In the News: MTSU faculty talk positive aging, AI, gang graffiti, apples, whiskey, more

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Middle Tennessee State University faculty and staff recently provided the media with their perspectives on various issues, including positive aging, dyslexia and artificial intelligence.

Robert Fowler, assistant professor, aerospace — Dr. Robert Fowler

• Dr. Robert Fowler, associate professor of aerospace, talked with WKRN-TV News 2 on Sept. 19 about Murfreesboro City Council’s proposed air traffic control tower moves. Watch the segment.

Fowler talked with WTVF-TV NewsChannel 5 on Nov. 10 about the long-term effects of the government shutdown on air travel. Watch the segment.

• Dr. Maddison North, assistant professor of psychology, tackled victim advocate burnout on Sept. 20 in the National Children’s Alliance podcast, “One in Ten.” Watch the episode.

• Dr. Andrew Fialka, associate professor of history, was featured on “The Road to Now” podcast on Sept. 22 about his newly released graphic history, “Hope Never to See It: A Graphic History of Guerrilla Violence during the American Civil War.” Listen to the podcast.

• Dr. Deborah Lee, holder of the NHC Chair of Excellence in Nursing and co-founder of the Positive Aging Consortium initiative at MTSU, was one of the featured guests Sept. 24 on Nashville Public Radio’s “This Is Nashville” program on the topic of reframing aging. Lee shared her experience directing the consortium and speaking at the state’s Positive Aging Conference. Listen to the segment.

• Dr. Paul Eubanks, associate professor of anthropology, was spotlighted on Sept. 25 in the Tennessee Council for Professional Archaeology for his summer archaeological field school in Castalian Springs. Read the article.

• Dr. Jake Avila, associate professor of concrete and construction management, was a featured guest on Sept. 26 on the IAQRadio podcast about the restoration and damage repair industry. Watch the episode.

• Dr. Sarah Harris, food science lecturer, shared time-saving tips using ChatGPT for meal prep on WKRN-TV News 2 “Local on 2” show on Sept. 26. Watch the segment.

Harris shared tips on sports nutrition on Oct. 15 with Chip Walters on WGNS-AM/FM. Listen to the segment.

• Dr. Sean Foley, a professor of history who specializes in Middle East and Asian politics and culture, outlined the last two years of the Israel-Hamas conflict on Canadian CJME-AM’s “The Evan Bray Show” on Oct. 7. Listen to the show.

Foley returned to “The Evan Bray Show” Oct. 15 to discuss the current state of the Israel-Hamas conflict. Listen to the show.

• Dr. Tim Odegard, psychology professor and chairholder of the Katherine Davis Murfree Chair of Excellence in Dyslexic Studies, was a featured panelist on The Windward Institute’s “Expert Insights on Dyslexia and Language Disorders” podcast on Oct. 7. Watch the episode.

Odegard was featured on the American Psychological Association’s “Speaking of Psychology” program on Oct. 9 to share insight on the myths and misconceptions of dyslexia. Listen to the program.

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

Dr. Amy Sayward, history professor, American Democracy Project director — Dr. Amy Sayward

• Dr. Amy Sayward, history professor and coordinator of MTSU’s American Democracy Project chapter, was a featured panelist Oct. 9 on the Tennessee World Affairs Council webinar highlighting principles of U.S. foreign policy. Watch the program.

• Dr. Steven Sprick Schuster, associate professor of economics, talked with WKRN-TV News 2 on Oct. 9 about the potential impacts of layoffs in General Motors’ Spring Hill electric vehicle plant. Watch the segment.

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

• Ken Paulson, director of the Free Speech Center, shared his opinion on Oct. 10 in The Chattanooga Times Free Press about the potential problems with news generated by artificial intelligence, or AI. Read his commentary.

Paulson talked with The Tennessean on Nov. 11 about the closure of Rutherford County library branches to prepare for a state audit regarding gender ideology. Read the article.

Paulson talked with The Tennessean on Nov. 14 about the Tennessee Secretary of State Tre Hargett’s letter requiring a statewide audit of all library branches’ juvenile collections. Read the article.

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

• Dr. Daniel Smith, economics professor and director of the Political Economy Research Institute, delves into the history of whiskey regulation in the United States in a commentary published Oct. 17 on The Library of Economics and Liberty website. Read the article.

• Dr. Carter Smith, criminal justice professor, talked with WKRN-TV News 2 about gang graffiti for an Oct. 22 report. Watch the segment.

Dr. Janet Colson, professor of nutrition and food science and registered dietician, Department of Human Sciences — Dr. Janet Colson

• Stephanie A. Graves, adjunct professor of English, was featured lecturer on “Southern Gothic Horror” on Oct. 22 at Fait La Force Brewing in Nashville. Read the article.

• Janet Colson, food and nutrition professor, was featured Oct. 24 in My Positive Outlooks for her expertise on the nutritional value of apples. Read the article.

Dr. Andrew Polk, professor of history — Dr. Andrew Polk

• Dr. Jim Holton, history lecturer, talked with WKRN-TV News 2 on Oct. 24 about Tennessee’s move toward eradicating birthright citizenship. Watch the segment.

• Dr. Andrew Polk, history professor, was a featured guest Oct. 31 on “Faith and Politics.” Watch the show.

• Dr. Mark Abolins, geology professor, talked with WSMV-TV Channel 4 on Nov. 3 about the Music City Loop underground tunnel. Read the story.

Dr. Kelly Williams, assistant professor, Department of Accounting, Jones College of Business — Dr. Kelly Williams

• Dr. Kelly Williams, associate professor of accounting, shared his opinion in the Journal of Accountancy on Nov. 1 about using Microsoft Excel for certain functions. Read his article.

• Dr. Rajesh Srivastava, marketing professor, was featured in “On the Record” on Campaign Live on Nov. 1 for his appearance on the NBC-TV show, “On Brand.” Read the article.

• Dr. Haiewon Son, assistant professor of health and human performance, talked with Citizen Portal on Nov. 6 about a virtual reality research partnership with Patterson Park Community Center in Murfreesboro. Read the article.

Dr. Ron Henderson

James "Jim" Burton, professor of Accounting, dean emeritus of the Jones College of Business — Dr. Jim Burton

Dr. Sandra Lynn Poirier, Human Sciences faculty — Dr. Sandra Poirier

• Dr. Sandra Poirier, food science professor, talked with WalletHub on Nov. 11 about the best credit cards to use for building credit. Read her commentary.

• Dr. Jim Burton, accounting professor and dean emeritus, talked with WalletHub on Nov. 11 about “loud budgeting.” Read his commentary.

• Dr. Ron Henderson, physics and astronomy professor, talked with WTVF-TV NewsChannel 5 on Nov. 12 about the recent aurora borealis phenomenon that occurred in Middle Tennessee recently. Watch the segment.

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