College of Liberal Arts
2026 CLA Awards
The 2026 CLA Awards will be held on Thursday, April 9, 2026 at 5:00 PM in the MT Center (inside Sam Ingram Building).
Faculty Awards
Darren Levin
Darren E. Levin’s creative activity as a lighting designer encompasses over 160 productions for Theatre, Dance, and Opera. His work at Middle Tennessee State University includes the flagship Department of Theatre and Dance productions of Clue, Pirates of Penzance, She Loves Me, Cinderella, Cabaret, The Tempest, Eurydice, Sense and Sensibility, MTSU Arts Celebration Concert, and many more. In addition to his work at the university, he also designs with Studio Tenn Theatre Company and Nashville Repertory Theatre. Recent notable productions with the companies include White Christmas, Deathtrap, Boeing Boeing, Sunday in the Park with George, POTUS, Million Dollar Quartet Christmas, Driving Miss Daisy, Crimes of the Heart, It’s A Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play, and Avenue Q, just to name a few. Mr. Levin is currently in pre – production for Studio Tenn Theatre Company’s May 2026 production of Jesus Christ Superstar staring Adam Pascal, Olivia Valli, Mykal Kilgore.
He was recognized by the First Night Honors for Outstanding Lighting Design of the Nashville Repertory Theatre production of Ragtime. Mr. Levin is committed to fostering the next generation of lighting design and technology professionals with more than 50 students working with him as Assistant and Associate Lighting Designers on MTSU and external productions. His students have been recognized at the Southeastern Theatre Conference for excellence in undergraduate lighting design (Four students winning 1st place, one student winning 2nd place, one student winning 3rdplace, and one recognized with Honorable Mention). His passion for instruction and research/creative activity also extends into national level service to lighting design and theatre technology. The United States Institute of Theatre Technology (USITT) has provided extensive opportunities for national level service. Appointments within the organization included: eSET (Essential Skills for the Entertainment Technician) Council and Vice Commissioner of Communications for the Lighting Commission.
Ugur Orak
Dr. Ugur Orak is an Associate Professor in the Department of Sociology and Anthropology at Middle Tennessee State University, where he serves as Director of the Sociology M.A. and Applied Social Certificate programs and Coordinator of the Criminology minor and concentration. His research focuses on crime, mental health, and military and veteran experiences across the life course, with particular emphasis on how early experiences and major life transitions shape long-term outcomes. His peer-reviewed work has appeared in leading sociology, criminology, and interdisciplinary journals, with multiple publications co-authored with graduate and undergraduate students. He regularly participates in national and regional academic conferences as a presenter, invited speaker, and presider. Dr. Orak also practices community-engaged scholarship through his work with the MTSU Business and Economic Research Center as a faculty mentor and advisory council member, contributing to research that addresses regional challenges in Middle Tennessee. Beyond academia, his research has informed criminal justice policy at the state and national levels. As a Research Consultant with the Council on Criminal Justice’s Veterans Justice Commission, he contributed to evidence-based policy initiatives that have informed state legislation, federal reports, and national conversations on veteran justice. His work has been recognized by organizations such as the U.S. Department of Justice and featured in national and local media outlets. Dr. Orak completed the university’s Grant Writing Enhancement Program, which resulted in a grant proposal submission and a proposal-in-progress examining transition difficulties and criminal behavior among military veterans.
Sean Foley
Dr. Sean Foley is a professor of Middle East History at Middle Tennessee State University and a non-resident fellow at the Arab Gulf States Institute. He has published extensively on the Middle East and the Muslim World, including Changing Saudi Arabia: Art, Culture, and Society in the Kingdom (2019) and The Arab Gulf States: Beyond Oil and Islam (2010)—both of which were published by Lynne Rienner Publishers. He has delivered over 100 papers to international academic conferences and universities in Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and North America. He has also contributed to leading media outlets, such as the Atlantic, and held Fulbright awards and other major academic grants in Australia, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, Syria, and Turkey.
Amy Atchison
Amy L. Atchison is a professor of political science and chair of the Department of Political & Global Affairs at Middle Tennessee State University. She received her doctorate from the University of Tennessee in 2010. Dr. Atchison is the co-author of Survive & Resist: The Definitive Guide to Dystopian Politics and the creator of political science is for everybody, a fully intersectional introductory political science textbook. Her research has appeared in journals such as PS: Political Science & Politics, Politics & Gender, The Review of Policy Research, and the Journal of Political Science Education, among others.
Noël Lorson
Noël Lorson is Coordinator of Graphic Design and Associate Professor of Art and Design at MTSU, where she also serves as Faculty Advisor for AIGA/MTSU, Internship Coordinator, and Faculty Advisor for the Graphic Design program. Her work centers on preparing students for academic and professional success through curriculum development, experiential learning, and sustained mentorship. In Ms. Lorson’s position as Coordinator of Graphic Design, she recently advocated for significant curriculum advancements. Recognizing the need for updates to meet student outcomes and transfer pathways, the graphic design area has introduced three new prefixes (DSGN, ILLU, IXD), modified five course titles, and developed ten new courses. As the Graphic Design Internship Coordinator, Ms. Lorson prepares students for professional success by guiding them through job searches, interviews, and employer expectations, assisting annually in securing internships for 35–40 students. She also co-coordinates a professional portfolio review for graphic design seniors each spring to support job placement. Her mentorship extends well beyond the classroom. As Faculty Advisor for the AIGA/MTSU student group, Ms. Lorson guides students in writing grants; organizing and installing exhibitions; traveling on a budget; fundraising; event planning; networking within the creative industry; and building meaningful community connections. She also directs Design Camp, a summer workshop, which allows her to share her expertise and enthusiasm for adventure. In the past four years alone, these mentorships have supported educational travel to St. Louis, MO; Austin, TX (twice); Louisville, KY (twice); Cincinnati, OH; Richmond, KY; Sellersburg, IN; Clarksville, TN; and Pittsburgh, PA.
Rachel Davis
Rachel Davis is an Assistant Professor of Sociology at Middle Tennessee State University, where she teaches courses for the Sociology, Criminology, and Women’s and Gender Studies degree programs. Her recent research concerns societal responses to gendered violence and sexual labor, and she is currently writing a book based on her digital ethnography of women who participate in transactional sex. When she’s not working, she enjoys baking, listening to audiobooks, and playing video games.
Kayla McCrary
Kayla McCrary is a professional development coordinator in the Department of Political and Global Affairs. She helps run two major internship programs, The Washington Center and the Tennessee Legislative Internship Program, and helps oversee numerous additional internship placements in law firms, nonprofits, government sector, and more. She has a (Honors) BSc in International Relations with minors in Political Science and Modern European Studies from MTSU, a MSc in International Relations with a focus on British Politics from the Royal Holloway, University of London, and a MA in International Affairs from MTSU.
2024-25 Scholarship Recipients
Outstanding Students
The overall 2025 CLA Outstanding Undergraduate Student is Taylor Tims
The overall 2025 CLA Outstanding Graduate Student is Syeda Sumaya Tasnim
The following students were identified as the 2025 Outstanding Student for their department/program.
Undergraduate Students (Listed by Department/Program)
Faith Rodriquez
Faith Rodriguez is a painting and mixed media focused artist based in Middle Tennessee. She is pursuing her BFA at Middle Tennessee State University. Faith grew up in Grand Rapids, Michigan and currently resides in Middle Tennessee. When not creating art, she spends days relaxing with reading and enjoying time out in nature.
Janet Alvarez
Janet Alvarez is a senior majoring in communication studies, concentrating in organizational communication and minoring in journalism. Janet attended Columbia State Community College, where she graduated with an associate’s degree in Mass Communication. During her time at MTSU, she volunteered at Youth Empowerment Through Arts and Humanities, a non-profit in Middle Tennessee. Janet also provided training to Siegel High School students to further prepare them for their freshman year of college, gave a presentation at Greenhouse Ministries on power in conflict, serves as the Lambda Pi Eta treasurer, and is currently with Enterprise as a management trainee Intern. While in school, she worked as a server at Buffalo Wild Wings, where she honed her communication and leadership skills, all while maintaining a 4.0 GPA. After graduation, Janet plans to pursue a career in Human Resources, where she will contribute her communication, organizational, and creative skills to foster a positive work environment.
Skye Kletz
Skye Kletz is a senior English major minoring in Public Writing and Rhetoric. Her undergraduate journey has taken her to a criminal justice program at the University of Georgia in 2023 and back home to Murfreesboro at MTSU to explore a career in English teaching. She has worked in early childhood education since early 2024 and has student taught across various schools in Rutherford County, on top of interning as a teacher for a freshman writing class under Dr. Ron Kates this past fall. Skye enjoys creative writing and has won the 1st place prize for prose back-to-back with MTSU’s biannual Collage Magazine and will be featured in the Tennessee Poetry Society’s upcoming Tennessee Voices Anthology. In 2025, Skye was awarded the MTSU English Department’s highest honor – the Richard C. and Virginia L. Peck Award – from the nominations of her dearest professors and mentors.
Adeline Barry
Adeline Barry is a Junior and is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in history with a minor in criminal justice. She decided she wanted to study history after taking a Dual Enrollment class at MTSU at 16. Working hard she graduated with her associates degree from Columbia State at 18 and then transferred to MTSU. She plans to pursue a law degree after graduation. Her goal in attaining a law degree is to help her community through contributing to the American legal system. Even since she was a child, she loved learning about history and loves to continue learning and applying it in her study of law. This summer she will be attending a study abroad program in London where they will be learning about the history of the American legal system. Adeline enjoys spending time with her family and friends, playing the piano, painting and reading in her free time.
Jocelyn Bullock
Jocelyn Bullock is a junior Instrumental Music Education major with a minor in University Honors. She is currently completing her Honors Thesis on the factors which inhibit Black and Hispanic students from succeeding in Middle Tennessee magnet schools under the guidance of Dr. Everett Singleton and will defend her thesis in Spring 2026. Jocelyn is the secretary/treasurer of MTSU’s Collegiate National Association for Music Education, the manager of the MTSU Instrument Rental and Storage Room, and a member of the School of Music Student Advisory Council, Wind Ensemble, and Blue Bones Quartet. She currently holds a 4.0 GPA and has made Dean’s List 5 consecutive semesters. After graduation, Jocelyn hopes to become a middle school band director where she can give students a supportive learning environment and a positive first experience with music.
Elijah Carney
Elijah Carney is a junior Philosophy major with a minor in Religious Studies at Middle Tennessee State University. He dedicates much of his time to the MTSU football program, where he plays inside linebacker. Since arriving at MTSU in the fall of 2024, Elijah has earned two Defensive Scout Team Player of the Week awards and one Special Teams Player of the Week award. He has recorded three tackles and currently holds the second-highest special teams PFF grade on the team. Beyond athletics, Elijah serves as a student leader in the campus ministry of Every Nation Campus. He founded and leads a weekly Bible study and conducts one-on-one devotionals with fellow students. He also volunteers with the Boys and Girls Club in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Academically, Elijah has been named to the Dean’s List every semester while maintaining a 4.0 GPA. He is on track to graduate in Spring 2027 and plans to pursue a vocation in Christian ministry and spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Nicholas Perrone
Nicholas Perrone is a senior at Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU). He is also a first-generation college student, double majoring in Political Science and Economics with a minor in Writing. He has served on the MTSU Dean’s List every semester since Fall 2023. Nicholas is heavily involved in extracurriculars while also managing his studies. First, Nicholas is the current President of the Legal Studies Society (LSS). He joined LSS in Spring 2024 and realized that he wanted to attend law school. Since then, he has worked his way up to the position he currently holds as President of the organization. In LSS, Nicholas helps to coordinate with other law schools to host law school events. Additionally, he hosts weekly LSAT study sessions with classmates interested in the exam. The most notable event from last semester was the day with Wesley Clark, when he discussed his time at MTSU, law school, and the phenomenal work he has done since graduating. Secondly, Nicholas is a member of the MTSU Mock Trial Team and received two outstanding witness awards. He is also a member of numerous honor societies, including Phi Kappa Phi, Pi Sigma Alpha, and Gamma Iota Sigma Risk Management and Insurance Academic Fraternity. Nicholas also serves as a student leader on campus as a CLA Emissary. In this role, Nicholas represents the College of Liberal Arts by attending various CLA events and sharing his experiences at MTSU, both inside and outside the classroom. Nicholas enjoys sharing his stories with prospective students interested in attending MTSU, as well as those particularly interested in the Political and Global Affairs Program. During his time at MTSU, Nicholas has completed two internships. First, in Fall 2024, Nicholas was the “In Process” intern. In Process is a creative writing series hosted by the MTSU English Department, where authors come and share their works “in process” or share their newly released works. In this role, Nicholas was responsible for helping run these events and also ran a column on the In Process blog called “The Afterthought.” There, Nicholas would share his comments from each event and explain what he had learned or what he found insightful. Nicholas also interviewed three authors and was responsible for transcribing, editing, and uploading the three interviews to the In Process blog. Second, Nicholas also interned with the Rutherford County District Attorney’s Office. There, he would do anything asked of him by the other D.A.s and had the opportunity to watch docket call, many preliminary hearings, bond hearings, and a few trials. Nicholas enjoyed his time working with the D.A.’s Office and cannot wait to make practicing law a reality. One of his favorite opportunities was a study abroad program in Europe. On the study abroad, Nicholas studied the various financial and insurance markets in London, France, and Germany, which was a fantastic experience. Nicholas also had the opportunity to go to the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France! Nicholas cannot thank the PGA faculty enough for helping him grow academically and professionally over the years. In the fall, Nicholas plans to attend law school, but is uncertain as to where at the time of writing this.
Miles Wine
Miles Wine, a double major in Public Writing and Rhetoric as well as English with a minor in University Honors, is about to begin his senior year at MTSU with plans of attending a composition and rhetoric program post-grad. He is working towards a life in academia with dreams of becoming a professor of English, particularly a professor of composition. Currently, he serves as a peer mentor and tutor at MTSU’s University Writing Center, guiding clients towards life-long writing and communication skills. Miles enjoys drawing on his experiences as a transman to study discourse surrounding marginalized populations; he hopes that his research can contribute to cultivating a society that is unafraid to question its norms, especially for the sake of uplifting the “Others” such standards may create. He seeks to confront the ways in which communities are policed, pathologized, and diminished through humor and assumptions within academic and general contexts.
Taylor Tims (Overall CLA Outstanding Student Winner)
Taylor Nicole Tims is a senior majoring in Anthropology and Theatre and minoring in Archaeology and University Honors. During her academic career at MTSU, Taylor has striven to be an active member of the College of Liberal Arts, serving as President of the Middle Tennessee Anthropology Society, representing the college as an Emissary, and working on several MTSU Theatre productions. She has studied abroad in Brazil and has interned in Tanzania and Norway to further advance her academic career. In addition, she has served on the Student Judicial Board of the SGA and is a Peer Career Ambassador for MTSU’s Career Development Center. She is a Buchanan Transfer Fellow and is currently completing her honors thesis on the development and extent of anthropogenic soils in the Amazon rainforest, supported by a Gold-level URECA Grant. Taylor plans to earn her PhD in geoarchaeology and hopes to teach at an R1 University in her future.
Caryss Johnson
Caryss Johnson is a Theatre Design Tech senior with an emphasis on scenic design. She enjoys working on new and established pieces both directing and designing. Some of her work can be seen in pieces with the Knoxville Opera (La Traviata, Pirates of Penzance, Falstaff), River and Rail Theatre (Fat Ham), Watershed Public Theatre (A Doll’s House), Springhouse Theatre Co (The Little Mermaid), as well as her original production Shine a Light and more. In addition to Scenic design and direction, Ms. Johnson has experience in costuming, props, audio, lighting and projections. She enjoys collaborating on all kinds of projects while pursuing a BS in Theatre at Middle Tennessee State University. She is always looking to pick up new skills and is ready for a challenge!
Ruby Neu
Ruby Neu represents the qualities of an outstanding liberal arts student. She has taken her love of language learning beyond just German and will earn a second bachelors in Japanese. Ruby participated in the Germersheim exchange in Germany, refining her language abilities and deepening her cultural understanding and appreciation. In the fall of 2025, Ruby successfully defended her Honors Thesis: “Bringing Golems Wiederkehr to English: A Translation and Methodological Analysis,” a major project, on which she did an outstanding job. Ruby has received the Ortrud Engehausen Gilbert Award for her excellence in German studies, been a member of Lamda Sigma (having served as a student volunteer) and Omicron Delta Kappa, as well as participating in the Women’s Poetry Reading event in 2025. Outside of MTSU, Ruby has worked as a long-term, full-time caregiver and a math tutor volunteer for Stewarts Creek High School, striking a delicate balance between her university duties and non-university obligations. After graduation in May, Ruby plans to continue her study of German and Japanese literature. After having received encouragement by a faculty member at Johns Hopkins University, Ruby has applied to this prestigious university for graduate work.
Graduate Students (Listed by Department/Program)
Nicholas Krause
Nich Krause graduated with his Ph.D. in English in December of 2025. He spent the past five years teaching first-year writing and literature courses at MTSU. His research explores the ethics of representation of bodies in the media, and specifically the ways in which film and television represent fat bodies. His background is in film theory, fat studies, and feminist pragmatism. Dr. Krause’s work has been published in Screen Bodies: The Journal of Embodiment, Media Arts, and Technology, Excessive Bodies: A Journal of Artistic and Critical Fat Praxis and Worldmaking, and Alphaville: Journal of Film and Screen Media, among other venues. He is also passionate about Open Educational Resources and
Katherine Hughes
A public historian and preservationist whose work is deeply rooted in a commitment to community-engagement, Katherine C. Hughes recently completed her Ph.D. in Public History under the direction of Dr. Carroll Van West. Her dissertation employs extensive archival research, decorative arts documentation, and genealogical identification to explore over two centuries of history at a family plantation in East Tennessee. Kate’s research often focuses on the 18th- and 19th-century material culture of the American South, with an emphasis on exploring marginalized and ignored histories through objects, architecture, and place. While at MTSU, Kate worked as a graduate research assistant at the Center for Historic Preservation, where she substantially assisted in research, writing, and fieldwork for a variety of projects including building surveys, National Register nominations, and community exhibits. As a student, she served a year on the AGSH board, presented at numerous conferences, and was awarded several external research fellowships.Prior to returning to school for her doctorate, Kate worked at museums and preservation organizations, including Colonial Williamsburg and The Metropolitan Museum of Art, where she contributed to the landmark exhibition and accompanying catalog Hear Me Now: The Black Potters of Old Edgefield, South Carolina. Currently a Lecturer in Interior Design History at the University of Texas at Austin’s School of Architecture, when she’s not traveling, Kate spends her time hiking Tennessee’s beautiful state parks, exploring historic back roads and cemeteries with friends, and fitting as much art and music into whatever time is left.
Syeda Sumaya Tasnim (Overall CLA Outstanding Student Winner)
Syeda Sumaya Tasnim is a second-year graduate student in the International Affairs M.A. program. Sumaya’s academic record is noteworthy for her 4.0 GPA and multiple merit-based scholarships, including a fully funded scholarship to participate in The Washington Center’s Non-profit Leadership and Advocacy Seminar in Washington D.C. As a Graduate Teaching Assistant for the Department of Political and Global Affairs, Sumaya has provided instructional support for undergraduate courses, assisted with evaluations, and guided students in graduate-level coursework, especially with respect to professional skills appropriate to the nonprofit sector. Additionally, she has supported several faculty members with their academic research. Sumaya’s professional experience reflects a deep commitment to public service and governance. As a Project Officer in Bangladesh, she managed communications with major international stakeholders, including the British Embassy, USAID, and the European Union. At the grassroots level, she led vital advocacy campaigns for the Right to Information Act in Bangladesh, specifically empowering marginalized women and young girls from slums and villages to understand their rights and access public resources. In the United States, Sumaya has worked with Greenhouse Ministries, using her communication skills and nonprofit experience to coordinate volunteers and provide valuable services to the people of Murfreesboro. Having worked at both the international diplomacy and the heart of local movements, Sumaya is dedicated to ensuring that global security research remains rooted in the human stories it is meant to serve.
Seth Graves-Huffman
Seth Graves-Huffman recently graduated from Middle Tennessee State University with a Master of Arts in Liberal Arts. Prior to this, he earned an undergraduate degree from MTSU completing a double major in Philosophy and in Religious Studies. His time at MTSU was deeply formative and solidified a direction of study that felt both meaningful and intellectually necessary. Through his work in the MALA program, he was able to refine his academic focus into the philosophy of religious psychology and religious phenomenology, with a focus on the religious pragmatism of William James, the history of Islamic Philosophy, and the Philosophy of Mysticism, with an extensive focus on middle-age Sufi philosopher Ibn Arabi. He intends to pursue a PhD in Philosophy.
John Wilson
John Wilson is a composer/conductor from Murfreesboro, TN who is pursuing an M.M. in Instrumental Conducting under a Full GTA Scholarship. He received his undergraduate degree in Music Theory/Composition from MTSU in 2022 and has since published multiple original works for various ensembles. This Spring, Wilson’s newest work “Ignis Fanfare” and his score for a short film are set to be performed by the MTSU Wind Ensemble and premiered at the Lipscomb University 5-Minute Film Festival, respectively. He is a member of Sigma Alpha Pi, the American Choral Directors Association, the Band of Blue Alumni Club, and Phi Mu Alpha, the last of which he served as the MTSU chapter’s president. As a conductor, trumpet player, and vocalist, he has performed in many prestigious ensembles at home and abroad, traveling to England, China, Switzerland, and Costa Rica among others. After his master’s, Wilson hopes to continue serving as a journalist for the Music City Review, teach as an adjunct professor in music, and eventually pursue a DMA in Music Theory or Conducting.
Vaun Baltimore
Vaun Baltimore is a sociology scholar whose work brings together digital media, adolescent development, and the ethics of algorithmic design. His academic journey at Middle Tennessee State University has been shaped by a deep interest in how young people navigate curated online environments and how these systems influence identity, behavior, and opportunity. His thesis research examined recommendation algorithms on platforms such as YouTube, Netflix, and TikTok, reflecting his commitment to understanding the social consequences of emerging technologies. Vaun’s scholarly work has been shared at national and regional conferences, and his research has been published in the Journal of Developmental and Life Course Criminology. His academic life is strengthened by meaningful service to the university, including roles on the Sociology and Anthropology Student Advisory Board and the College of Liberal Arts Student Advisory Team. He approaches his work with curiosity, care, and a dedication to improving the lives of young people and the communities that support them.
