MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Middle Tennessee State University faculty and staff recently provided the media with their perspectives on various issues, including the fall of the Assad regime, voting concerns, copper wire theft and loan advice.

Dr. Andrew Polk, associate professor of history, was featured Sept. 27 on the “Faith and Politics” YouTube channel discussing the case of a parolee forced into religious practices. Watch the show.

• Dr. Sean Foley, a professor of history who specializes in Middle East and Asian politics and culture, talked with radio hosts Eric Thomas and Margie Shafer Sept. 30 on KCBS-AM/FM about the Israel-Hezbollah clash. Listen to the show.

Foley was interviewed Oct. 1 on “The Deb Hutton Show on Newstalk 1010 about Iran’s attack on Israel. Listen to the show.

Foley was interviewed Oct. 1 on KCBS-AM/FM about Iran’s airstrike in Israel. Listen to the show.

Foley was interviewed Oct. 3 on The Evan Bray Show on CKOM-AM 650 — a Canadian radio station — about clashes between Israel and Hezbollah. Listen to the show.

Foley talked with Jim Richards of Newstalk 1010 — a major AM radio station in Toronto, Ontario — on Oct. 20 with an update on the conflict in the Middle East. Listen to the interview.

Foley was interviewed by TRT World magazine Dec. 8 about the fall of the Assad regime in Syria. Read the article.

Kent Syler, political science professor, talked with The Tennessean about Megan Barry’s bid for U.S. Congress. Read the article from Oct. 18.

Leon Alligood, professor emeritus in the School of Journalism and Strategic Media, was honored Oct. 20 as teacher of the Year by the Scripps Howard Awards that were featured on WTVF-TV NewsChannel 5. Read the article.

Dr. Charlie Baum, economics professor, answers questions from The Daily News Journal on Oct. 22 about the upcoming election as he faces off with Cheri Brown. Read the article.

Ken Paulson, director of the Free Speech Center, was interviewed Oct. 28 on the Jim Richards Show on Newstalk 1010 — a major AM radio station in Toronto, Ontario — about the decisions to refrain from endorsing a presidential candidate by LA Times and Washington Post. Listen to the show.

Dr. Christabel Devadoss, assistant professor of global studies and human geography, shared commentary on the voting concerns of marginalized populations in The Conversation. Read the article published Oct. 31.

Dr. Sam Zaza, associate professor of computer information systems, talked with WTVF-TV News Channel 5 Nov. 7 about racist texts messages sent to Nashville-area youth. Watch the segment.

Dr. Benjamin Jansen, assistant professor of finance, talked with WKRN-TV News 2 on

Nov. 8 about the effects of a 4% tax reduction rate on groceries. Watch the segment.

Jansen talked with WalletHub Dec. 1 about the best personal loans with a cosigner. Read his commentary.

Jansen talked with WalletHub about the best consolidation loans. Read his commentary.

Rod Key, career advisor in the Charlie and Hazel Daniels Veterans and Military Family Center, shared tips for transitioning from military to civilian life with MoneyGeek on Nov. 8. Read his commentary.

Dr. Carter Smith, criminal justice administration professor, was interviewed by WZTV-TV Fox 17 Nov. 15 about Venezuelan gang activity. Watch the segment.   

Dr. Elizabeth Barnes, assistant professor of biology, coauthored a study published Dec. 4 in the Public Library of Science that examined conflict reduction when teaching evolution. Read the study. An article based on the study was published Dec. 4 on Phys.org.

Dr. Ben Stickle, criminal justice administration professor, talked with Greensboro, North Carolina Fox affiliate WGHP-TV Nov. 13 about the rise in package theft in the state. Watch the segment and read the article.

Stickle talked with The New York Times about how to foil porch pirates. Read the Nov. 29 article.

Stickle was interviewed Dec. 2 by Charlotte, North Carolina Fox affiliate WSOC-TV about a porch pirate who stole a child’s medication. Watch the segment.

Stickle testified in front of the Canadian Parliament regarding copper wire theft on Dec. 11. Watch his testimony.

Dr. Saleh Sbenaty, professor of engineering, was interviewed Dec. 9 by WKRN-TV News 2 about the fall of the Assad regime in his home country of Syria. Watch the segment.

Sbenaty’s commentary on Assad was featured on The Pinnacle Gazette Dec. 10. Read the article.

Dr. Melissa Cohen, finance lecturer, talked with WalletHub Dec. 18 about the best installment loans. Read the article.

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