MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Middle Tennessee State University received top honors from the Tennessee Department of Health at the Building an Age-Friendly Public Health System Conference hosted by the state’s Office on Healthy Aging over the summer.

Deborah Lee, holder of the NHC Chair of Excellence in Nursing and director of the Positive Aging Consortium initiative at MTSU, was a speaker at the event and accepted the award on behalf of the university.

“Getting recognized at the state levelfor MTSU and the work that we’re doing to help was nice,” said Lee, who was presented the award by Tennessee Department of Health Commissioner John Dunn and Sally Pitt, director of the Office of Healthy Aging.

In December 2024, MTSU became the first higher-education institution in the state to earn membership in the internationally recognized Age-Friendly University Global Network, or AFUGN, and the effort did not go unnoticed.

“This achievement aligns with our state’s public health goals enhancing the quality of life for older Tennesseans,” said Dunn, who Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee appointed in July. “The AFU designation identifies supportive environments that promote healthy aging and active participation in community life.”

Because MTSU is the only higher education institution in the state to receive the designation to date, Deborah Lee was tapped to speak at the August conference about how age-inclusive universities fit into the age-positive public health ecosystem.

“It was a call to action for other universities to also step up to the plate and get designated as well,” Lee said. “And I think it showed it’s not a difficult thing to do. It doesn’t cost any money, and it’s not a big endeavor, but you need some activities and time to gather data. Getting the designation is important, as it draws older adults to your university.”

However, Lee had no idea MTSU was receiving an award for efforts to be inclusive and supportive of the aging population.

“It was a nice surprise,” said Lee, who worked closely with Brandon Grubbs, associate professor of exercise physiology and cofounder of the Positive Aging Consortium, to compile data and apply for the designation.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 2034 is a historic milestone, as older adults — 65 and older — will outnumber youth 18 and younger for the first time in U.S. history, Lee explained.

“This presents a unique opportunity for universities to engage with this population. Older adults continue learning and growing, and social connection and purpose are crucial for longevity,” Lee said. “Universities can provide programming that fosters social connection and stimulates learning for both older and younger adults. Our Aging Studies program addresses this need.”

Positive Aging Conference 2026

One of the projects to provide positive aging opportunities is through the biennial Positive Aging Conference set for Friday, April 17, 2026, at MTSU’s Miller Education Center, located at 503 E. Bell St.

Dr. Cathy Maxwell, the Robert L. and Joyce T. Rice Presidential Endowed Chair in Healthy Aging at the University of Utah, will serve as keynote speaker for the all-day conference that also features breakout sessions and meals.

First held in 2022, the event is sponsored by the MTSU Positive Aging Consortium.

“With initiatives like their highly successful Positive Aging Consortium, Dr. Lee and MTSU are well-positioned to contribute to our state’s expanding age-friendly ecosystem,” Pitt said.

The Positive Aging Consortium serves as a catalyst to support the community of aging adults and provide information and resources for them to live the best lives they can, Lee noted.

“It’s our goal to promote positive aging. We know that when people have more years of health, they usually have better quality of life and that’s what we also want for older adults,” Lee said. “And it’s a great way to help educate our students about these things and the practices we can do to help support older adults.”

— Nancy DeGennaro (Nancy.DeGennaro@mtsu.edu)