SEGMENT ONE – 8:10 a.m.

GUEST: Dr. Matthew Taylor, assistant professor in the MTSU School of Journalism and Strategic Media

TOPIC: Taylor’s social media research, Twitter and the new MTSU Social Media Insights Lab

Taylor’s teaching and research are informed by more than a decade of professional communication experience concentrated primarily in the areas of nonprofit education and health.

The new MTSU Social Media Insights Lab provides students, faculty, staff, and local organizations with training in social media management, social media listening, audience research, influencer engagement, and data analysis using open-source and subscription platforms.

Housed in the School of Journalism and Strategic Media, this innovative lab empowers students with hands-on access to platforms used by leading brands including Unilever, Delta, Nestle, and GSK. Students can collaborate with their peers and faculty members on research and professional projects that will prepare them for careers in Nashville and beyond. 

The lab is a mission-driven effort that is consistent with MTSU’s call for faculty and students to “generate, preserve, and disseminate knowledge and collaboratively promote excellence through teaching and learning, research, creative activity, and public engagement.”

SEGMENT TWO – 8:25 a.m.

GUES: Dr. Amy Atchison, professor and new chair of the Department of Political Science & International Relations

TOPIC: Her background and new role as chair, the midterm election results and women in U.S. and international politics

Atchison assumed her new role this semester after serving on the faculty at Valparaiso University in Indiana.

Raised in a military family, Atchison earned her bachelor’s from Jacksonville State University in Alabama, her master’s from Florida State University and her doctorate from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.

U.S. highly polarized political atmosphere continues to grapple with the fallout from the surprising national midterm elections in which the Democratic Party defied historical odds to hold the Senate and lost far fewer House seats than many experts predicted.

Meanwhile, while women continue to make strides in winning political office at the federal level, the atmosphere remains dominated by men despite women being half or better of the population.

MTSU’s Department of Political Science and International Relations faculty and degree programs help to prepare students for a wide range of careers in government, law, public service, public affairs, international affairs, non-governmental organizations, and education, and prepare students for advanced degrees in these areas.

The department offers undergraduate degrees in Political Science (Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science) as well as in International Relations (Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science). It also offers a graduate degree, the Master of Arts in International Affairs.

Learn more at https://www.mtsu.edu/politicalscience/index.php.

SEGMENT THREE – 8:40 a.m.

GUEST: Dr. Jamie Teachenor (pronounced TEACH-ner), adjunct songwriting professor in the Department of Recording Industry 

TOPIC: His new role in the MTSU Commercial Songwriting Program and his creation of the new U.S. Space Force official song

The U.S. Space Force, the newest military branch established in 2019 as a part of the U.S. Air Force, has its own anthem, thanks to an adjunct professor of songwriting at Middle Tennessee State University’s College of Media and Entertainment.

The Space Force officially adopted “Semper Supra,” written by Jamie Teachenor, on Sept. 20 during the 2022 Air & Space Forces Association Air, Space and Cyber Conference in National Harbor, Maryland.

“Semper Supra” was named after the Space Force motto, which is Latin for “Always Above.” It was created to capture the esprit de corps of both current and future Guardians, and intends to bring together service members by giving them a sense of pride.

Teachenor, an award-winning singer, songwriter and producer who has written songs, and recorded with many country artists including Blake Shelton, Luke Bryan and Trisha Yearwood, said it took a lot of research and revisions to make sure the song was ready for release.

A veteran himself and prior member of the U.S. Air Force band at the Air Force Academy, Teachenor worked with Chief of Space Operations Gen. John “Jay” Raymond to begin the songwriting process when the Space Force was formed in 2019.

Middle Tennessee State University became the first collegiate marching band to perform the Space Force song Nov. 12 during the halftime of the 40th Salute to Veterans and Armed Forces game at Floyd Stadium.