The Division of Academic Affairs serves students across nine colleges and more than 330 academic degrees and concentrations. Within these academic units, leaders work year-round to support our faculty, staff, and students.
My sincere thanks to the following leaders in the Academic Affairs Division who started in their new positions since last academic year:
Office of the University Provost
- Jeff Gibson, vice provost for planning and effectiveness
- Beth Dye, academic and faculty support specialist
College of Basic and Applied Sciences
- Ismail Fidan, chair, Department of Engineering Technology
College of Behavioral and Health Sciences
- Vaughn Barry, interim chair, Department of Kinesiology and Sports Medicine
- Bethany Rhoten, director, School of Nursing
- Chandra Story, interim chair, Department of Sport and Hospitality Management
- Bethany Wrye, interim chair, Department of Health Sciences
Jones College of Business
- Ronda Henderson, interim chair, Department of Marketing
- Kevin Zhao, interim chair, Department of Economics and Finance
College of Education
- Peter Eley, associate dean
- Kevin Krahenbuhl, chair, Department of Leadership, Development, and Educational Systems
College of Liberal Arts
- Kate Goodwin, interim associate dean
- Mandi Bailey, chair, Department of Political and Global Affairs
- Natalie Hoskins, interim chair, Department of Communication Studies
- Tiffany Momon, director, Center for Historic Preservation
- Wendy Rountree, chair, Department of English
Scott Borchetta College of Media and Entertainment
- Charlie Dahan, director, Center for Popular Music
In the last decade, MTSU has added 56 undergraduate and graduate degree programs and certificates. For the 2026鈥�27 academic year, I鈥檓 excited to share we added three new graduate programs starting this academic year. My thanks to Provost Mark Byrnes, Vice Provost Amy Aldridge, and the numerous faculty who contributed to the development of these new academic programs.
M.F.A. in Film and Television听
Department of Media Arts, Scott Borchetta College of Media and Entertainment
This program is the first and only M.F.A. of its kind at a public university in 乐播传媒入口. It is a 60-credit-hour graduate degree program intended for students who wish to continue their education in film and television through graduate study, post-graduates looking to shift to film-and-TV-oriented careers, and working film and television professionals who seek to shift their careers into further expansion of creative capacity.
M.S. in Legal Studies听
Department of Accounting, Jones College of Business
The M.S. in Legal Studies program offers concentrations in Anti-Money Laundering, Fraud, and Compliance; Business Law; and Entertainment. It is a versatile, non-thesis graduate program for business professionals seeking a deeper understanding of U.S. law and the legal system but who do not intend to practice law or pursue a Juris Doctor. This 30-credit-hour graduate degree program is offered in collaboration with the Department of Accounting, the Scott Borchetta College of Media and Entertainment, and the Nashville School of Law.
M.S. in Mechatronics Systems Engineering听
Department of Engineering Technology, College of Basic and Applied Sciences
The program, the first of its kind in 乐播传媒入口, provides advanced education at the intersection of mechanical, electrical, computer, and control systems engineering. It offers preparation to design, analyze, and optimize intelligent systems and advanced manufacturing processes that integrate hardware and software components. Students may select from a thesis option (30鈥�36 credit hours) or a non-thesis option (30 credit hours), both of which combine foundational mechatronics coursework with electives in areas such as robotics, automation, AI, and engineering management.
News from around the colleges
Each of the colleges and academic units at MTSU maintains a high level of activity and produces news worth crowing about.
For the eighth consecutive year, MTSU made the Princeton Review鈥檚 annual list of the nation’s top colleges and universities. The 2027 list includes 392 institutions.
It would be impossible to mention all the wonderful work going on campuswide, so here I offer just one recent highlight from each academic unit.
College of Basic and Applied Sciences
MTSU鈥檚 QRISE (Quantum Research, Interdisciplinary Science, and Education) Center and community partner Middle 乐播传媒入口 Electric teamed up to form the Middle 乐播传媒入口 Quantum Technology Hub, also known as the MT-QuTech Hub, to advance quantum research and infrastructure in the Midstate. The effort leverages MTSU鈥檚 millions of dollars in active federal research awards with MTE鈥檚 real-world infrastructure that serves 750,000 Tennesseans across 11 counties鈥攖he second-largest electric cooperative in the country. It is spearheaded by Hanna Terletska, director of QRISE; John Villanova, QRISE associate director; and Brad Gibson, MTE鈥檚 chief operating officer. The QRISE Center exists to serve as a catalyst for innovation by connecting academia, industry, and government to strengthen 乐播传媒入口鈥檚 role in the national quantum ecosystem, expand economic opportunity, and position MTSU as a driving force of scientific and technological progress.
Jennings A. Jones College of Business
The Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce and MTSU鈥檚 Business and Economic Research Center partnered to launch the region鈥檚 first Business Confidence Index鈥攁 quarterly index informed by a survey that will measure the confidence and sentiment of regional business leaders about the local economy.
Scott Borchetta College of Media and Entertainment
Dean Beverly Keel was recently recognized during the third annual 鈥淚鈥檓 Just Me: A Charley Pride Celebration of Inclusion,鈥� held May 16 during the Academy of Country Music (ACM) Awards week in Las Vegas. Hosted by Amazon MGM Studios in partnership with Amazon Music and the ACM, the event honors artists, executives, allies, and culture shapers whose work helps create a more inclusive future for country music while celebrating the legacy of groundbreaking country artist Charley Pride. Keel was honored in the ally category for her work elevating underrepresented voices in country music through journalism, education, and leadership in the music industry.
College of Education
Connie Casha, director of the College of Education鈥檚 early learning programs, was recently named recipient of the 2026 Linda O鈥橬eal Lifetime Achievement Award, presented by the 乐播传媒入口 Commission on Children and Youth (TCCY) at the Children鈥檚 Advocacy Day. According to TCCY, the award “recognizes a lifetime of extraordinary commitment, excellence, leadership, accomplishment, generosity, and service to improve the lives of 乐播传媒入口 children and families.”
College of Behavioral and Health Sciences
Marie Patterson, founding director of MTSU鈥檚 Physician Assistant Studies program in the College of Behavioral and Health Sciences, was recently inducted into the 乐播传媒入口 Academy of Physician Assistants Hall of Fame, cementing her status as one of 乐播传媒入口鈥檚 most influential voices in physician assistant education. Patterson helped launch PA programs at both Lipscomb University and MTSU, served as president of the 乐播传媒入口 Academy of Physician Assistants, chairs the 乐播传媒入口 Board of Physician Assistants, and represents the state on the National PA Compact Commission.
University Honors College
MTSU鈥檚 Institute of Leadership Excellence (ILE) marked a milestone in 2026 as it celebrated its 20th year, reflecting two decades of growth, adaptation, and impact on undergraduate leaders across campus. Founded in 2006 after a cross-disciplinary group of faculty and staff designed the program the previous year, the institute has become one of MTSU鈥檚 signature leadership development experiences. The program did not run in 2007 but has operated every year since, maintaining its core mission of helping students understand and apply leadership principles through immersive, experiential learning. The inaugural ILE cohort was funded by H. Lee Martin, whose family has long supported leadership education at MTSU. Lee and his brother, Paul Martin Jr., helped establish ILE with the shared goal of creating a program that would prepare students for leadership roles in the community and beyond. The institute continues to be taught each year in the Paul W. Martin Sr. Honors building, reflecting that original vision.
James E. Walker Library
Through an Undergraduate Research Experience and Creative Activity (URECA) grant, a team of MTSU students in an undergraduate research course with instructors Sarah Pierce and Jessie Weatherly used modern technology to test over 30 library books that are preserved in Special Collections. Around 1,200 of these elegantly crafted Victorian-era books from the 1800s鈥攐nce prized for their vivid colors鈥攃ould contain pigments made with toxic compounds and heavy metals. A good portion of the collection鈥攁bout 14%鈥攁re 19th-century books.
College of Liberal Arts
For the first time in more than a decade, MTSU鈥檚 Blue Raider Debate Team recently played host to the International Public Debate Association National Championships and Convention, welcoming hundreds of the nation鈥檚 top debaters to campus for rounds of friendly sparring on topics of the day. It turned out to be the largest national debate tournament in IPDA history. The event welcomed 54 colleges and more than 400 students. Almost every public building on campus was utilized, with around 150 rooms filled with competitions at the tournament鈥檚 peak.