MTSU president receives award for supporting STEM education

Connie J. Smith, director of AdvancED Tennessee, presented MTSU President Sidney A. McPhee with the organization’s 2016 Leadership in Education Award on Tuesday, March 1, for his efforts to support STEM — science, technology, engineering and mathematics — learning in primary, secondary and higher education.

McPhee received the honor as AdvancED Tennessee, a nonprofit accrediting organization, wrapped up a two-day conference on the MTSU campus Tuesday that attracted hundreds of public, private and parochial educators, school board members, superintendents and principals to learn and reflect on ways to best extend STEM education.

Connie J. Smith, director of Advanc-ED Tennessee, left, presents MTSU President Sidney A. McPhee on Tuesday, March 1, with the organization's 2016 Leadership in Education Award for his efforts to support STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) learning in primary, secondary and higher education. McPhee received the honor as Advanc-ED Tennessee wrapped up a two-day conference on the MTSU campus Tuesday that attracted hundreds of public, private and parochial educators, school board members, superintendents and principals to learn and reflect on ways to best extend STEM education. (MTSU Photo)

Connie J. Smith, director of Advanc-ED Tennessee, left, presents MTSU President Sidney A. McPhee with the group’s 2016 Leadership in Education Award. (MTSU Photo)

MTSU President Sidney A. McPhee makes a point during his annual State of the University address Thursday, Aug. 23, during the Fall Faculty Meeting inside Tucker Theatre. (MTSU photo by J. Intintoli)

MTSU president urges faculty, staff to embrace ‘calling to make a difference’ in new academic year [+VIDEO]

MTSU President Sidney A. McPhee kicked off the new academic year Thursday, Aug. 23, by applauding the university’s faculty and staff for continued progress in student retention and graduation while emphasizing the need to develop new strategies in an ever-evolving higher education landscape. Now in his 18th year leading the…

August 23, 2018

In "Campus Community"

MTSU chemistry professor and nationally recognized STEM education advocate Judith Iriarte-Gross, center, proudly accepts the 2018 MTSU Foundation Career Achievement Award Thursday, Aug. 23, from MTSU President Sidney A. McPhee, left, and MTSU Foundation President Ron Nichols, right, at the university's Fall Faculty Meeting inside Tucker Theatre. Iriarte-Gross, who's taught at MTSU since 1996 and is director of the Women In STEM (WISTEM) Center at MTSU and the founder and director of Tennessee’s first Expanding Your Horizons girls’ science, technology, engineering and math education workshop. The Career Achievement Award is presented annually to a professor at MTSU and is considered the pinnacle of recognition for the university's faculty. Iriarte-Gross also is a fellow of both the American Chemical Society and the American Association for the Advancement of Science, two of the country's premier scientific professional societies, among her many honors. Inset photo shows the group of MTSU faculty members who received awards alongside Iriarte-Gross. (MTSU photo by J. Intintoli)

Iriarte-Gross receives 2018 Career Achievement Award, joins 15 professors honored by MTSU Foundation [+VIDEO]

(Editor's Note: This story has been updated to include the Special Projects Award presented to biology professor Yangseung Jeong and corrects the group photo caption that misidentified him.) A welcome tradition at MTSU’s Fall Faculty Meeting is the annual presentation of the MTSU Foundation Awards, which recognize, celebrate and reward university…

August 23, 2018

In "Faculty/Staff News"

Iriarte-Gross receives Silver Column Award (w/video)

Dr. Judith Iriarte-Gross’ nearly 18 years as a passionate advocate for four areas of science as career possibilities for girls and young women has led to special recognition from MTSU President Sidney A. McPhee. McPhee presented Iriarte-Gross with the President’s Silver Column Award Feb. 4 in a brief ceremony inside…