MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Recent Middle Tennessee State University graduate Tristan Howard has been selected as a coordinator for international relations with the highly competitive Japan Exchange and Teaching Program, or JET, placing him among the top tier of applicants worldwide. 

Fewer than 10% of all JET participants are chosen for these coordinator positions, commonly referred to as CIRs, making his selection a significant achievement for both Howard and MTSU.

“Being selected as a CIR is an incredible honor,” Howard said. “I’ve spent years studying Japanese language and culture, so having the opportunity to use those skills to build connections between communities in Japan and abroad is exciting and humbling.”

Howard graduated from MTSU this spring with dual degrees in environmental science and foreign languages, concentrating in Japanese, along with a minor in Asian studies. He is only the second MTSU student ever to earn a CIR placement, following fall 2024 graduate Brandon Toungett.

“The quality instruction provided by the faculty in the College of Liberal Arts positions students to pursue opportunities like this with a high probability of success,” said Leah Lyons, dean of the College of Liberal Arts. “Our faculty are dedicated to students’ success and go beyond their instructional responsibilities to mentor students and coach them through competitive processes like this one.”

“My classes, study abroad experiences, and involvement in student organizations all helped me develop the language skills and cross-cultural communication abilities that are essential for this role,” he said.

CIRs work directly with Japanese local governments and affiliated organizations, supporting international exchange, translation and interpretation, community outreach, and cross‑cultural programming. Responsibilities may include translating official documents, planning international events, assisting foreign residents, teaching language classes, and interpreting for visiting delegations.

“CIRs are central to the JET Program’s mission of grassroots internationalization,” said Tye Ebel, JET Program coordinator for Tennessee. “They help local governments communicate across languages and cultures while creating opportunities for residents and international visitors to interact directly.”

Ebel noted that the CIR role is one of the most competitive tracks within JET due to its requirement for advanced Japanese proficiency, typically at the N1 or N2 level of the Japanese Language Proficiency Test. Tennessee usually sees only one or two CIR selections per year.

Howard’s success comes as no surprise to Priya Ananth, professor of Japanese and program coordinator in MTSU’s Department of World Languages, Literatures, and Cultures.

“Tristan consistently ranked among the top students in my Japanese classes,” Ananth said. “His leadership roles, study abroad experiences, and extensive volunteer work, especially in cross‑cultural settings, have prepared him exceptionally well for this position.”

During his time at MTSU, Howard served as president of the Asian Arts Association Club, treasurer and safety officer for the Badminton Club, and treasurer for the World Languages and Cultures Student Club. He also interpreted for Japanese guest speakers, tutored Japanese language students, and worked in international exchange offices both at MTSU and Saitama University in Japan.

“I’m looking forward to becoming part of a local community in Japan and helping people connect across cultures,” Howard said. “The opportunity to serve as a bridge between different languages and perspectives is what drew me to the CIR role in the first place.”

Ananth emphasized that Howard’s selection reflects the strength of MTSU’s Japanese program. 

“We now have two CIRs selected in the past two years. This speaks to the quality of our faculty, our exchange partnerships in Japan, and the leadership opportunities available to our students,” she said.

Added Lyons: “The internationalization of our campus is a key priority in the College of Liberal Arts because we are preparing global citizens who can work across languages and cultures and understand the interconnectedness of the human experience. It is inherent to the academic disciplines we teach and the interdisciplinary approach we use.”

Students interested in applying for the JET Program next year can learn more at jetprogramusa.org.

MTSU leads the Southeast with participants in the JET Program. For more information, contact the director of the MTSU Undergraduate Fellowships Office at [email protected].

— Robin E. Lee ([email protected])