By Ella Cobb

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — As the fall semester begins, senior Kennedy Garrett is settling in as Middle Tennessee State University’s 95th Student Government Association president, elected to represent the best interests of MTSU’s 20,000-member student body in cooperation with faculty and administration. 

Raised in Chattanooga, Garrett went on multiple MTSU campus tours and attended Preview Day before deciding to join the Blue Raider family. Leaning toward MTSU, Garrett said her deciding factor was meeting College of Liberal Arts Dean Leah Tolbert Lyons.

Garrett, who knew she wanted to major in political science, said Lyons made it clear that the College of Liberal Arts faculty was there to support students and provide opportunities to learn outside the classroom.  

“Not only did I feel at home when I got here, but I knew for a fact there would never be a time that I didn’t have someone who was going to care about what I was doing,” Garrett recalled.

In the spring of her freshman year, she was elected to the Freshmen Council. The next academic year, she was elected to the Senate. It was while serving as a senator that she realized she wanted to continue growing within MTSU’s Student Government Association and to serve students in other leadership roles.

During the 2025-26 academic year, Garrett served as vice president under then SGA President RJ Ware, who now serves as Student Trustee on the MTSU Board of Trustees. While in that VP role, Garrett said she felt her passion for helping students grow even more.

With her swearing in on April 23 as SGA president for the 2026-27 academic year, Garrett has her own mission focused on supporting MTSU students.

“I want to use the resources that I have been afforded and pass that along to others in whatever way,” Garrett said. “I am fortunate enough to get to act as an advocate for students.”

Garrett said that before stepping into the role of SGA president, Ware gave her advice she will never forget — she was elected for a reason; students trust her, and she should trust herself.

“I believe it’s important to recognize that not everyone gets an opportunity like this. I know it comes with great responsibility,” she said.

Garrett said the primary focus for her administration is finding new and unique ways to increase student engagement across campus. She wants to make sure SGA is bridging the gap between students and administrators, and that students feel heard by the administration.

“It’s important to recognize where student engagement is weak and change events and other factors to fit the needs and wants of students,” she said. “I want to make sure MTSU is implementing what the students are asking for.”

Garrett said transparency is another important factor to her in her role leading the SGA. She wants students to know her office on the third floor of the Student Union Building is a safe place for them and that she will take their concerns seriously.

“I am focused on continuing to water the seeds that I planted here at MTSU. With each different experience, I have been able to water more,” she explained. “In 10 years, I will hopefully have a whole garden, and then I will just be planting more seeds.” 

Garrett will graduate from MTSU next May with a bachelor’s in political science and plans to continue her education and earn a master’s degree in public administration, or a similar program. She hopes to work in public policy one day.

—  Ella Cobb ([email protected])