March ‘Out of the Blue’ features Actuarial Science, Grammys recap, True Blue Core launch [WATCH]

From left, guests on the March 2024 episode of MTSU “Out of the Blue” included Dr. Don Hong, Department of Mathematical Sciences professor and director of the Actuarial Science program, and student Jennifer Rody, president-elect of the Actuarial Math Student Association; journalism student Zoe Naylor; Dr. Ann McCullough, chair of the General Education Committee, and Dr. Susan Myers-Shirk, history professor and director of MTSU General Education/True Blue Core. (MTSU photo illustration by Joe Poe)

MTSU celebrates the midpoint of this spring semester with the March 2024 edition of “Out of the Blue,” the television magazine for Middle Tennessee State University.

Viewers will be treated with a preview the burgeoning Actuarial Science program, a look back at the university’s wildly successful trip back to the Grammy Awards in Los Angeles and discover MTSU’s new general education requirements starting in fall 2024.

Watch the full episode below:

In this month’s episode with program host Andrew Oppmann, vice president for marketing and communications, viewers will hear from:

• Dr. Don Hong, Department of Mathematical Sciences professor and director of the Actuarial Science program, and student Jennifer Rody, president-elect of the Actuarial Math Student Association, discuss the Actuarial Science field, its growth and the wide range of career options for graduating students. MTSU’s program was recently recognized among only 12 universities in the U.S., only one in Tennessee and 15 worldwide for achieving Gold Tier status from the Casualty Actuarial Society’s University Recognition Program.

• Zoe Naylor, a School of Journalism and Strategic Media major and reporter for student media publication Sidelines, shares a look back as she and several other CME students joined the university’s delegation led by President Sidney A. McPhee and faculty and staff from the College of Media and Entertainment in returning to the Grammy Awards in Los Angeles in early February. The group networked with industry professionals, toured recording facilities, honored successful alumni in the industry and this year shared in the joy of several alumni capturing the music industry’s top prize.

• Dr. Susan Myers-Shirk, history professor and director of MTSU General Education/True Blue Core, and Dr. Ann McCullough, chair of the General Education Committee, breakdown the True Blue Core, the new restructured general education curriculum that every MTSU student has to complete. Program changes have been five years in the making with the goal of preparing students excel in a dynamic and diverse world.

Andrew Oppmann, vice president of marketing and communications — Andrew Oppmann

You can watch “Out of the Blue” anytime online on MTSU’s YouTube channel and on MTSU’s True Blue TV, airing on Murfreesboro cable Channel 9 daily at 6 a.m., 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Central and on Roku, Apple TV and Amazon Fire TV, as well as on NewsChannel5+ at 3:30 p.m. Sundays and via streaming on MTSU’s Jazz Network through WMOT.org on Saturdays.

“Out of the Blue” also is available as iTunes and Google Play podcasts and on other cable outlets in Middle Tennessee, so check local listings. Enjoy previous editions of “Out of the Blue” here in our archives, too.

Interview segments of the monthly “Out of the Blue” TV show are also released weekly as individual podcasts on Spotify. You can find them at https://spoti.fi/453hxg3.

— Jimmy Hart (Jimmy.Hart@mtsu.edu)