MARCH

Women's History Month

Six individuals were lauded for their pioneering efforts to aid women at the 2022 Trailblazer Awards at MTSU on March 29.

Winners—who represent members of the MTSU community and members of the greater community who are nominated and voted on by MTSU faculty, students, and staff—were celebrated at the official closing ceremony for National Women’s History Month.

Lucy Langworthy, an advisor to the dean of the College of Liberal Arts, was hailed for her work as a mentor, helping students to make major life decisions even after they graduated.

Terri Schultz, executive director for Rutherford County Habitat for Humanity, was praised for helping families remain strong and hopeful, even as housing prices rise.

Future Trailblazer award winners were Khadijah Alnassari and her 15-year-old triplets, Ahmed, Fatimah, and Zaynab. All four Alnassaris are MTSU students.

Khadijah was the prime organizer of the inaugural Festival of Veils, a March 19 event centered around enlightening the public about the use of veils in various religions and cultures.

Ahmed tutors and mentors teenage boys in Nashville on the weekends. He has volunteered for Habitat for Humanity and has worked as an assistant to a doctor with Medical Brigades in Honduras.

Fatimah is co-founder and secretary of Al-Wahda, an MTSU student organization focused on inclusivity and acceptance. She also is a mentor and tutor and has taken up donations for Raiders’ Closet.

Zaynab, the event coordinator for Al-Wahda, also volunteers her time to help other teenagers.

Better Understanding Crime

MTSU’s Ben Stickle, a Criminal Justice Administration associate professor, took six years’ worth of policing experience from patrol to the classroom when he changed careers to become a professor.

Now, a decade after he left the force, three of Stickle’s research and evaluation efforts helped the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation receive a combined $950,000 in funding from the federal Bureau of Justice Assistance and the Bureau of Justice Statistics.

Two of these grants fund studies on the impact of coronavirus on crime and criminal justice at the state and local level. Adam Rennhoff, MTSU Economics professor, assisted Stickle with this research.

The third grant awarded Stickle $800,000 as part of the state’s Enhanced Collaborative Model Task Force to Combat Human Trafficking program. Carter Smith, a Criminal Justice Administration master instructor at MTSU, also works on the project and provides research assistance.

Public Safety

Alumna Sarah Jackson, MTSU Public Safety dispatcher

A new degree program, launched in March 2022 in MTSU’s University College, allows more public servants to earn their bachelor’s degrees.

The new Public Safety concentration is part of the Integrated Studies major. The degree program can be completed online and is specifically designed for those already working in the public safety field. It features courses from management, sociology, communications, and health.

The Public Safety concentration is designed for those in law enforcement, homeland security, emergency management, and fire safety, and other public service professionals at the local, state and federal levels. Students who qualify can also earn credit for their past work experience and training.