Monthly Archives: March 2026

CBHS students earn awards at MTSU Scholars Week 2026 Poster Session

Travis Ray

CBHS News >

CBHS students earned awards at both the undergraduate and graduate levels at MTSU’s Scholars Week Poster Session in March 2026.

Students from across the college presented original research, with six earning top honors and many others representing CBHS across Psychology, Public Health, Health and Human Performance, Human Sciences, Nutrition and Food Science, Social Work, and Interior Design.

Undergraduate awards

Travis Ray

1st Place: Travis Ray, Psychology: “Exploring Undergraduate Biology Students’ Vaccine Knowledge, Experiences in Vaccine Education, and Vaccine Communication” | Faculty mentor: Dr. Elizabeth Barnes, Biology

Edgar Rodriguez and Trenton McAlmond

2nd Place: Trenton McAlmond and Edgar Rodriguez, Psychology: “Administration of Intracerebral Oxytocin and its Effect on Social Motivation in C57BL/6J Mice” | Faculty mentor: Dr. Tiffany Rodgers, Psychology

Elizabeth Lawrence

3rd Place: Elizabeth Lawrence, Psychology: “Exploring Effects of Musical Rhythm and Speech Rhythm (Lexical Stress) Perception on Speech-in-Noise Outcomes in Older Adults” | Faculty mentor: Dr. Cyrille Magne, Psychology

Graduate awards

Greylon Gawaluck

1st Place: Greylon Gawaluck: “Assessing Social Isolation, Barriers to Social Connectedness, and Needs Associated with Psycho-Social Well-Being in a Rare Disease Population” | Faculty mentor: Dr. Angie Bowman, Public Health

2nd Place: Ade Hennis: “The Four Pillars of Environmental Fitness” | Faculty mentor: Dr. Kahler Stone, Public Health

Huda Al Hamda

3rd Place: Huda Alhamad: “Understanding HPV Vaccine Hesitancy: Insights from a Survey-Based Study” | Faculty mentor: Dr. Angie Bowman, Public Health

CBHS poster presenters

The winners above represent only part of the story. CBHS students present posters on Friday across Psychology, Public Health, Health and Human Performance, Human Sciences, Nutrition and Food Science, Social Work, and Interior Design. Every one of them put real work into getting their research to the poster stage, and we are glad they represented the college.

Undergraduate presenters

Fashion Studies Students
Fashion Studies Students
Christina Askew
Christina Askew
Regan Bernard
Regan Bernard
Aubrey von dem Bussche
Aubrey von dem Bussche
Jessica Whicker
Jessica Whicker
Brian Kiptoo
Brian Kiptoo
Joel Iheakolam
Joel Iheakolam
  • Christina Askew, Public Health
  • Gulnur Ashyrnepesova, Psychology
  • Raegan Bernard, Public Health
  • Sophie Duffy, Psychology
  • Kate Elam, Nutrition and Food Science
  • Lena Eccles, Human Sciences
  • Tracy Fryer, Nutrition and Food Science
  • Cindy Garcia Gonzalez, Interior Design
  • Blen Hagos, Public Health
  • Sophia Hession, Psychology
  • Joel Iheakolam, Health and Human Performance
  • Trinity Johnson, Psychology
  • Elizabeth Lawrence, Psychology
  • Anakarina Lorenzana De Witt, Health and Human Performance
  • Abbie McCullough, Health and Human Performance
  • Travis Ray, Biology
  • Edgar Rodriguez Castro, Psychology
  • Niera Sayasack, Health and Human Performance
  • Batoul Sawas, Psychology
  • Aubrey von dem Bussche, Health and Human Performance
  • Hannah Wallace, Health and Human Performance
  • Mabel Adams, Textiles Merchandising and Design
  • Gloria Chu, Textiles Merchandising and Design
  • Cordelia Foxx, Textiles Merchandising and Design
  • Vannessa Martinez, Textiles Merchandising and Design
  • Madelyn Meek, Textiles Merchandising and Design
  • Taylor Rose, Textiles Merchandising and Design
  • Emma Shapard, Textiles Merchandising and Design
  • Kennedy Stewart, Textiles Merchandising and Design

Graduate presenters

Dilman Mahmoud
Dilman Mahmoud
Seyram Gle PhD Student
Seyram Gle
Katy Stone PhD
Katy Stone
  • Huda Al Hamad, Health and Human Performancel
  • Courtney Allison, Social Work
  • Greylon Gawaluck, Health and Human Performance
  • Seyram Gle, Health and Human Performance
  • Adé Hennis, Health and Human Performance
  • Dilman Mahmoud, Health and Human Performance
  • Mary McAuliffe, Health and Human Performance
  • Katy Stone, Health and Human Performance
  • Sylvia Vonderwell, Psychology

Thank You to Our Faculty Mentors

None of this happens without the faculty who invested their time and guidance in these students.

A Special Thank You to Our Scholars Week Committee Members

A big thank you to the CBHS faculty who served on the Scholars Week Committee and helped make this event a success:

Dr. Kathryn Blankenship, Health and Human Performance

Dr. Angie Bowman, Health and Human Performance

Dr. Marie Patterson inducted into Tennessee PA Hall of Fame 

Dr. Marie Patterson

CBHS News >

Dr. Marie Patterson

Dr. Marie Patterson has been inducted into the Tennessee Academy of Physician Assistants Hall of Fame. The honor recognizes her decades of work building and advancing the PA profession in Tennessee.

She accepted the role of founding director in the spring of 2020, just as the pandemic hit. She also helped launch the PA program at Lipscomb University, serves as chair of the Tennessee Board of Physician Assistants, and represents the state on the National PA Compact Commission.

“Her impact on physician assistant education across Tennessee and her dedication to service make this Hall of Fame recognition both fitting and well-deserved,” said Dean Peter Grandjean.

Read the full story on MTSU News.

Social Work students join the Green Bandana Project to support student mental health

Twenty-two Social Work students completed the Green Bandana Project last week through Jamie Langley's Interviewing Skills course, pushing MTSU's total program completions to just over 30.

CBHS News >

CBHS faculty and staff are displaying green bandanas to signal to students that they are a safe, approachable person to talk to about mental health.

Twenty-two Social Work students completed the Green Bandana Project last week through Jamie Langley’s Interviewing Skills course, pushing MTSU’s total program completions to just over 30.

The Green Bandana Project trains participants to recognize when a peer is struggling and step in as a supportive resource. MTSU is currently the only university in Tennessee with the program, and the Interviewing Skills course is the first at MTSU to embed the trainings directly into its curriculum.

The milestone landed during Social Work Month. Krystal Starling, LCSW, and Dr. Channing Phillips from MTSU Counseling Services led the trainings. Dr. Harden joined the class for the bandana presentation.

If you see a student wearing a green bandana on their person or backpack, they’re trained and ready to help. Feel free to acknowledge them for it.

Criminal Justice Networking Event

MTSU Criminal Justice Students meet with representatives of the Murfreesboro Police Department

CBHS News >

MTSU Criminal Justice Students meet with representatives of the Murfreesboro Police Department

The Department of Criminal Justice held its annual Networking Event on March 25, bringing agencies from across Tennessee and beyond to campus to connect with students.

Students at every level, from freshmen to seniors, had the chance to meet face-to-face with professionals working in their fields of interest. Students nearing graduation connected with agencies about internship and career opportunities.

A highlight every year: many MTSU Criminal Justice alumni return to campus as agency representatives, coming back to recruit the next generation of professionals from the program where they got their start.

RIDI in Action: Dr. Hwayong Son 

Participants with Dr. Son at Patterson Park Community Center

CBHS News >

Participants with Dr. Son at Patterson Park Community Center

Participant with Dr. Son at Patterson Park Community Center

RIDI funding has been instrumental in supporting Dr. Hwayong Son‘s research. From August through November 2026, her team offered a three-month virtual reality fitness program for adults 55 and older at Patterson Park Community Center. The project produced mixed-methods data, including pre- and post-assessments with 35 participants in the intervention group, 10 in the control group, and in-depth interviews with 25 participants.

The program is continuing at the St. Clair Senior Center, which has helped strengthen community engagement. The partnership with Murfreesboro Parks and Recreation has also been recognized through a memorandum of understanding.

Doctoral students involved in the RIDI-funded research project

Doctoral students involved in the RIDI-funded research project.

MTSU Alumna Hope Weaver Named to Interior Design Magazine’s 30/30 Nashville Class of 2026

Caroline Murphy (Event Host, Sandow Design Group), Hope Weaver, Lori Bell (Sr. Interior Designer, EOA)

CBHS News >

Caroline Murphy (Event Host, Sandow Design Group), Hope Weaver, Lori Bell (Sr. Interior Designer, EOA)

Caroline Murphy (Event Host, Sandow Design Group), Hope Weaver, Lori Bell (Sr. Interior Designer, EOA)

Hope Weaver, a MTSU Interior Architecture graduate, has been selected for Interior Design Magazine’s 30/30 program, which recognizes the region’s top designers under 30.

The 30/30 program spotlights rising designers nominated by industry leaders. Hope served as ASID/IIDA Student Chapter President while at MTSU. Her mentor, Lori Bell, is a graduate of the Interior Architecture program and a member of the IA advisory board.

Rural Healthcare Workforce Development Grant

Dr. Cynthia Chafin and the Center for Health and Human Services received approval for a $225,000 grant from the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development. The grant supports workforce readiness training for students entering rural healthcare settings.

CBHS News >

Dr. Cynthia Chafin and the Center for Health and Human Services received approval for a $225,000 grant from the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development. The grant supports workforce readiness training for students entering rural healthcare settings.

Dr. Cynthia Chafin and the Center for Health and Human Services received approval for a $225,000 grant from the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development. The grant supports workforce readiness training for students entering rural healthcare settings.

Collaborating investigators include CBHS faculty: Vickie Harden, Nancy Stone, Jenny Sauls, Kathryn Blankenship, Bethany Wrye, and Elizabeth Ann Smith.

The project is designed to deliver immediate, employer-validated skills aligned with rural healthcare needs. Students will complete foundational training components that prepare them for roles including patient care support, community health and outreach assistance, care coordination, telehealth operations, and behavioral health support.

Board of Trustees’ Faculty Showcase

Pictured here is Cyrille Magne and Madison Ramsby. Madison is a graduate student in our M.A. program in Applied Research and Methodology

CBHS News >

Pictured here is Cyrille Magne and Madison Ramsby. Madison is a graduate student in our M.A. program in Applied Research and Methodology

Pictured here is Dr. Cyrille Magne and Madison Ramsby. Madison is a graduate student in our M.A. program in Applied Research and Methodology

Congratulations to the CBHS faculty who participated in the Faculty Senate Scholar Showcase at the Board of Trustees Meeting this week. Your work represents our college well.

Other faculty participants included:

Dr. Mike Hein, Dr. Patrick McCarthy, Dr. Carter Smith

Dr. Cynthia Chafin, Director of the Center for Health and Human Services, and several of our Public Health faculty.

MTSU Social Work launching graduate certificate in sport social work

MTSU Sports Social Work lecturer Dr. Justin Singleton and graduate student Kobi Jones

CBHS News >

MTSU’s Department of Social Work is launching a graduate certificate in sport social work.

The program addresses the mental health and social service needs of athletes, an area that has grown in visibility across college and professional sports but has few formalized training pathways for social workers.

Sport social work is distinct from sport psychology in its scope. Where sport psychology focuses primarily on performance and cognition, sport social work addresses the full context of an athlete’s life: relationships, identity, financial stress, transitions out of competition, and access to care.

“We look at the whole total health from a mental aspect to support the athlete overall, because they are a very vulnerable population,” said Dr. Justin Singleton, lecturer in the Department of Social Work and lead faculty for the certificate.

Kobi Jones, a graduate student in social work, is the first student in the program. She currently interns with the Student-Athlete Enhancement Center, working with freshman football players.

“The most valuable thing I’ve learned is how much pressure the athletes put on themselves,” Jones said. “You got to give it time.”

Criminal Justice Faculty and Students Present at National Conference

Loren Hall, Dr. Carter Smith, Falon Cornwell, and Dr. Joshua Harms

CBHS News >

Loren Hall, Dr. Carter Smith, Falon Cornwell, and Dr. Joshua Harms

Loren Hall, Dr. Carter Smith, Falon Cornwell, and Dr. Joshua Harms

Faculty and graduate students from the Criminal Justice Department attended the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences Annual Meeting in Philadelphia (March 4–6), with research presentations across several areas:

Loren Hall — police training
Falon Cornwell — sentencing disparity
Allana Zatz — cognitive behavioral therapy and recidivism
Dr. Carter Smith — AI in the criminal justice classroom
Dr. Joshua Harms — mandatory reporting laws

Faculty attend this conference regularly, but this year CBHS graduate students also presented their own research. Learn more at acjs.org/annual-meeting.