Achievement among MTSU’s faculty

 A Literary First

Collage literary magazine received its first Gold Crown Award—the highest given to a student print or online publication—from the Columbia Scholastic Press Association, an international student press association founded in 1925. Collage was one of only seven magazines in the nation to receive the award. Marsha Powers serves as coordinator of special projects and publications for the Honors College at MTSU, which produces Collage.

Atta Boy, Roy

MTSU’s Dr. Don Roy was recognized by MBAPrograms.org as one of the top 50 business school professors to follow on Twitter. The list includes business professors from all over the world who use the social media site to network with others in the field and muse about developments in the business world. Roy was also listed number 65 on Social Media Marketing magazine’s list of top marketing professors.

Coast to Coast

Professor Cliff Ricketts achieved a career goal of driving coast-to-coast on 10 gallons or less of gasoline purchased at the pump. Ricketts and his eight-member support team drove three Toyota hybrid alternative-fuel vehicles approximately 2,582 miles across the country, using only about 2.15 gallons of fuel purchased at the gas pump. Upon achieving his goal, Ricketts, who has spent 36 years as an MTSU faculty member and invested 34 years into research of alternative fuels, took off his shoes and socks, waded into the nearby Pacific Ocean and let out a large whoop. He is already planning a similar coast-to-coast trip in 2013—that one using sun and water alone. At the time of Ricketts’ journey in March, national average gas prices were $3.76 for regular, $3.90 for mid-grade and $4.04 for premium. The amazing journey was covered by media stalwarts including USA Today and ABC News.

Fine Art

Dr. Bonnie B. Rushlow, associate professor of art education, was selected by the National Art Education Association—the professional association for art educators—to receive the 2012 National Art Educator of the Year Award. The award was presented at the NAEA national convention in New York in March.

Battlefield Promotion

The Library of Congress released the first issue of Teaching with Primary Sources Journal, and it was all about the MTSU Center for Historic Preservation’s work in Tennessee teaching the Civil War era in a multidisciplinary context. Thousands of teachers across the nation will read the edition, and many will, in turn, use the materials in their classrooms. “Teaching about the Civil War with primary sources— original documents and objects which were created at the time under study—provides opportunities for expanding this familiar topic in history into subject areas as varied as geography, language arts, and science,” the Journal said, “giving students unique opportunities to discover how this epic struggle bled into nearly every aspect of American life.” Carroll Van West directs the Teaching with Primary Sources program at MTSU and is the director of the Center for Historic Preservation.

From Combat to the Classroom

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and MTSU entered into a partnership called VetSuccess on Campus to ease the transition of veterans from combat to campus. MTSU is the first university in Tennessee and one of only 16 nationwide to be a part of VetSuccess. MTSU is the number-one choice of Tennessee veterans and, for two years running, G.I. Jobs Magazine has named the university a “Military-Friendly Campus.”

Media Savvy

The Tennessean announced a partnership with MTSU to launch Brainstorm Nashville, a digital hub for civic engagement designed to foster community problem solving. The joint initiative launched with childhood obesity as its marquee topic. (Tennessee’s childhood obesity rate teeters close to 21 percent, the sixth highest in the country.) Successes achieved through Brainstorm Nashville are being celebrated online, in print, through social media, and in real life. Maria De Varenne, executive editor and vice president of The Tennessean, describes Brainstorm Nashville as the “editorial page of the future,” and a “catalyst for community action.” MTSU and The Tennessean combined forces for a “Tweetup,” a gathering of people who use Twitter, on the topic of childhood obesity in March. Gov. Bill Haslam participated. For more, visit www.brainstormnashville.com.