MURFREESBORO, Tenn.  — Middle Tennessee State University’s Experiential Learning Program, better known as EXL, handed out a host of awards to recipients throughout the university community for the academic year.

The MTSU EXL Scholars Committee recognizes excellence in four categories: Outstanding Faculty, Student, Administrator, and Community Partner Awards for 2023-24, with recipients selected in each category based on submitted nominations.

This year’s recipients include:

Outstanding EXL Faculty Award

The EXL Program recognizes educators who provide leadership and excellence in experiential learning. This year’s recipients include Douglas Dabbs, Bob Gordon, Kristi Julian, Janet McCormick and Samantha Weir.

• Douglas Dabbs, professor of illustration in the Department of Art and Design, has played a pivotal role in shaping the new illustration degree pathway, a significant milestone in the department’s academic offerings. As faculty lead, Dabbs oversaw the creation of the curriculum and contributed to the development of eight new courses, five of which he wrote himself. Each course prioritizes experiential learning, providing hands-on opportunities for students to produce creative work, engage in professional practices, and complete industry-relevant projects.

• Bob Gordon, professor and interim department chair for the Department of Media Arts in the College of Media and Entertainment, has pioneered, developed and taught EXL courses since 2007. In addition to teaching students live production for MTSU and the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association, or TSSAA, athletic events, Gordon has taught and produced television concerts at Bonnaroo since 2015. Students from his courses have gone on to work for the Huckabee Show, local news stations, The Nashville Sounds, The Nashville Predators, The Nashville Titans and on tours with Justin Bieber, Beyonce, Luke Bryan, Post Malone and more. 

• Kristi Julian, professor and program director of the Interior Architecture Program, made outstanding contributions to the program’s ability to uphold its commitment to experiential learning throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. During this demanding and stressful time, Julian participated in numerous experiential projects and virtual and in-person exchanges. She continues to support students’ experiential learning through conferences and competition participation across the U.S. and internationally.

• Janet McCormick, professor of Communication Studies and director of the MALA, or Master of Arts in Liberal Arts program, has been an integral part of the EXL program since its inception in 2006. McCormick has developed and taught more than 40 different EXL-designated communication and organizational communication courses. She co-founded the Institute of Experiential Learning at MTSU and regularly conducts workshops sharing her expertise nationally and internationally.

• Samantha Weir, lecturer in the Department of Human Sciences, works tirelessly to provide students with valuable EXL experiences. Since August 2016, Weir has maintained a partnership between students in the Aging Health and Development program and residents at Stones River Manor and St. Clair Senior Center. In her course, students develop and carry out weekly programming to manage residents.

Outstanding EXL Student Award  

The Outstanding EXL Student Award is given to students with a distinguished service record in the EXL Scholars Program. This year’s recipients include Chianne Chanthara, Shelbie Davis, Isaac Puckett, and Kelli Ray.

• Janet McCormick, MALA program director, nominated Chianne Chanthara, a graduate student in Liberal Arts. “One common struggle in college is feeling equipped to enter ‘the real world’ and to trust that we know what we are doing once we leave the institution,” said Chanthara. “EXL requires and allows students to apply their learning to things they passionately care about.”

• Shelbie Davis, a graduate student in public history and graduate research assistant for Rutherford County Archives, was nominated by Martha Norkunas, an oral and public history professor. “I have had the great opportunity to participate in two experiential learning courses over the past two years,” said Davis. “Students who choose to take these courses will highly benefit from them as I did.”

• Isaac Puckett, a sophomore biochemistry major and chemistry instruction intern for the third year, has assisted a graduate teaching assistant in instructing and supervising several chemistry classes during the 2023-24 academic year. The chemistry instruction internship and EXL program on campus have given him invaluable experience related to a future in graduate school and a later career as an organic chemist. 

• Kelli Ray is an undergraduate student in Liberal Arts–Communication Studies. “Each EXL course has been a building block preparing me for after graduation,” said Ray. “I learned a lot about myself and what I love to do through these courses that wouldn’t have been possible without the EXL courses and professors who put their time and effort into making them worthwhile.”

Outstanding EXL Administrator Award

This EXL award recognizes campus administrators who provide support, leadership and excellence in experiential learning. Nominated by Janet McCormick, Leah Tolbert Lyons was awarded this year’s Administrator Award.

• Leah Tolbert Lyons, College of Liberal Arts dean, has worked as faculty at MTSU her entire professional career. Lyons has been familiar with the EXL program since it began in 2006 and has given her administrative support for several years. Currently, all 12 departments of the CLA are actively engaged in providing various hands-on opportunities for students, highlighted via the Dean’s Office. As dean, Lyons consistently supports EXL initiatives, providing broad visibility for the EXL program.

Outstanding EXL Community Partner Award

The Outstanding EXL Community Partner Award recognizes community partners who provide opportunities, leadership and excellence in experiential learning. This year’s award recipients include Nia Allen, Daryl Hickman Sr., Jackson Financial Services and Robert Mitchell.

• Nia Allen, Human Sciences lecturer, was recently awarded funding from MTSU’s Distinguished Lecture Fund to bring Brandice Daniel, the founder and CEO of Harlem’s Fashion Row and ICON360, to campus. Harlem’s Fashion Row bridges the gap between multicultural designers and the fashion business. At the same time, ICON360 is a nonprofit organization that funds Black designers and creates equity for Black designers and students in fashion programs at historically Black colleges and universities. Allen also invited Lipscomb, Belmont, Tennessee State and Smyrna High School to Daniel’s campus visit.

• Daryl Hickman Sr. was awarded the community partner award based on his selfless commitment to MTSU’s Unmanned Aircraft Operations program. According to Kevin Corns, Unmanned Aircraft Operations Program director, Hickman, father of UAS Lab Manager Daryl Hickman II, has volunteered his time to support the program. He has assisted his son with mowing and trimming the grass. He has also moved and refurbished picnic tables, so students have a place to sit and work on their unmanned aircraft during classes.

• Nominated by Thom Coats, director of the Center for Professional Selling, Jackson Financial Services has consistently demonstrated an exceptional commitment to community engagement, particularly within the Jones College of Business IGNITE program and the Center for Professional Selling. Each semester, Jackson hosts the Elevator Pitch Competition, a valuable platform for students to refine their communication skills and showcase their talents. Jackson also plays a pivotal role in organizing the Etiquette Dinner for the Center for Professional Selling, a networking event that helps students refine their business etiquette.

• Robert Mitchell, a Rutherford County Property Assessor, has been a strong community partner for the Advertising program for several years. According to Tricia Farwell, professor of advertising and public relations in the School of Journalism and Strategic Media, Mitchell has allowed students to participate in activities that provide essential hands-on, real-world experiences. “In addition to creating great projects for our students to participate in, Mr. Mitchell has been a strong advocate for our program, often making connections for us to develop other community partnerships,” said Farwell.

The EXL Scholars Program began in Spring 2006 with 12 sections, eight faculty members, and 250 students. Since then, the program has grown tremendously. Data for the 2022-23 academic year reveal the program had 950 sections, 399 faculty members, and 15,153 students. Additionally, the graduation rate for students taking EXL courses is significantly higher than those who do not take EXL courses.

To learn more about MTSU’s EXL Scholars Program and awards, visit https://w1.mtsu.edu/exl/index.php.

— Johari Hamilton (Johari.HamiltonGA@mtsu.edu)