Murfreesboro, TN – Middle Tennessee State University hosted three commencement ceremonies in Murphy Center starting at 3:00PM Friday afternoon (5/9/2025), along with 9:00 o’clock Saturday morning and 2:00PM that afternoon (5/10/2025). More than 2,375 students became Blue Raider alumni. 

Graduate and undergraduate students in the Jennings A. Jones College of Business, College of Education and College of Media and Entertainment were the first to receive their degrees on Friday. Saturday morning saw the commencement state with students from the  College of Basic and Applied Sciences and University College. And then Saturday afternoon concluded with  College of Behavioral and Health Sciences and College of Liberal Arts will receive their degrees.

Guest Speakers

• Alumnus Rob Payne, owner of Payne Analytics, will share words of wisdom for the Friday, May 9, ceremony. Payne received his B.S. in animal science from MTSU in 1997, then earned his master’s in 2000 and Ph.D. in animal nutrition in 2004 from Louisiana State University.

His company specializes in providing nutrition design and consulting to the animal production and pet food industries. Before starting Payne Analytics, Payne served 20-plus years in various regional and global nutrition, marketing, and business roles for Cargill Animal Nutrition, Elanco Animal Health, and Evonik Animal Nutrition.

• Tennessee House of Representatives Speaker Cameron Sexton will give keynote remarks for the Saturday, May 10, morning ceremony. Speaker since 2019, Sexton is a conservative member of the Republican Party, representing District 25, which includes portions of Cumberland and Putnam counties. 

Elected to the House in 2011, Sexton rose through the House ranks through hard work, strong leadership, and his willingness to fight for conservative policy initiatives. As speaker, Sexton has been a staunch advocate for cutting taxes, promoting probusiness policies, and strengthening the state’s economic standing. He continues to be a vocal advocate for law enforcement, first responders, and victims of crimes.

• Wrapping things up will be alumna and accomplished media executive Tracey Rogers at the afternoon ceremony Saturday, May 10. Rogers, who has a degree in broadcast journalism from MTSU, serves as vice president with Nexstar Media Group Inc., working with multiple media markets. 

Rogers served as vice president and general manager of WKRN-TV, the ABC affiliate in Nashville and also has held the position of vice president and general manager at WMC-TV, the NBC affiliate in Memphis, and KAIT-TV, the ABC affiliate in Jonesboro, Arkansas. She has been awarded three Emmy awards, four Associated Press awards, and two Murrow awards.

Commencement speakers included Rob Payne, an MTSU alumnus and owner of Payne Analytics, will deliver the keynote address at the Friday afternoon ceremony. Payne, an expert in animal nutrition, is expected to share insights from his career in global nutrition, marketing, and business.

Tennessee House Speaker Cameron Sexton will spoke with the Saturday morning graduates, bringing his experience in state leadership and conservative policy advocacy to the graduating class.

MTSU President Sidney A. McPhee also addressed graduates, welcoming them and their families to celebrate this milestone.

Middle Tennessee State University has awarded 187,595 associate, bachelor's, master's, specialist, and doctoral degrees degrees since its inception in 1911.