MTSU faculty and staff recently provided the media with their perspectives on various issues, from economics to education initiatives, while others provided commentary on music industry topics and criminal justice.

• Dr. Natalie Hoskins, assistant professor in the Department of Communication Studies, talked with Verywell Mind in April about navigating demiromantic relationships. Read the updated article here.

• State Rep. Charlie Baum, economics professor, shares thoughts about Tennessee’s newly passed literacy goal for third-grade students in this article published May 22 in The Daily News Journal. Read his comments.

• NBC Washington featured Lynda R. Williams, professor of practice in the Department of Criminal Justice Administration, on an interview with LX News that focuses on the need to protect officers who intervene when use of force becomes excessive. Watch her interview that was featured as part of a story published May 25 on the third anniversary of the death of George Floyd.

Williams also talked with Memphis CBS affiliate WREG-TV about the push for police reform. The article was published June 22, the day before five Memphis officers accused of the Jan. 7 death of Tyre Nichols appeared in court. You can read comments from Williams, who is the former president of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives, or NOBLE, and used her platform to advocate for members of Congress to pass the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act.

• Dr. Mary Evins, research professor in the University Honors College and Department of History, talked with radio station WPLN-FM about the difficulties university students face when trying to vote in an article published May 25. Read the article here and find out more about her award-winning efforts for civic engagement.

• Dr. Sean P. Salter, assistant dean for assessment and associate professor of finance in the Jones College of Business, talked with U.S. News and World Report July 5 about how to pay off student debt. Read more.

• Beverly Keel, dean of the College of Media and Entertainment, moderated a “Women of Country” panel with Carly Pearce, Hillary Scott, Lily Rose and Madeline Edwards on Billboard Country Live in early June. Watch the panel discussion.

Keel also talked to The Daily Dot about HBO’s controversial drama, “The Idol,” in a June 22 article. Read her comments here.

• Ken Paulson, director of the Free Speech Center and a First Amendment lawyer, shared thoughts on the importance of shopping local in this June 15 guest column published in the McKenzie River Reflection newspaper.

On June 16, Paulson commented on a pastor’s lawsuit against the University of Wyoming in this article published in the Casper (Wyoming) Star-Tribune.

Paulson was also part of a guest panel about the impact of investigative reporting on the “1A” program, which aired June 21 on Washington, D.C., NPR affiliate WAMU-FM. You can hear the interview here.

Fort Myers, Florida, CBS affiliate WINK-TV talked with Paulson about the case of a Cape Coral, Florida, 10-year-old boy accused of threatening violence at a school event. Check out Paulson’s interview here from a June 23 story.

Paulson’s comments on how the U.S. Supreme Court ruling on a Colorado business owner’s right to refuse service to gay clients affects Tennesseans in a Daily News Journal article published June 30.

• James Copeland, director of classroom technology, talked with RavePubs audio-visual news about the university’s decision to install ceiling microphones. Read his explanation about the implementation process in the June 8 article.

• Political science professor Kent Syler talked with the Chattanooga Times Free Press about the decisions Tennessee and Georgia made when giving grants for investments in “green” manufacturing. You can read his comments in the June 10 article.

Syler also talked about fundraising by Tennessee Rep. Justin Pearson in this Associated Press article published June 30 as well as this Black Enterprise article published July 1 that cites the AP story.

• Dr. Sean Foley, professor of history and author of “The Arab Gulf States: Beyond Oil and Islam,” talked with AdabCom about the topic, “Changing Saudi Arabia: Art, Culture and Society.” Watch the June 14 YouTube interview here.

• Dr. Marisa Richmond, a Black transgender professor who formerly taught history and women’s studies before recently retiring, joined anchor Rhori Johnston on WTVF-TV News Channel 5’s OpenLine on June 16 to summarize history of Pride Month and the importance of inclusivity in Tennessee. Watch the interview here.

• John Burchfield, associate dean of University College, was joined by Metro Nashville Assistant Police Chief Dwayne Greene on the WKRN-TV Local on 2 program to discuss the university’s new public safety concentration geared toward helping working professionals earn their bachelor’s degree. Watch the interview that aired June 27.

• The Association for Career and Technical Education announced the appointment of incoming board president Dr. Chaney Mosley, assistant professor in agricultural education and assistant director of Tennessee STEM Education Center at MTSU. Read his comments in this article released July 1.

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