National media outlets recently quoted MTSU faculty experts on a wide variety of issues, including polling, free speech, women in country music, African American voters and the use of Google, among other subjects.

Kent Syler

Ken Paulson

• Kent Syler, a professor of political science and international relations, said the polling by Republican Randy Fairbanks in the Hamilton County property assessor’s race is totally valid in a Feb. 25 story in the Chattanooga Times Free Press. His comments can be read here.

• Ken Paulson, director of the Free Speech Center, explained why the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution protects political speech for a Feb. 25 report by WZTV-TV in Nashville. The video and transcript can be accessed here.

Dr. Tony Johnston

Dr. Amy Harris

• Dr. Tony Johnston, a professor of agriculture, explained what can happen to certain condiments when they are stored in the refrigerator for a Feb. 26 article in the Huffington Post. His views are available here.

Johnston also explained laboratories for MTSU’s fermentation science major in a March 2 report by WGBH-TV in Boston. The transcript is available here.

• Dr. Amy Harris, an associate professor of information systems and analytics, remarked that the Nashville area is lagging in hiring women in the technology sector of the economy for a Feb. 26 story in the Nashville Post. Her comments can be read here.

Dr. Kelly Williams

Dr. Katie Foss

• Dr. Kelly Williams, an assistant professor of accounting, co-authored an article on how to use Google more efficiently that was published March 1 in the Journal of Accountancy. It can be accessed here.

• Dr. Katie Foss, an assistant professor of media studies, analyzed media coverage of the coronavirus outbreak for a March 1 article in The New York Times. Her views are available here.

Dr. Mary A. Evins

Dr. Sekou Franklin

• Dr. Mary Evins, coordinator of the American Democracy Project and an assistant professor of history, talked about the importance of voting on the NewsChannel5+ program “MorningLine” March 2. The video can be viewed here.

• Dr. Sekou Franklin, an associate professor of political science and international relations, analyzed the importance of the “Super Tuesday” primary to former Vice President Joe Biden’s presidential campaign in a March 3 story by Courthouse News Service. His comments can be read here.

Franklin also assessed the likely inclinations of African American voters in the November 2020 election for a March 4 editorial in The New York Times Online. His views can be accessed here.

Beverly Keel

Dr. Charlie Apigian

• Beverly Keel, dean of the College of Media and Entertainment, penned an editorial advocating equal treatment of women in country music that was published March 4 in The Tennessean. Her opinions are available here.

Keel also hailed the emergence of a Nashville Banner website that will provide readers with local news in a March 6 story in the Nashville Ledger. Her views can be read here.

• Dr. Charles Apigian, a professor of information systems and analytics, wrote an editorial stating that universities must train data scientists for the workplace in a March 5 editorial in The Tennessean. His perspectives can be read here.

• Dr. Alisa Haas, an assistant professor of geosciences, co-authored an article asserting that better warning systems are needed to alert the public to the possibility of tornadoes striking at night that was published March 5 at www.theconversation.com. The story can be accessed here.

Reporters seeking expertise from MTSU personnel, as well as members of the campus community with expertise for media, may contact Gina Logue in the Office of News and Media Relations at 615-898-5081 or via email at gina.logue@mtsu.edu.