MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Middle Tennessee State University aerospace professor Paul A. Craig started on campus at the entry level — a college freshman — but he’s soaring into his 49th year in aviation at “the highest possible place” — recipient of the annual Career Achievement Award for 2024.
“You helped me complete a really unlikely journey,” said Craig, who first came to MTSU in 1975. “Thank you so much for that.”
MTSU President Sidney A. McPhee and Brian F. Kidd, president of the MTSU Foundation, presented Craig with the honor at the annual State of the University Address and Fall Faculty and Staff Meeting held Thursday, Aug. 22, in Tucker Theatre on campus.
In addition to the foundation’s Career Achievement presentation, 21 other professors were recognized with special awards and stipends for their contributions and accomplishments in teaching, research and service.
Craig began his career in aviation at MTSU and went on to earn a master’s in aerospace education in 1980. In 1993, he returned to MTSU as the first flight instructor and later earned his doctorate in education. Since 2016, Craig has served as coordinator of the Master of Science in Aeronautical Sciences degree program.
“I’m not here just to fly airplanes. I am here to teach people to fly airplanes,” said Craig, recounting some “incredible” professors who helped him hone his skills as an aviator and educator.
Aside from his time in the cockpit, Craig has authored 15 books on aviation safety and flight training, and published 21 peer-reviewed journal articles on his research.
He has also worked for NASA as principal investigator of four research projects, has written curriculum and regulations for the Federal Aviation Administration, and provided expert testimony in numerous court cases involving aviation accidents.
In 2005, NASA awarded him with the Turning Goals into Reality Award for his work in scenario-based flight training projects. He also earned the Wheatley Award from the University Aviation Association, designating him the nation’s most outstanding aviation educator in 2004, and the Sorenson Award, as the nation’s most outstanding aviation researcher for 2014.
From the MTSU College of Basic and Applied Sciences, Craig has won the 2008 Excellence in Grantsmanship Award, the 2011 Excellence in Teaching Innovation Award and the 2017 Distinguished Research Award. In 2018, the Tennessee Department of Transportation’s Division of Aeronautics honored Craig with the Career Contributions to Aviation Award for the state.
Although Craig has been in the spotlight, he was sure to applaud his fellow faculty members, who are “dedicated and passionate” about training future pilots. “What we do is make sure the next time that you and your family get on an airplane, that it’s going to be safe,” Craig said.
A highlight of his longstanding career comes when he boards an airplane to find one of his former students at the controls. “I congratulate them and say how proud I am of them,” Craig said.
These moments spur him to continue his career in aviation education. And he encouraged his fellow faculty members to continue positively impacting in the lives of students. “Be the difference maker. … Go inspire your students.”
President’s Silver Column Awards
For the second year, McPhee presented the President’s Silver Column Awards at the Fall Faculty and Staff meeting, with a record number of 40 nominations. Eight out of the 10 Silver Column Award winners were on hand for the presentation. Those included:
• Vergena Forbes, MTSU Police Department sergeant.
• Robert Gordon, associate professor and interim chair, Department of Media Arts.
• William Langston, professor, Department of Psychology.
• April Magnuson, Student Health Services clinical office manager.
• Chaney Mosley, associate professor and director, School of Agriculture.
• Audrey Carlata, associate professor, Department of Accounting.
• Becca Smitty, MT One Stop director.
• Teresa Thomas, Enrollment Technical Services director.
Silver Column recipients Lisa Maas, associate vice president of Enterprise Application Systems, and Alison Ness, associate athletic trainer, were unable to attend the meeting.
Faculty service awards
MTSU honored 11 additional professors during the Aug. 22 meeting.
Recipients of the MTSU Foundation’s 2024 Outstanding Teaching Awards are:
• Priya Ananth, professor and coordinator of the Japanese Program, Department of World Languages, Literatures, and Cultures.
• Douglas Dabbs, associate professor, Department of Art and Design.
• Francis T. Koti, geography professor, Department of Political and Global Affairs.
• Elizabeth Barnes, assistant professor, Department of Biology.
Seven additional Foundation Award recipients are:
• Outstanding Public Service Award — Judith Iriarte-Gross, professor, Department of Chemistry, director of Women in STEM.
• Outstanding Public Service Award — Dianna Rust, professor, Department of University Studies.
• Distinguished Early Career Research Award — Elizabeth Barnes, assistant professor, Department of Biology.
• Distinguished Senior Research Award — Grant E. Gardner, professor, Department of Biology.
• Distinguished Early Career Creative Activity Award — Bess Rogers, Department of Recording Industry assistant professor.
• Distinguished Early Career Creative Activity Award — Kristine Potter, assistant professor, Department of Media Arts.
• Distinguished Senior Career Creative Activity Award — Allie Sultan, associate professor, Department of Media Arts.
During the gathering, MTSU also honored 18 new faculty emeriti and 59 newly promoted and/or tenured faculty — including incoming College of Behavioral and Health Sciences Dean Peter Grandjean — across campus.
The complete 2024 MTSU Foundation Awards program, which includes more details about the award winners and other honorees, is available as a PDF.
MTSU’s 114th academic year begins Monday, Aug. 26, with the first day of fall 2024 classes.
— Nancy DeGennaro (Nancy.DeGennaro@mtsu.edu)
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