8 minute read
Alumni Awards
Introducing the 2024–25 honorees
From aviation, education, and communication to fermentation science and the military, MTSU’s outstanding alumni for 2024–25 represent career distinction and service to community.
photos by James Cessn
Distinguished Alumni Award recipient Peggy Chabrian, who was recently inducted into the National Aviation Hall of Fame, founded and led Women in Aviation International, served in aviation higher education administration, and owns Chabrian Aviation. Jack Daniel’s assistant distiller Lexie Phillips earned the Young Alumni Achievement Award, while True Blue Citations of Distinction were awarded to communicator and community volunteer Kristen Gallant, longtime educator Judy Goodwin, College of Liberal Arts Dean Leah Tolbert Lyons, and retired U.S. Army Brig. Gen. David Ogg.
“Their accomplishments show the breadth of personal and professional success of our graduates,” Alumni Relations Director Ginger Freeman said.Distinguished Alumni Award recipient Peggy Chabrian, who was recently inducted into the National Aviation Hall of Fame, founded and led Women in Aviation International, served in aviation higher education administration, and owns Chabrian Aviation. Jack Daniel’s assistant distiller Lexie Phillips earned the Young Alumni Achievement Award, while True Blue Citations of Distinction were awarded to communicator and community volunteer Kristen Gallant, longtime educator Judy Goodwin, College of Liberal Arts Dean Leah Tolbert Lyons, and retired U.S. Army Brig. Gen. David Ogg.
Top-Flight
From restaurant job to first flight, Peggy Chabrian lands at MTSU and finds sky isn’t the limit
California native and current Florida resident Peggy Chabrian’s career skyrocketed after she earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Aerospace Education and Aerospace Administration at MTSU. Named the Distinguished Alumni Award recipient for 2024–25, Chabrian (’80) is a publisher, higher education administrator, and aviation company owner who was enshrined in the National Aviation Hall of Fame last fall.
FIVE QUESTIONS
Peggy Chabrian grew up in Southern California but decided to attend a college in Tennessee.
After a long three-day, two-night trip on a Greyhound bus, she started college in Collegedale, Tennessee, only to be introduced to flying and eventually changing universities and her major—to aviation. She founded Women in Aviation International in 1990; the organization’s first conference had 150 participants. T he Women in Aviation International conference has grown to more than 4,500 attendees, and WAI represents more than 13,000 women and men from all segments of the aviation industry.
Chabrian is only the second woman to hold the position of dean of an engineering school in the United States and has served as dean for Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and Parks College, and as chair of the aviation department at Georgia State University. She is a 2,200hour multi-engine pilot and owns a Cessna 150.
Started in aviation?
I was a college student, majoring in education, working a part-time job in a restaurant. One of the regular customers was always talking about flying and inviting people to come out to the airport and take a flight. I was 21 years old and had never been to an airport, let alone having flown in an airplane. That first flight was in a 1946 Ercoupe, a low-wing two-seat canopy airplane, and the flight was one I’ll never forget.
Biggest challenges?
Having the funds to fly was a challenge. To help pay for my flying, I started an aviation ground school business. I was teaching ground school three nights in week in three different states—Tennessee, Alabama, and Georgia—in a restaurant, FBO lobby, flight school, and classroom. Many flight instructors didn’t like the ground school portion of flight training, so this market became my first aviation business.
Favorite aircraft?
There’s still a special place in my heart for the Ercoupe. I have owned two Ercoupes, helping to restore one of them. My other two favorite aircraft are the de Havilland Beaver and the Cessna 150. Last, and certainly not least, is the Robinson R22 helicopter that I flew for my helicopter rating.
How can we get more women/minorities in aviation?
The biggest key to introducing women to aviation is introducing them to it at a young age. Initiatives such as the EAA Young Eagles program, Women in Aviation’s Girls in Aviation Day project, and AOPA’s new high school curriculum are all good examples of reaching young people.
Advice for students?
Make sure you have the right instructor. I find it disheartening to hear of people who share bad experiences with flight instructors and gave up flying. Remember, you are the customer. Learning to fly takes time and resources, so be sure you are maximizing both with a good instructor.
“Five Questions” is reprinted with permission as a courtesy of the nonprofit Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) from its website, aopa.org.
Distinguished Alumni Award
Peggy Chabrian
Business: Founder, president, and CEO of Women in Aviation International for 25 years; publisher of Aviation for Women magazine (1997–2019) and Aviation for Girls magazine (2015–19); owner of Chabrian Aviation.
Academia: Associate vice president and dean of Parks College, Saint Louis University (1990–95); associate dean, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (1988–90); assistant professor and director of the Center of Excellence, EmbryRiddle (1986–98); aviation department chair, Georgia State University (1985–86).
Many of the things I learned at MTSU were instrumental in my flying, teaching, and administrative experiences and were a part of the formation of Women in Aviation International.
Young Alumni Achievement
Lexie Phillips
Before becoming Jack Daniel’s first female assistant distiller in 2020, Phillips (’11) worked in the 158-year-old company’s quality control and distillery operations as lead operator—one of o nly six women to achieve this status.
In 2014, the MTSU Agribusiness graduate was inspired by a co-worker and her elective Fermentation Science classes to become a distiller.
Phillips, who lives in Estill Springs, served as brand ambassador for four years and has been heavily involved with the creation and launch of several innovative products, playing a pivotal role in the distillation and launch of Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Rye.
MTSU was one of my influences that taught me hard work and curiosity can lead you to amazing places in life.
Achievement in Education (MTSU faculty)
Leah Tolbert Lyon
Lyons (’95), who joined MTSU’s faculty in 2001, has taught French language, literature, and film at the undergraduate and graduate levels and has demonstrated a strong commitment to general education teaching. After 17 years in the classroom and having served in various administrative capacities, Lyons entered full-time administration in 2019 as interim associate dean and is now dean of the College of Liberal Arts.
She has presented research across the U.S., Canada, and Switzerland, publishing in English and French, and is co-editor of Incorporating Foreign Language Content in Humanities Courses (Routledge, 2019).Lyons (’95), who joined MTSU’s faculty in 2001, has taught French language, literature, and film at the undergraduate and graduate levels and has demonstrated a strong commitment to general education teaching. After 17 years in the classroom and having served in various administrative capacities, Lyons entered full-time administration in 2019 as interim associate dean and is now dean of the College of Liberal Arts.
My French professor, the late Dr. Nancy Goldberg, encouraged me to spend a year studying abroad. This prepared me for graduate school and my career in academia.
Achievement in Education (non-MTSU faculty)
Judy Goodwin
A 53-year career educator, Goodwin (’70, ’72) worked as a teacher in Williamson and Rutherford counties for 25 years and has spent over 28 years as an administrator, including as Barfield Elementary School’s principal the past 24. The Rutherford County Schools’ 2021 Principal of the Year also was twice a finalist for Teacher of the Year in Tennessee and a two-time finalist for Principal of the Year in Tennessee.
Inspired at age 6 by her first-grade teacher, Goodwin has mentored countless aspiring teachers and administrators.
At 16, my life changed forever when I entered MTSU through the Pre-Honors Program that set me on a sacred career path, education, a career that I absolutely love!
Service to Community
Kristen Gallant
Gallant (’18), of Knoxville, has served as a volunteer for Youth Villages since 2015, raising more than $12,000 and collecting items for foster care and adoptive families for the organization.
A former television reporter and now a communications specialist at the University of Tennessee, the Journalism major established Chances: Creating Families Through Adoption Inc. and created the Rock the Stage fundraising talent competition to benefit Youth Villages and the Children’s Miracle Network.
Being a part of FSL life, student organizations, and honors societies, along with the education I received, helped me secure three internships and my first job.
Ogg (’78, ’87) served more than 32 years in the U.S. Army, is a former assistant chair of the Military Science Department, and has supported U.S. national defense in various post-retirement positions. In 2010, the Health and Physical Education graduate received the Distinguished Service Medal—the Army’s highest honor outside combat operations.
During 22 years in the Army Acquisition Corps, Ogg also earned the Army’s Project Manager of the Year in 2003 by leading the Stryker Brigade Combat Team’s $9 billion budget and delivering 300 vehicles ahead of schedule.
Attending MTSU gave me a family, a 32-year Army career retiring as a brigad ier general, and friends I’d never have known if not for MTSU.
