In the News: MTSU faculty talk prison education, Trump’s first 100 days, tariffs, snakes falling from the sky, more

In the News-short mark graphic-rev white

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Middle Tennessee State University faculty and staff recently provided the media with their perspectives on various issues, including tariffs, prison education, President Donald Trump’s first 100 days in office and snakes falling from the sky.

Dr. Richard J. Tarpey, Department of Management — Dr. Richard Tarpey

Ariel Herrin, director of equestrian programs and coach of the MTSU Equestrian Team in the School of Agriculture — Ariel Higgins

• Dr. Richard Tarpey, assistant professor of management, talked with WTVF-TV NewsChannel 5 on April 11 about the effects of international trade on Tennessee. Watch the segment.

• Ariel Higgins, director of equestrian programs, talked with GoHorseShow April 11 about what owners can do after their show horse is retired. Read the article.

• Dr. Vincent Cobb, biology professor, addressed the reasons a snake could (and did) fall from the sky in the April 14 Reader’s Digest edition. Read the article.

Dr. Daniel Smith, director of the Political Economy Research Institute; associate professor in Economics and Finance — Dr. Daniel Smith

• Dr. Greg Nagel, finance professor, shared commentary on the CEO-worker pay gap in the United States in an April 15 Fortune magazine article. Read his commentary.

• Dr. Daniel J. Smith, economics professor and director of the Political Economy Research Institute, talked with CapCon April 16 about zoning laws that restrict chain stores from building in Michigan communities. Read the article.

Smith shared his opinion in a May 6 Tennessean article about the negative economic effects for Tennessee residents who are reeling from the effects of recent tariffs. Read the article.

Dr. Steven Sprick Schuster, assistant professor of economics and member of the Political Economy Research Institute at MTSU — Dr. Steven Sprick Schuster

• Dr. Steven Sprick Schuster, associate professor of economics, talked with the Red Hook Star Revue April 16 about corporations taking interest in municipal elections. Read the article.

• Sprick Schuster and Dr. Ben Stickle, criminal justice administration professor, shared thoughts on the value of educating prisoners in an opinion piece for the Tennessean on May 8. Read the article.

• Dr. John Vile, Honors College dean, was featured in a PolitiFact article April 17 about Trump’s first 100 days as president. Read the article.

Vile weighed in on deportation on The Law Unscripted podcast May 1. Watch the segment.

• Kent Syler, political science professor, gives a video tour and talks about the Albert Gore Research Center at MTSU on the April 21 episode of Convos with Aaron. Watch the program.

Dr. Jessica Gaby, assistant professor, psychology — Dr. Jessica Gaby

Ken Paulson, director, Free Speech Center at MTSU, College of Media and Entertainment — Ken Paulson

• Dr. Jessica Gaby, assistant professor of psychology, was featured April 21 on Earth.com on the link between scent and friendship circles. Read the article.

• Ken Paulson, director of the Free Speech Center at MTSU, talked with AL.com April 22 about the ongoing First Amendment disputes at Alabama libraries. Read the article.

Dr. Melissa Cohen, faculty, economics and finance — Dr. Melissa Cohen

Dr. Sean Salter, associate professor, Economics and Finance — Dr. Sean Salter

• Dr. Sean Salter, associate professor of economics, talked with Homes.com May 1 about the trend in falling interest rates. Read the article.

• Dr. Sekou Franklin, political science professor, talked with the Tennessean May 12 about challenges with restoring voter rights. Read the article.

• Dr. Melissa Cohen, finance lecturer, talked with WalletHub May 13 about budgeting. Read the article.

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