MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — For Middle Tennessee State University College of Liberal Arts advisor Lee Anne Carmack, community involvement means showing up — for students, the arts and her community.

She is now bringing her spirit and civic pride to her new position as co-president of the League of Women Voters of Murfreesboro/Rutherford County, a nonpartisan grassroots nonprofit working to engage voters and defend democracy.

“It is just in my DNA to try to improve my community. I aspire to make folks more knowledgeable about local government and elections,” said Carmack, who stepped into the role last year as incoming co-president, now serves as rising co-president and will serve another year as past president.

One of the biggest motivations behind the League of Women Voters is encouraging voter participation in a state with historically low turnouts.

“I just want people to know that their vote really does count. We had a few races this August that were decided by a handful of votes. Local government has the most influence in our daily lives, yet voters tend to neglect these elections,” Carmack said.

The former adjunct professor and MTSU alumna brings decades of experience in communications, leadership and service. Her career has taken her from corporate America to higher education, building an extensive network of arts and civic organizations throughout Rutherford County along the way.

“Making sure the arts survive inside and outside of the classroom is my passion,” Carmack noted, “but so is voter engagement and women’s rights because they are all intertwined.”

Leadership, civic engagement keys to success

Carmack spent 10 years with General Motors/Saturn Corp., holding leadership positions as internal communications manager, Saturn University project leader, and instructional design and development team member.

“My platform this year for the LWV is partnerships. There are other great nonpartisan organizations in Murfreesboro doing good work, but when we are partners, we can do great work. In the Aug. 6 election, voter turnout rose from 10% to 18% (an 80% increase from 2024), which is awesome, but this also means 180,000 registered voters did not participate, which is not awesome,” said Carmack.

Through the League’s Board Buddies initiative, members connect with other nonprofit organizations to find opportunities to work together. For Carmack, the goal is to create relationships that make the community stronger and improve voter turnout.

That approach comes naturally to someone whose community involvement spans more than two decades.

Carmack has held leadership roles with the American Association of University Women and has been involved with the Center for the Arts in Murfreesboro, Rutherford Arts Alliance and Blue Moves Modern Dance Company. She was also part of the Rutherford Cable Board that brought the International Athena Awards to Rutherford County.

Connecting and community engagement

Her connection to the arts runs particularly deep. At MTSU, where she earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees and previously taught as an adjunct professor, Carmack sees her role as an advisor as another opportunity to help people make connections.

“Engagement is key. So, whether you’re a first-time freshman or a graduating senior, there is always a way to engage on campus. I try to make those introductions because joining MPAC (Murfreesboro Performing Arts Company) when I was a sophomore changed the trajectory of my life. I believe student success increases exponentially when you are involved in campus organizations or causes,” Carmack said.

League member Samantha Weir, a master instructor in the Human Development and Family Science Program in the College of Education, has seen Carmack’s passion for helping others firsthand.

“She’s very energetic. She’s compassionate. She cares about all the things,” Weir said. “She also loves working with young people.”

Weir said Carmack helps students connect what they learn at MTSU with opportunities to become involved in their communities.

“I think it starts small, right?” Weir said. “When you figure out how you’re impacted — maybe in your community organization or in your neighborhood or at school — how can you connect those things and then be more engaged civically, more engaged in your community and your schooling?”

The League of Women Voters has also maintained a longtime connection with MTSU through Constitution Day and Constitution Week activities, including voter registration efforts and opportunities for students to learn more about civic engagement.

Carmack hopes those interactions leave students with a lasting connection to the organization — and to their community.

“When MTSU students connect with the League of Women Voters, we aren’t just engaging in a campus activity — we are building a bridge between the True Blue community and the future of Murfreesboro’s civic engagement,” Carmack said.

The League of Women Voters also established an internship for MTSU students through the Department of Political and Global Affairs. Through the internship, students will gain real-world experience organizing voter registration drives, educating peers on ballot issues and hosting community forums. For more details, email [email protected].

— Nancy DeGenanro ([email protected])