MURFREESBORO — An
MTSU alumnus whose political career has taken him from the state’s capital to
the nation’s capital will return to campus to share his experiences.
Jim Free will join Louis Kyriakoudes, director of the Albert
Gore Research Center, in a discussion during Kyriakoudes’ “Southern Politics
and Policy, 1890-2000” class at 4 p.m. Monday, Nov. 13, in Room 219 of Peck
Hall.
In addition, Free will help Kent Syler, an assistant
professor of political science, teach two sections of “Introduction to American
Government and Politics” from 9:40 to 11:05 a.m. and from 2:40 to 4:05 p.m.
Tuesday, Nov. 14, in Room 211 of Peck Hall.
Free will join Syler’s “Political Campaign Management” class
for questions and answers from 4:20 to 5:45 p.m. on Tuesday also in Peck 211. The
public is welcome to attend all Syler’s classes, but seating will be limited.
“Free was class president in 1968 and has built a
distinguished career in government and business,” said Syler.
Free earned his bachelor’s degree in political science in 1969
and his master’s degree in public administration in 1972, both from MTSU. After
graduation he served as his alma mater’s director of admissions and later as a
vice president’s assistant at the University of Tennessee.
A former administrative assistant to Ned McWherter when
McWherter was speaker of the Tennessee House of Representatives, Free
eventually rose to chief clerk of the House. In 1977, he was hired as special
assistant for congressional affairs to President Jimmy Carter, advocating
Carter’s positions on transportation, trade and environmental issues.
Over the next three decades beginning in 1981, Free
represented major global companies in areas such as energy, entertainment,
communications, health care, financial services and transportation for two
consulting firms.
The Columbia, Tennessee, native and his wife, Ann, continue
to support his alma mater by endowing the Jim and Ann Free Endowed Scholarship
in Music Business at MTSU. His professional papers and a video oral history
will be housed at the Gore Center.
A searchable campus parking map is available at http://tinyurl.com/MTSUParkingMap.
Off-campus visitors attending Syler’s classes should obtain a one-day permit
from MTSU’s Office of Parking and Transportation at 1403 E. Main St. or online
at http://www.mtsu.edu/parking/visit.php.
For more information, contact Syler at 615-898-2708 or
kent.syler@mtsu.edu.
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