Planning and Effectiveness

Community Engagement Elective Classification Council

Council Charge

The Community Engagement Elective Classification Council brings together representatives from across colleges and divisions to 

  • Celebrate and elevate community engagement in teaching, learning, scholarship, and the co-curriculum
  • Support implementation of the 2035 Strategic Plan framework, specifically Priority 3 Cultivate sustainable partnerships and Priority 3 Strategy Strengthen community and industry collaborations
  • Lay groundwork for a future application for the Carnegie Community Engagement Elective Classification 
  • Advocate for a sustained institution-wide commitment to community engagement
  • Encourage communication about engagement activities within the University community

Council Members
MemberPosition, Department/Office, & College/Division
Allen, CynthiaEnvironmental Specialist, Business and Finance
Arroyo, FredAssociate Professor, English, College of Liberal Arts
Avila, JacobAssociate Professor, Concrete and Construction Management, Basic and Applied Sciences
Barton, MichaelAssistant Vice President, Information Technology
Bryant, LayneAssistant Vice Provost, Academic Affairs
Clark, YvetteVice President, Information Technology
Christian, GeraldAssociate Director, Disability and Access Center, Student Affairs
Gibson, JeffAssociate Dean, Liberal Arts
Hoffschwelle, MaryVice Provost, Academic Affairs
Huber, KeithSenior Advisor for Veterans and Leadership Initiatives, Academic Affairs
Kelley, DannyAssistant Vice President, Student Affairs
McCormick, JanetProfessor, Communication Studies, Liberal Arts
Medrano, KatieProgram Manager, Research and Sponsored Programs, Academic Affairs
Moore, BekaDirector, Career Development Center, Student Affairs
Myatt, JulieProfessor, English, Liberal Arts and Director, Engage, Provost’s Office
Noguerira, SorayaProfessor, World Languages, Literatures, and Cultures, Liberal Arts
O’Neill, ToddAssociate Professor, School of Journalism and Strategic Media, Media and Entertainment
Rust, DiannaProfessor, University Studies, University College
Sayward, AmyProfessor, History, Liberal Arts and Director, American Democracy Project
Sokoya, KimAssociate Dean, Business
Sutherland, SuzanneProfessor, History, Liberal Arts and President, Faculty Senate
Swayze, CarolDirector, EXL, University College
Tammen, BradDirector, Strategic Partnerships, Development, University Advancement
Diserens, AlannaGraduate Assistant, Provost’s Office, Academic Affairs
Smith, NoraGraduate Assistant, Provost’s Office, Academic Affairs
Highlighted Activities

A selection of the Council’s activities for 2025-2026 will be available at the end of the academic year.

Council Members
MemberPosition, Department/Office, & College/Division
Arroyo, FredAssociate Professor, English, College of Liberal Arts
Avila, JacobAssociate Professor, Concrete and Construction Management, Basic and Applied Sciences
Barton, MichaelAssistant Vice President, Information Technology
Bryant, LayneAssistant Vice Provost, Academic Affairs
Clark, YvetteVice President, Information Technology
Christian, GeraldAssociate Director, Disability and Access Center, Student Affairs
Gibson, JeffAssociate Dean, Liberal Arts
Hoffschwelle, MaryVice Provost, Academic Affairs
Kelley, DannyAssistant Vice President, Student Affairs
McCormick, JanetProfessor, Communication Studies, Liberal Arts
Medrano, KatieProgram Manager, Research and Sponsored Programs, Academic Affairs
Moore, BekaDirector, Career Development Center, Student Affairs
Myatt, JulieProfessor, English, Liberal Arts and Director, Engage, Provost’s Office
O’Neill, ToddAssociate Professor, School of Journalism and Strategic Media, Media and Entertainment
Rust, DiannaProfessor, University Studies, University College
Sokoya, KimAssociate Dean, Business
Sutherland, SuzanneProfessor, History, Liberal Arts and President, Faculty Senate
Swayze, CarolDirector, EXL, University College
Tammen, BradDirector, Strategic Partnerships, Development, University Advancement
Smith, NoraGraduate Assistant, Provost’s Office, Academic Affairs
Highlighted Activities

Organizational Changes

  • Incorporated leadership of 23-24 engaged pedagogy and engaged scholarship work groups sponsored by University Provost.
  • Added Office of Research and Sponsored Programs representative.
  • Renamed as “Council” on recommendation of University Counsel and approval by members.

Center for Teaching and Mentoring Activities

  • Faculty Book Group (approved, not implemented) The Craft of Community Engaged Teaching and Learning
  • Workshop, “Engaged Teaching Panel Discussion” (March 20, MT Engage)
  • Workshop, “The Value of Incorporating Community Partners into Your Teaching” (March 28, EXL)

Activities for University and External Audiences Activities

  • Grant Community Networking Brunch (April 2, ORSP)
  • Community Organization/Nonprofit Grant Works (April 21, ORSP)
  • Guest speaker, Dr. Emily Janke, Director, Institute for Community and Economic Engagement, University of North Carolina, Greensboro (February 24, Provost’s Office, MT Engage, Department of English, and University College sponsors)

Selected Engagement Activities by Council Members and MTSU Faculty and Staff

  • Career Fairs organized by Career Development Center, Beka Moore
  • Murfreesboro Technology Council, Todd O’Neill
  • Data Science Institute, Keith Gamble
  • MTSU Tech Vision Conference, Sam Zaza organizer, Todd O’Neill speaker. April 10-11.
  • Engage in Your Community Award, Julie Myatt
  • Relay for Life, Dianna Rust, campus director. Dr. Rust was also a recipient of the 2025 Harold Love Outstanding Community Service Award.