MTSU Honors College

10/24/2026

Interested in applying for national fellowships? These 5 tips from the MTSU Undergraduate Fellowships Office can help you succeed!

10/23/2026

Here is a sneak peek at some of what's to come in our 2026 issue of Areté! Copies will start arriving in the mail and on the racks of the Honors College soon!

10/22/2026

We're proud to share that Areté, the magazine of the MTSU Honors College, has earned first place in the National Collegiate Honors Council Publications Contest. The national award recognizes the publication's commitment to telling the stories of our students, faculty, alumni, and programs while documenting the achievements and experiences that define the Honors community.

Thank you to the many writers, editors, designers, photographers, and contributors who help bring each issue to life. Congratulations to everyone who has been part of Areté's continued tradition of excellence.

10/22/2026

Congratulations to Mabel Adams, a Fashion Studies major in the MTSU College of Behavioral and Health Sciences, on successfully defending her Honors thesis!

Completing an Honors thesis is a significant academic achievement that reflects a student's curiosity, dedication, and commitment to independent research.

We're proud of Mabel for reaching this milestone. Join us in congratulating her!

10/20/2026

🎙️ New episode of Honors Spotlight: When the evidence gets it wrong

The infamous Lindy Chamberlain case captivated Australia in the 1980s. A mother claimed a dingo took her infant daughter. She was ultimately convicted of murder — only to be exonerated after her baby’s missing clothing was discovered in a dingo den.

In the newest episode of Honors Spotlight, Robin Lee talks with MTSU Honors alumna Elizabeth Kowalczyk about her award-winning research into the case.

Elizabeth examines how flawed forensic testing, media coverage, religious and gender bias, and overconfidence in evidence contributed to a wrongful conviction. She also discusses what the case can teach us today about DNA evidence, the “CSI effect” and the importance of interpreting scientific evidence in context.

Elizabeth’s research, “A Dingo Ate My Baby: Dissecting the Injustice of the Lindy Chamberlain Case,” was named the 2026 Graduate-Level Dean’s Distinguished Essay for Scientia et Humanitas.

Listen to the new episode of Honors Spotlight today and consider a question that remains relevant decades later: What happens when the story becomes more convincing than the evidence?

🔗 https://honors.mtsu.edu/honors-spotlight-podcast/

10/15/2026

❤️ A simple cheek swab could help save a life.

Join MTSU HealthBridge and Gift of Life Registry for a campuswide cheek swab drive Tuesday, Oct. 20, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.!

Gift of Life connects volunteer stem cell and bone marrow donors with patients battling leukemia, lymphoma, sickle cell disease, and inherited immune disorders who need a lifesaving match.

📍 Find a drive location:
• In front of the Honors Building
• In front of the Science Building
• Between Davis and Todd halls

A quick cheek swab could help you become a potential match for someone in need. If you're matched with a patient, you can choose whether to donate. Gift of Life covers travel, lodging, and meal expenses if you travel to its Florida facility to donate, or you can donate locally.

One small act could make a life-changing difference. Stop by, get swabbed, and help connect more patients with potential donors!

10/15/2026

We're proud to celebrate a remarkable achievement by one of our own!

Congratulations to Dr. Phillips, associate dean of the MTSU Honors College, on beginning your term as president of The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi !

MTSU’S Phillips begins term as president of Phi Kappa Phi honor society by mtsunews 9 October 2026 Faculty/Staff News BATON ROUGE, La. — Philip E. Phillips, associate dean of the Honors College and professor of English at Middle Tennessee State University, has begun his term as president of The...

10/14/2026

Students and the MTSU American Democracy Project walked to the polls on the Square today for early voting kick off!

10/14/2026

Go Vote TN!

American Democracy Project at MTSU

10/12/2026

Honors College students spent Saturday, Oct. 10, exploring Tennessee history firsthand during a field trip to Sycamore Shoals State Historic Park with MTSU's American Democracy Project.

The visit provided an opportunity to learn more about the people, places, and events that shaped early Tennessee and the United States while experiencing history in the location where it happened. Programs like these help connect classroom learning with meaningful civic and historical engagement.

Take a look at a few photos from the trip! ⬇️