MTSU faculty, staff and students took to WGNS Radio recently to share information about a new research institute surrounding “big data,” ongoing historic preservation work and recent success by the university’s equestrian team in national competition.

The details were shared during the May 21 “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 guests for the May 21 “Action Line” program on WGNS Radio are shown inside the station’s studio in downtown Murfreesboro. Pictured are, at top from left, Ariel L. Herrin, director of MTSU Equestrian Programs, and team members Mary Catherine Wade and Patricia Wingate; bottom left, Dr. Charlie Apigian, interim director of the new Data Science Institute at MTSU; and bottom right, Dr. Stacey Graham, research professor at the MTSU Center for Historic Preservation. (MTSU photo illustration by Jimmy Hart)

Guests and their topics were as follows:

• Dr. Charlie Apigian, interim director of the new Data Science Institute at MTSU, discussed the new institute, which was recently launched to promote research and partnerships within the emerging field of data science. The Data Science Institute will be interdisciplinary and encourage all departments and colleges to collaborate.

• Dr. Stacey Graham, research professor at the MTSU Center for Historic Preservation, discussed the latest center projects and initiatives. Graham, who grew up in Murfreesboro, is an expert on cemeteries and international historic preservation, serves as the project coordinator for the Teaching with Primary Sources—MTSU program, and teaches courses in the History Department. She has also led students on study-abroad programs.

• Ariel L. Herrin, director of MTSU Equestrian Programs and first-year Equestrian Team coach, was joined by team members Patricia Wingate and Mary Catherine Wade to discuss the Equestrian Team’s recent third-place finish at the national competition and the university’s Horse Science Program. While the team has sent individual riders to the Intercollegiate Horse Shows Association National Championship for many years, it had been five years since the well-respected program had qualified as a team.

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.