Partnerships
"MTSU continues to be a university of choice to serve corporate entities."
Partnerships with private-sector entities demonstrate MTSU’s ability to be responsive to the economic and educational needs of our state, further enhancing our value as a major contributor to Tennessee’s growing economy. University partnerships and public-service initiatives also support our educational efforts and provide students with the breadth and relevance of experience needed to be successful both in college and eventually in the professional workplace.
Here is a look at some of MTSU’s top partnerships in 2022:
MTSU, its Aerospace Department, and Delta Air Lines celebrated a fourth anniversary of their partnership in 2022 with a very special occasion: recognizing alumnus Colton Gray as the first graduate of Delta’s Propel pilot program. A 2018 MTSU graduate, Gray, 29, of Lebanon, began training in 2022 to fly for Delta as part of an accelerated program to fill a growing industry need for aviators. Gray applied early, has flown three years with Republic Airways, and became the first Propel pilot for Delta, which has partnerships with only 15 aviation schools nationwide, including MTSU. Four years ago, MTSU was among the first eight universities to enter the partnership with Delta to encourage qualified Professional Pilot majors to pursue a defined, accelerated path allowing candidates to earn their flight certifications, build their experience, and meet all requirements to become a Delta pilot in 42 months or less.
MTSU and the Middle Tennessee Council of the Boy Scouts of America renewed a partnership allowing prospective students from the council, which serves 37 middle Tennessee counties and Fort Campbell, Kentucky, to attend events on campus and seek faculty mentors for activities and merit badges. About 20,000 youths and their families participate in
programs conducted by the Nashville-based council, which is consistently among the nation’s fastest-growing.
A team of around 25 Recording Industry, Media Arts, and Journalism students helped produce content at this year’s Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival under the guidance of MTSU faculty and staff. Students in Media Arts and Recording Industry were scheduled to do only two concerts for Bonnaroo’s Other Stage for Hulu, one of the world’s largest streaming services. But Bonnaroo and Hulu executives were so impressed by MTSU’s work that they upped it to 11 concerts from the Other Stage, in addition to the 10 recorded performances at the Who Stage.
Amazon announced a partnership with more than 140 universities and colleges, including MTSU, to provide fully paid tuition for more than 750,000 hourly Amazon workers. Amazon’s $1.2 billion investment to this Career Choice program is expected to aid more than 300,000 employees by 2025.
MTSU’s School of Concrete and Construction Management reconnected with the Big Machine Music City Grand Prix for the second year of their continuing partnership. MTSU worked with the Grand Prix in its inaugural year to develop a special lighter weight and more durable mix for the concrete barriers around the track, as well as concrete pads along pit row.
MTSU continues to be a university of choice to serve corporate entities. In the past year, corporate partnerships have been signed with McGuire Management Group, owner of 20 McDonald’s restaurants in the region; Rich Foods; Chick-fil-A Murfreesboro; and Chick-fil-A Melrose Place, Nashville.
JUNE
MTSU Mourns Freeman
MTSU Board of Trustees member Darrell Freeman Sr. passed away June 28.
Trustee Freeman, who held two MTSU degrees, will be remembered for his passion and advocacy for creating opportunities for others, as well as his business acumen and entrepreneurial spirit.
He was one of MTSU’s brightest stars, and his light shined through his many accomplishments: a first-generation college graduate; a trail-blazing businessman who created his own IT company, Zycron, that, over 25 years, became a multimillion-dollar business that he sold, then used those resources to help aspiring Black entrepreneurs overcome obstacles and find success in business; a private pilot, who lent his services and aircraft for international relief missions; and so much more.
Trustee Freeman’s energy and devotion to help disadvantaged and underserved students find a path forward in education and business was front and center in his work as the first vice chair of MTSU’s Board of Trustees, as well as his two terms as chair of the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce.
His service to his alma mater, as a role model, donor, volunteer, and leader, leaves a legacy that will inspire our students and our community for generations.
MTSU Mourns Jacobs
Alumnus and Board of Trustees member Joey Jacobs died on Saturday, Jan. 14.
We will never forget the tremendous impact and accomplishments of Trustee Jacobs, a strong advocate and supporter of his alma mater and a mentor and role model to the students of our Jennings A. Jones College of Business. Athletics Director Chris Massaro called Jacobs a cornerstone of our Build Blue Campaign and a key reason for its success.
Jacobs was honored in 2013 with MTSU’s Jennings A. Jones Champion of Free Enterprise Award in recognition of his tenure as chairman and CEO of Psychiatric Solutions Inc. He also established the Joey A. Jacobs Chair of Excellence in Accountancy in the Jones College, which provides a national and international presence for MTSU in the field of accounting.
For decades, Jacobs was a leading figure in Nashville's globally recognized healthcare industry. After launching his career at HCA, he served as the architect behind two billion-dollar behavioral health companies. Jacobs was also part of the pivotal minority ownership group that kept the Nashville Predators professional hockey club in Music City.
Going Deeper
What can an associate professor of psychology contribute to a project about agriculture education in high schools? The U.S. Department of Agriculture provided Ying Jin with a $450,000 grant to find out.
Jin, along with Chaney Mosley, an assistant professor of Agricultural Education in the School of Agriculture, and Song Cui, an associate professor who specializes in digital agriculture, will use the federal stipend to develop a three-year institute to bring high school agriculture teachers together for professional development.
The teachers are steeping themselves in “deeper learning” instructional and assessment practices, which concentrate on developing students’ competencies, including critical thinking, complex problem-solving, communication and collaboration skills, and an academic mindset.
Some 500 K–12 schools nationwide have adopted this concept.
The teachers received their initial training the week of June 6 and continued designing a project over the summer to implement in their high school classrooms in the new academic year.
Taking Stock
MTSU’s stock horse team won the program’s first-ever Division 1 national championship at the American Stock Horse Association Collegiate and National Show in Sweetwater, Texas—defeating Texas Tech University to earn the national title. The team’s coach is Horse Science faculty member Andrea Rego.
Eight MTSU students competed in the ASHA event held in the Nolan County Coliseum, capturing eight individual national awards and the coveted national title.
That same month, MTSU riders earned the Division 2 Reserve Champion national title at the Hughes Ranch Traders National Intercollegiate Ranch and Stock Horse National Championship in Amarillo, Texas.
The Hughes Ranch Trailers-sponsored event featured 115 riders from 14 colleges and universities from seven states. MTSU carried six riders to this event, each competing for individual awards plus national champion and Reserve Champion team honors.
