The seventh anniversary of MTSU’s launch of its successful study-abroad class in Israel was the topic of a recent “MTSU On the Record” radio program.

Dr. Karen Petersen

Host Gina Logue’s interview with Dr. Karen Petersen, dean of the College of Liberal Arts, first aired July 2 on WMOT-FM Roots Radio 89.5 and www.wmot.org. You can listen to their conversation above.

Students departed from Nashville in mid-July for another two-week excursion to the country.

Their itinerary includes visits to religious, historic and political sites such as the Garden of Gethsemane, where the Bible says Jesus was arrested; Masada, a fort besieged by Roman troops in the first century; and the Knesset, the Israeli parliament. Trips to Israel’s southernmost city, Eilat, and the famous Jordanian archaeological city of Petra also are on the schedule.

Petersen said understanding thousands of years of history is essential to understanding contemporary Israel, and geography is a central theme as well.

“The reason Israel is at the center of attention has a lot to do with mountains and valleys and the placement of those valleys and those mountain ranges,” Petersen said. “That becomes a key piece upon which we build the whole story.”

Israeli historian Ronny Simon will accompany the group and will provide additional information.

To hear previous “MTSU On the Record” programs, visit the searchable “Audio Clips” archives at www.mtsunews.com.

For more information about the radio program, contact Logue at 615-898-5081 or WMOT-FM at 615-898-2800.