The latest edition of MTSU magazine takes a deeper dive into the lives of two distinguished alumni at Middle Tennessee State University.

Each year, MTSU recognizes outstanding alumni who bring the university prestige and distinction through their professional careers, loyal support, and service to the wider community.

Click the image to access a digital flip-page version of the magazine.

From 1960 to the present day, the MTSU Alumni Association has recognized accomplished alumni with the association’s highest honor: the Distinguished Alumni Award. A younger alumnus who is making a positive impact in the world receives the Young Alumni Achievement Award.

MTSU’s 2021-22 Distinguished Alumni Award recipient is a multiple Grammy-winning producer, songwriter, and philanthropist Torrance Esmond, founder of Track or Die, a production and music publishing company.

Esmond, known musically as “Street Symphony,” is also an adjunct faculty member who teaches a course in hip-hop/R&B songwriting in MTSU’s storied Department of Recording Industry, the program from which he graduated in 2003.

Gabrielle Thompson, MTSU’s 2021-22 Young Alumni Achievement Award honoree, received her master’s degree in International Affairs at MTSU and is now the CEO and executive director of Nashville-based nonprofit Free for Life International, which combats human trafficking and helps survivors.

Gabrielle Thompson

Other stories in the current edition include:

• A look at True Blue Build, MT Athletics’ plan to raise $100 million for campus improvements.

• A profile of Katherine “Katie” Foss, professor of media studies, who has offered expert perspective during the pandemic andhh become a media darling along the way.

• Class Notes — updates on the status of MTSU alumni around the globe.

Printed copies of MTSU magazine are distributed twice annually to approximately 125,000 alumni readers. Additional copies of the alumni-and-friends publication are distributed to interested stakeholders.A web-only, flip version of the entire magazine is available here.

— Drew Ruble (Drew.Ruble@mtsu.edu)