MTSU faculty and staff experts recently shared their expertise with reporters on various topics such as human resource software, the Middle East, the U.S. census, Halloween safety and fermentation science, among other topics.

Kent Syler

Beverly Keel

• Kent Syler, a professor of political science and international relations, speculated about how a Republican rush to fill the late Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s U.S. Supreme Court seat might affect the November elections in a Sept. 19 story in The Tennessean and other newspapers. His views can be read here.

Syler analyzed the first presidential debate between President Donald Trump and former vice president Joe Biden in a Sept. 29 interview on WSMV-TV in Nashville. The video is available here.

• Beverly Keel, dean of the College of Media and Entertainment, questioned whether streaming concerts online will provide musicians with the revenue they need in a Sept. 20 story at www.nbcnews.com. Her comments can be accessed here.

Dr. Debra Sells

Lisa Schrader

• Dr. Debra Sells, vice president of student affairs and vice provost for enrollment management, talked about MTSU’s enrollment increase during the COVID-19 pandemic in a Sept. 21 report on WSMV-TV in Nashville. The video is available here.

• Lisa Schrader, director of health promotion, suggested ways to have a safe Halloween during the COVID-19 pandemic for a Sept. 21 article at www.collegemagazine.com. Her comments can be read here.

Dr. Richard Tarpey

Dr. Tony Johnston

• Dr. Richard Tarpey, an assistant professor of management, commented on the responsibility of businesses to provide Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, or HIPAA, compliance programs for remote workers as well as on-site workers for the September 2020 edition of the Healthcare Risk Management newsletter. His remarks are available here.

• Dr. Tony Johnston, a professor of agriculture, explained the purpose of a three-year, $300,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to MTSU’s Fermentation Science Program in a Sept. 22 article in the Tullahoma (Tennessee) News. The story is available here.

Dr. Mary A. Evins

Kathy Musselman

• Dr. Mary Evins, coordinator of the American Democracy Project and research history professor, encouraged participation in the 2020 census in a Sept. 22 story by the Daily News Journal of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Her remarks can be read here.

• Kathy Musselman, assistant vice president and director of human resource services, announced MTSU’s partnership with PageUp talent management software in a Sept. 23 story at www.techrseries.com. Her comments can be read here.

Dr. Mary Nichols

Dr. Sean Foley

• Dr. Mary Nichols, a retired media arts professor, talked about her volunteer experience with the American Red Cross in a Sept. 26 story for WGNS Radio in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Her comments are available here.

• Dr. Sean Foley, a professor of history, analyzed economic aspects of Israel’s normalization of relations with Bahrain and United Arab Emirates for a Sept. 27 article at www.dailysabah.com. His remarks can be read here.

Dr. Jackie Gilbert

Dr. Paul Osterfield

• Dr. Jackie Gilbert, a professor of management, explained what will make racial and social justice programs work in the private sector in the September 2020 issue of the Public Affairs Council’s newsletter “Impact.” Her views are available here.

• Dr. Paul Osterfield, a professor of music, composed “Nashville Nightlife” as part of the “Under Tennessee Skies” project. An excerpt from the instrumental and quotes from Osterfield are are available here.

Jamey Simmons

• Jamey Simmons, a professor of music, composed “The Incident at Nickajack Lake” as part of the “Under Tennessee Skies” project. An excerpt from the instrumental can be heard and quotes from Simmons can be read 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 615-631-8322 or via email at gina.logue@mtsu.edu.

— Gina Logue (gina.logue@mtsu.edu)