MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Middle Tennessee State University representatives recently appeared on WGNS Radio to discuss the slate of New to Blue student orientations over the summer, a biology professor’s grant to study bees, and a special exhibit curated by MTSU as part of America’s 250th birthday celebration.
They appeared on the live “Action Line” program with host Scott Walker, broadcast on FM 100.5, 101.9 and AM 1450 from the WGNS studio in downtown Murfreesboro. If you missed it, you can listen to the podcast of the June 15 segments by clicking the links at the end of each section below.
Guests for the program, in order of appearance, included:
• Gina Poff, director of New Student and Family Programs, discussed MTSU’s full summer of New to Blue Orientations to welcome incoming first-year and transfer students.
The 2026 New to Blue orientations have been held weekly this spring and summer and will continue through the beginning of August. All daylong orientation sessions kick off in the Student Union Ballroom on the east side of campus, followed by campus tours led by student guides, information on financing, academic advising and class registration, and the Meet MT student organization fair in the Campus Recreation Center.
Upcoming New to Blue dates for incoming first-year students are July 8, 10, 21, 23 and 30. Transfer student dates are July 15 and 28 and Aug. 4. To register, visit https://www.mtsu.edu/orientation/. Listen to the segment.
• Dr. Manuel Giannoni-Guzman, assistant professor of biology, discussed a grant he’s been awarded to study the circadian clock in bees to help protect the species in the quest to preserve the human food supply.
Giannoni-Guzman has deep expertise in circadian biology and neuroscience, specializing in the development of molecular tools to investigate the neural mechanisms of circadian rhythms. He received a $200,000 one-year grant from the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, titled “Unraveling the neuromolecular mechanisms of the honey bee circadian clock: Towards sustainable pollinator health and resilience.”
He has a half-dozen hives on a portion of the MTSU Small Farm in Lascassas. He uses grad and undergrad students for the project. Listen to the segment.
• Dr. John Vile, dean of University Honors College; Dr. Amy Sayward, history professor, director of the American Democracy Project and co-leader of MTSU’s 250th celebration project; and Nancy Prescott, student engagement coordinator for the Honors College, discussed the opening of a special summer exhibit titled “250 Years of Commemorating American Independence,” at Cannonsburgh Village.
MTSU’s American Democracy Project and Cannonsburgh near downtown Murfreesboro partnered on the exhibit, created in collaboration with Vile.
Now through Monday, Aug. 31, this immersive exhibit explores how Americans have celebrated independence across generations — all set within Cannonsburgh’s vivid recreation of 19th- and early 20th-century Tennessee life. People can view the exhibit during the Cannonsburgh Celebration Day from 3-5 p.m. on Thursday, June 26.
The exhibit will also be open during the “Lunch and Learn” series leading into the 4th of July weekend. During that week, people can bring their lunch and learn more about the American Revolution, starting on Tuesday, June 30, and running up to Friday, July 3.
The exhibit will culminate on Aug. 31 at 3 p.m. with the opening lecture of the Fall 2026 Buchanan Lecture Series at the Cannonsburgh. The exhibit and lecture are part of the MTSU Semiquincentennial event series. Listen to the segment.
Students, faculty and staff who are interested in guesting on WGNS to promote their MTSU-related activities should contact Jimmy Hart, senior director of MTSU News and Media Relations, at 615-898-5131 or via email at [email protected].
NO COMMENT