Commencement NOVEMBER 21, 2020 Fall Commencement 109th ACADEMIC YEAR Saturday, November 21, 2020 9:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. Floyd Stadium, Middle Tennessee State University Murfreesboro, Tennessee Middle Tennessee State University has awarded 167,069 degrees since its inception in 1911. Students have received associate’s, bachelor’s, master’s, educational specialist, and doctoral degrees. Our fi rst Doctor of Arts degrees were conferred on December 22, 1972, the fi rst Educational Specialist degrees on December 20, 1974, the fi rst Doctor of Philosophy degrees on May 10, 2003, and the fi rst Doctor of Education degrees on August 6, 2016. There have been 392 Doctor of Arts degrees, 2,162 Educational Specialist degrees, 460 Doctor of Philosophy degrees, and 39 Doctor of Education degrees awarded. Memoriesfrom this and recent years at MTSU . 4 5 6 7 8 Board of Trustees Mr. J.B. Baker Mr. Stephen B. Smith, Chair Owner and CEO, Sprint Logistics Chair of the Board, Haury and Smith Contractors Mr. Thomas R. Boyd Investment Advisor Representative, Ms. Pamela J. Wright Decker Wealth Management LLC Founder, Wright Travel President and Managing Partner, Mr. Pete DeLay Wright Development Principal, Lynwood Ventures LLC Dr. Mary B. Martin, Faculty Trustee Mr. Darrell Freeman Sr., Vice Chair Professor, Department of Executive Chair, Zycron Inc. Mathematical Sciences Mr. Joey A. Jacobs Ms. Delanie McDonald, Student Trustee Former Chair and CEO, Acadia Healthcare Master’s Candidate, Administration and Supervision Ms. Christine Karbowiak Chief Administrative Offi cer, Chief Risk Offi cer, Executive Vice President, and Vice Chair, Board of Directors of Bridgestone Americas Inc. Alumni Association President On behalf of the Middle Tennessee State University National Alumni Association, I congratulate you on joining a very special group. You have now moved from being a student to joining more than 140,000 MTSU alumni. As an alum, you are a vital part of the Middle Tennessee State University family. We count on you to represent us to this nation and the world. We hope that your experiences as a student will serve you well in the future. Always be proud of your alma mater and stay connected to your University. To be involved in the Alumni Association, please contact the Offi ce of Alumni Relations at 1-800-533-MTSU (6878) or visit mtalumni.com. Welcome to the future and to your National Alumni Association. Jimmy White (’97) President, MTSU National Alumni Association Board, 2020–21 9 University Executives Dr. Sidney A. McPhee Mr. Bruce Petryshak President Vice President for Information Technology and Chief Information Offi cer Dr. Mark Byrnes University Provost Dr. Debra Sells Vice President for Student Affairs and Vice Mr. William J. Bales Provost for Enrollment and Academic Services Vice President for University Advancement Mr. Alan Thomas Vice President for Business and Finance Mr. Andrew Oppmann Vice President for Marketing and Communications University Deans Dr. Bud Fischer, Dean Dr. Karen Petersen, Dean College of Basic and Applied Sciences College of Liberal Arts Dr. Harold Whiteside, Dean Ms. Beverly Keel, Dean College of Behavioral and Health Sciences College of Media and Entertainment Dr. David J. Urban, Dean Dr. Rick Sluder, Dean Jennings A. Jones College of Business University College Dr. Rick Vanosdall, Interim Dean Dr. John R. Vile, Dean College of Education University Honors College Dr. David Butler, Dean Dr. Jason Martin, Interim Dean College of Graduate Studies James E. Walker Library 10 Commencement Program Audience, please stand for the singing of the National Anthem and a moment of silence. Men, please remove hats for the singing of the National Anthem and the moment of silence. Prelude .................................................................................................. Water Music by G.F. Handel National Anthem .......................................................................................................Dr. Will Perkins Assistant Professor, MTSU School of Music Moment of Silence Presiding .........................................................................................Dr. Sidney A. McPhee, President Presentation of Candidates for Degrees ......................................Dr. Mark Byrnes, University Provost Conferring of Degrees ..................................................................................... Dr. Sidney A. McPhee Announcing the Graduates .................................................................................Dr. Christopher Dye Assistant Professor, MTSU School of Music Ms. Angela Tipps Instructor, MTSU School of Music Alma Mater ...........................................................................................Seniors and Alumni from the MTSU Women’s and Men’s Chorales Postlude .......................................................................................... Toccata by Charles-Marie Widor Prelude and Postlude recorded by Ms. Angela Tipps at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Murfreesboro, Tennessee 11 Mace and Chain of Office Originally a medieval knight’s weapon, the mace evolved academically. This notion is undergirded by Ujima into a symbol of royal scepters in various crown jewel (collective work and responsibility), part of her personal collections. Large versions of the scepter have come to value base. She serves as faculty advisor for MTSU’s represent the power and authority of institutions such as student chapter of the National Association for Black our University. The mace measures 50 inches in length Social Workers and the Department of Social Work’s and is made of Tennessee cherry wood embellished with student cooperative committee, which is named Ujima. sterling silver and lapis lazuli. The Tennessee fl ower, the She also mentors many students and faculty. Through the iris, denotes the public the University serves who, by their Division of Student Affairs, Enrollment, and Academic loyalty, give it strength and power. The leaves form a Services, Dotson has been regularly recognized by crown to symbolize the ennobling achievements of our students as a faculty member who makes a difference. graduates. Tennessee fresh water pearls, the offi cial state She also was named the 2020 Tempest Award honoree gem, suggest the inestimable value of inquiring minds. The by the American Association of University Women’s streamer on the wooden shaft carries the names by which Murfreesboro chapter for her work uplifting women the University has been known since its founding. The throughout her career. fi nial at the base of the mace is a stylized nut, representing Dotson co-facilitated an inclusive teaching faculty the seed from which springs the mighty tree of those learning community, facilitated the department’s committed to lifelong learning. professional learning community, is a member of the curriculum committee, and is instrumental in The chain of offi ce worn by the president is made of the department’s MT Engage major pathway. She sterling silver. The lapis lazuli gems, mounted on scroll engages in innovative course development, which shapes, represent the colleges within the University. The includes service learning, connecting with professional knotted components depict the interdependence of practitioners in the community, and connecting theory knowledge and the various academic programs of MTSU. to practice. Dotson is active in her community, including The lapis lazuli and sterling represent the University colors volunteering with The Build Up Foundation nonprofi t of blue and white. The Great Seal of the State of Tennessee organization, helping prepare over 400 Metro-Nashville embellishes the medallion suspended from the chain, students in grades 7–12 for college entry and success. representing the University as part of the Tennessee higher education system. These unique emblems of authority were designed and crafted by Professor Klaus Kallenberger, formerly of the Art Department. The mace and chain of offi ce are a generous gift to the University from the MTSU Foundation. HONORARY MACE BEARER Dr. Carmelita L. Dotson joined MTSU in 2004 and is a lecturer in the Department of Social Work teaching undergraduate and graduate courses. She earned a B.S. in Sociology at Tennessee State University (TSU), an M.S.S.W. with a concentration in administration and planning at the University of Tennessee, and an Ed.D. in educational leadership at TSU. Dotson has co-authored peer-reviewed articles, completed book reviews, presented with students, and given peer-reviewed presentations regionally and nationally. Her research studies the effect of various learning formats on student achievement, the impact of service-learning strategies on teaching, and culture versus climate relationship in organizational settings. Dotson, who received an MTSU Outstanding Teaching Award in 2019–20, believes that students are lifelong learners who need a stimulating academic environment to grow physically, mentally, emotionally, socially, and 12 Academic Regalia The black gowns and colorful hoods traditionally worn in Nursing - Apricot Middle Tennessee State University commencement Oratory (Speech) - Silver Gray ceremonies have their origins in the Middle Ages. Philosophy - Dark Blue A statute in England in 1321 required that all “Doctors, Physical Education - Sage Green Licentiates, and Bachelors” wear gowns. In the second Science - Golden Yellow half of the 14th century, the statutes of certain colleges Social Work - Citrine forbade “excess in apparel” and prescribed the wearing