MTSU faculty and staff appeared on WGNS Radio recently to share information about new programs to boost children’s health across the state, a record donation to the university’s mechatronics program and this year’s Governor’s School for the Arts on campus.

The details were shared during the Aug. 20 “Action Line” program with host Bart Walker. The live program was broadcast on FM 100.5, 101.9 and AM 1450 from the WGNS studio in downtown Murfreesboro. If you missed it, you can listen to a podcast of the show here.

MTSU faculty and staff appeared on the Aug. 20 WGNS Radio “Action Line” program with host Bart Walker. Guests included, top from left, Dr. John DuBois, a professor in the Department of Biology and alumna Aimee Wilson (2017); bottom left, Dr. Kevin Krahenbuhl, assistant professor in the College of Education’s Womack Department of Educational Leadership and the interim director for the Assessment, Learning, and School Improvement Ed.D. Program; and bottom right, Jeffry Porter, director of the MTSU Office of Research and Sponsored Programs. (MTSU photo illustration by Jimmy Hart)

Guests and their topics were as follows:

Dr. John DuBois, a professor in the Department of Biology, and alumna Aimee Wilson (December 2017) discussed published MTSU student-led research on grapes could have applications within the commercial wine industry as the university continues expanding its impact on this field of study.

DuBois mentored alumna Amanda Uhls of Hendersonville; Nathan Jolley of Pegram; andWilson of Murfreesboro in their published research as part of Undergraduate Research Experience and Creative Activity, or URECA, and accompanying grants they received. URECA falls under the Undergraduate Research Center on campus; research is conducted in all MTSU colleges, not just the sciences.

Jeffry Porter, director of the MTSU Office of Research and Sponsored Programs, discussed the importance of university research, the successful pursuit of external funding to support university research, creativity activity and service, and the recognition of the essential contributions to society by MTSU faculty, students and staff.

MTSU’s Office of Research and Sponsored Programs is responsible for promoting the successful pursuit of grants and contract by faculty and staff to support research, creative activity and service at MTSU. The office is renewing a push to increase the amount of grant funding and the number of faculty participating in sponsored programs.

Dr. Kevin Krahenbuhl, an assistant professor in the MTSU College of Education’s Womack Department of Educational Leadershipand the interim director for the Assessment, Learning, and School Improvement Ed.D. Program, discussed his new book, “The Decay of Truth: Implications and Ideas for Its Restoration as a Value.”

“Truth decay” has been defined by global policy think tank the Rand Corporation and other experts as “the diminishing role of facts and data in American public life.” In his book, Krahenbuhl asserts that education is de-emphasizing that students retain factual information at the expense of other priorities. You can read an excerpt from the book here.

Students, faculty and staff who are interested in guesting on WGNS to promote their MTSU-related activities should contact Jimmy Hart, director of news and media relations, at 615-898-5131 or via email at jimmy.hart@mtsu.edu.