MTSU faculty and staff appeared on WGNS Radio recently to share information about a new report showing the huge economic impact of MTSU alumni, promotion of STEM education, and a recently launched series of live ‘pop-up’ music shows.

The details were shared during the Dec. 17 “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.

Pictured are MTSU guests at the Dec. 17 WGNS Radio “Action Line” program with host Bart Walker. Pictured at WGNS’ downtown Murfreesboro studio are, bottom left, Dr. Murat Arik, director, MTSU Business and Economic Research Center; top left, Val Hoeppner, executive director of WMOT-FM Roots Radio 89.5; and, top right, Dr. Greg Rushton, director, Tennessee STEM Education Center at MTSU. (MTSU photo illustration by Jimmy Hart)

Guests and their topics were as follows:

• Dr. Murat Arik, director of the MTSU Business and Economic Research Center, discussed a new BERC study outlining the significant economic impact of MTSU alumni locally, regionally and statewide.

Key findings from BERC’s study include: a total of 99,530 MTSU alumni live and work in Tennessee; MTSU alumni accounted for 71 percent of human capital growth in Rutherford County; over $3 billion in total business revenue was generated within Tennessee by the added value of MTSU degrees earned; and MTSU alumni and their employees generated over $9 billion in business revenue within Tennessee.

View the full report here.

• Dr. Greg Rushton, director of the Tennessee STEM Education Center (TSEC) at MTSU and a professor of chemistry, discussed a recent STEM Leadership Summit hosted on campus and an upcoming research conference in February.

About 40 educators and professionals gathered recently at Middle Tennessee State University for the Texas Instruments-sponsored “Building the STEM Bridge … From K-12 to Higher Ed to Careers” Leadership Summit in the Ingram Building’s MT Center.

Meanwhile, the Tennessee STEM Education Centerwill conduct the 13th annual Tennessee STEM Education Research Conference Feb. 14-15, 2019, at MTSU.

Learn more here.

• Val Hoeppner, executive director of WMOT Roots Radio 89.5 and director of the Center for Innovation in Media at MTSU, discussed WMOT’s new live Pop-Up Shows.

WMOT hosted their first such show at the Walnut House on Friday, Dec. 7. This show was open to WMOT members and their guests.

WMOT currently produces monthly members-only shows at venues throughout Middle Tennessee, offering at least one live-music experience per quarter to all WMOT members. The new Pop-Up Show series is part of WMOT’s efforts to provide even more unique live music experiences to a larger audience.

Please visit WMOT.org for more information.

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.