MTSU Department of Political and Global Affairs

10/27/2026

Press Association and are hosting the 2026 Gubernatorial Forum on Tuesday, Oct. 27 at 7 p.m.

👇🏻 The debate will livestream on YouTube.

https://www.youtube.com/live/SagTMzgHCAQ

10/22/2026

PGA faculty, staff, and students recently attended “Leadership and Public Service: Past, Present, and Future” featuring former Senators Lamar Alexander and Bill Frist. Pictured here (top left) is Dr. Bill Frist with Chair Dr. Mandi Bailey. Dr. Bailey interned in Frist’s office during her time at the University of Tennessee Knoxville.

📸 Photo Credits: MTSU Sidelines Albert Gore Research Center MTSU news photographers

From MTSU News (by Nancy DeGennaro)
“Two of Tennessee’s most influential public servants returned to Middle Tennessee State University on Monday, Oct. 19, to reflect on leadership, bipartisanship and the value of civic engagement while highlighting a new chapter in preserving the state’s political history.

Former Republican U.S. Sens. Lamar Alexander and Bill Frist took the stage at Tucker Theatre on campus for “Leadership and Public Service: Past, Present, and Future,” a wide-ranging conversation that drew on decades of experience in government, education, healthcare and philanthropy, followed by a Q&A with the audience.

[…]

Throughout the conversation, Alexander and Frist emphasized the importance of leadership rooted in service and personal relationships as well as a willingness to “work across the aisle” with lawmakers who held differing political viewpoints.

[…]

The event also highlighted MTSU’s role in preserving the history of public service through its stewardship of Frist’s professional papers.

For the past four years, archivists at the Albert Gore Research Center, part of the MTSU College of Liberal Arts, have been processing Frist’s extensive collection, which documents his groundbreaking career in medicine, his years in the U.S. Senate, his leadership as Senate majority leader and his work after public office in healthcare, conservation and philanthropy.

Frist said MTSU’s commitment to history, archives and public scholarship made it the right home for the collection.”

10/21/2026

The Dr. Vanessa Lefler Scholarship was established to honor the legacy of Dr. Lefler, a dedicated professor in MTSU's Department of Political and Global Affairs. Known for her passion for teaching and her commitment to students, Dr. Lefler inspired countless young people to pursue meaningful work in international relations and global affairs.

Today, her scholarship continues that legacy by providing support to students studying international relations. These awards ease financial burdens, opens doors to new opportunities, and allow students to focus on building the skills and knowledge they need to make a difference on the global stage.

This October, we invite you to celebrate Dr. Lefler's lasting impact by making a gift to her scholarship. Your generosity helps ensure that her dedication to students lives on in the next generation of global leaders.

Thank you for honoring Dr. Lefler's memory and for supporting our students' success.

https://fundraise.givesmart.com/form/hXgYKA?vid=1t6bpo

10/20/2026

10/19/2026

This is tomorrow! Open to the public.

REMINDER: Hear two seasoned U.S. Congressmen 🇺🇸 talk about public service and leadership when MTSU welcomes former Sens. Bill First and Lamar Alexander at 3 p.m. Monday, Oct. 19, in Tucker Theatre. Admission is free and open to the public.

10/17/2026

Boro International Festival 2026 ✅

PGA‘s Dr. DiCicco (Director of the MA in International Affairs program and Professor of PS & IR) delivered opening remarks for the Festival. MAIA grad students and PGA undergraduates from International Relations and Political Science created a hit booth featuring three levels of trivia related to geography, flags, food, and language. Everyone from kids to adults could win a prize — toys, muffins, candy, coloring sheets, and so on.

We are very proud of our students showcasing their knowledge and creativity in a team effort to pull of a fun event!

See you next year!

10/16/2026

We will be at the Boro International Festival tomorrow, Saturday October 17th! It’s on MTSU’s campus, free, and open to the public. Our graduate students in International Affairs and undergraduate International Relations majors are hard at work today crafting some cool family-friendly games with lots of prizes!

Here’s our updated food vendors for this Saturday’s festival. We hope to see you there!

10/16/2026

Looking for an opportunity to engage more with Middle Tennessee State University? Here's your next chance: Volunteer for upcoming MTSU True Blue Tours when it comes to your city! 💙

The MTSU Alumni Association invites you to join us at the university's annual recruitment stops where you can share your MTSU experience with prospective students and their families.

If you’d like to participate and want more information, please reply to this email or call the Alumni Relations office at (615) 898-2922.

📅 MTSU 2026 True Blue Tour Schedule:

Huntsville, AL – TONIGHT! October 14
Memphis, TN – October 21
Jackson, TN – October 22
Chattanooga, TN – October 26
Nashville, TN – November 2
Murfreesboro at MTSU – November 5

Receptions are held from 6 – 8 p.m. (in the local time zone)

➡️ Know of a high school student who is interested in MTSU? Please share this information about becoming True Blue and have the student sign up at www.mtsu.edu/rsvp

10/15/2026

Coming up next week - The Amazing Career Race sponsored by MTSU Career Development Center!

10/15/2026

Special event coming up soon! The first 50 students will receive a free copy of Lamar’s book, courtesy of MTSU Trustee Mr. Stephen Smith! This event is free and open to the public.

Middle Tennessee State University will welcome former U.S. Sens. Lamar Alexander and Bill Frist to campus on Monday, Oct. 19 for a conversation exploring leadership, public service and civic engagement.

“Leadership and Public Service: Past, Present, and Future” will begin at 3 p.m. Monday, Oct. 19, in Tucker Theatre, 615 Champion Way. The event is free and open to the community, and a reception will follow. Free event parking will be available at the MTSU Smith Baseball Field parking lot.

Kent Syler, MTSU professor of political science and special projects coordinator for the Gore Center, said students will have an opportunity to hear firsthand from two people whose careers offer lessons in civic leadership.

“I hope they walk away understanding the importance of public service, and the importance of doing it the right way,” Syler said. “These presentations will be more about civic leadership, working for your community and state, the importance of that and how to do it.”

Read more: https://mtsunews.com/2026/10/07/lamar-alexander-bill-frist-speak-mtsu/