MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — The February episode of “Out of the Blue,” Middle Tennessee State University’s television program, takes viewers into the College of Education to highlight the people and programs shaping teaching, learning, and community support at MTSU.

This special edition focuses on nationally funded research, campuswide giving, and new efforts to strengthen alumni and community partnerships.

This month’s guests were interviewed by program host Andrew Oppmann, vice president of the Division of Marketing and Communications, inside the College of Education Building on the east side of campus.

February’s guests include:

• Kevin Krahenbul, director of MTSU’s Ed.D. program in Assessment, Learning, and Student Success, discusses a nearly $3 million grant from the National Science Foundation supporting LEADS — Leaders in Education Advancing Data Science.

The five-year initiative will support 16 educators from the local area who are currently teaching in data science–focused classrooms. Through the LEADS program, participants receive full funding to pursue advanced graduate degrees at MTSU, earning either an Education Specialist (Ed.S.) or Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) degree while continuing to teach.

• Karli Sutton, reporter for True Blue TV, shares how February is dedicated to True Blue Give, MTSU’s annual fundraising initiative that allows alumni, students, faculty, staff and community members to give back to the colleges and programs they care about most.

Now in its ninth year, True Blue Give has made a lasting impact across campus, supporting scholarships, student resources and programs that benefit the MTSU community. The segment highlights how even small contributions during the month can make a meaningful difference for students.

• Caroline Haynes, the College of Education’s new development director, outlines her goals for the year ahead. Her focus includes growing alumni engagement and building new partnerships that support students, faculty and academic programs within the college.

Haynes shares how strengthening relationships with alumni and community partners plays a key role in advancing opportunities and sustaining the College of Education’s mission.

You can watch the full episode below:

Ways to watch, listen

• “Out of the Blue” is available anytime on the university’s YouTube channel, the True Blue TV channel, Roku, Apple TV and Amazon Fire TV.

• It also airs on Murfreesboro cable Channel 9 daily at 6 a.m., 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.; NewsChannel5+ at 6:30 p.m. Sundays; WKRN+ at 7 p.m. Thursdays and noon Sundays; and streamed on the MTSU Jazz Network through WMOT.org at 7 a.m. on the first Sunday of each month; and on other cable outlets in Middle Tennessee, so check local listings.

• It is also available as a podcast on iTunes and Google Play and as individual interview segments on Spotify at https://spoti.fi/453hxg3.

Watch previous episodes of “Out of the Blue” at https://mtsunews.com/out-of-the-blue.

— Karli Sutton (Karli.Sutton@mtsu.edu)