. Priya Ananth, assistant professor of foreign languages and Japanese-language program coordinator; Dr. Noriko Mori, an MTSU foreign-languages instructor; adjunct instructor Chiaki Shima; and graduate teaching assistant Saori Endo.

For more information, contact the MTSU Office of International Affairs at 615-898-8190.

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PHOTOS ATTACHED


Celebrating its 100th anniversary and faithful to its roots as a teachers' college, MTSU continues as a top producer of teachers in Tennessee. Pride, Tradition and Excellence are the cornerstones of "Tennessee’s Best"! For MTSU news and information anytime, visit www.mtsunews.com.

[404] Off-Campus Housing Fair Links Students, Apartments for Fall

FOR RELEASE: April 19, 2012
EDITORIAL CONTACT: Valerie Avent, 615-898-5989

OFF-CAMPUS HOUSING FAIR LINKS STUDENTS, APARTMENTS FOR FALL
Free, Public Event Helps Students Make Choices for Living Arrangements

MURFREESBORO—MTSU students will have an opportunity to explore off-campus housing opportunities at the annual Off-Campus Housing Fair from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday, April 24, on the Keathley University Center knoll.

“It will be the perfect opportunity to shop for fall housing,” says Valerie Avent, assistant director of the June Anderson Center for Women and Nontraditional Students.

Vendors slated to attend with informational literature and gifts for students include CORT Furniture, The Woods at Greenland, Raiders Crossing, University Gables, The Pointe at Raiders Campus, Alder Terrace, College Grove, The Grove at Murfreesboro, University Ridge, Victoria Place, Chelsea Place and Raiders Ridge.

For more information, contact Avent at 615-898-5989 or vavent@mtsu.edu.

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Celebrating its 100th anniversary and faithful to its roots as a teachers' college, MTSU continues as a top producer of teachers in Tennessee. Pride, Tradition and Excellence are the cornerstones of "Tennessee’s Best"! For MTSU news and information anytime, visit www.mtsunews.com.

[403] Walker Library Turns Paper Chase Into Artistic Message

FOR RELEASE: April 19, 2012
EDITORIAL CONTACT: Gina Logue, 615-898-5081

WALKER LIBRARY TURNS PAPER CHASE INTO ARTISTIC MESSAGE
Art Students Raise Awareness of Paper Printing’s Impact on Costs, Ecosystem

MURFREESBORO—Thanks to the creativity of MTSU art students, patrons of the James E. Walker Library now can see the forest for the trees.

To commemorate Earth Day, students of Associate Professor Erin Anfinson’s Drawing II class fashioned a display with paper collected from a single library recycling bin. Their work festoons the windows of the reference area on the first floor.

With the words “Free Printing Has Costs” added to the display, Anfinson’s students hope to drive home the point that library funding spent on printing paper uses up money that could be spent on new technology and other resources.

Visitors to Walker Library used more than 8.3 million sheets of paper last year—the equivalent of nearly 1,000 trees.

The students who participated in the project are Ray Armstrong, Evelyn Burns-Garatoni, Sandi Caves, Sarah Denton, DeMarcus Jackson, Adrienne Johnson, Natsumi Kajisa, Jessica Kanizar, Kellie Melton, Kristine Sharp, Katie Stephens, Jaqulyn Swanson and Nicole Wolowicz.

The display will remain in place through April 27. For more information, contact Kristen Keene at 615-898-5376 or kristen.keene@mtsu.edu.

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PHOTO INCLUDED.
Celebrating its 100th anniversary and faithful to its roots as a teachers' college, MTSU continues as a top producer of teachers in Tennessee. Pride, Tradition and Excellence are the cornerstones of "Tennessee’s Best"! For MTSU news and information anytime, visit www.mtsunews.com.