Key Points

• Tenure Conclusion: Dr. Sidney A. McPhee will step down as the 10th president of MTSU in December 2026 after leading the university for more than 25 years.
• Academic Transition: Following a sabbatical to retool, McPhee intends to return to the university as a member of the faculty within the College of Education.
• Campus Transformation: Under McPhee’s leadership, the university saw over $2 billion in construction and improvements, including the $147 million Science Building and the expansion of the Aerospace program to Shelbyville.
• Succession Plan: The MTSU Board of Trustees will soon announce the search criteria and process for selecting a new president, with the goal of filling the position by the end of the year.

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (WGNS) — Dr. Sidney A. McPhee, the longest-serving president in the history of Middle Tennessee State University, made a big announcement Tuesday (March 17th) to the Board of Trustees:

McPhee delivered the news in person through an announcement (watch the main video) and through a formal letter presented to Board of Trustees Chairman Stephen B. Smith at the conclusion of the president’s report during Tuesday’s meeting at the Miller Education Center. McPhee, who assumed the presidency in January 2001, told trustees that it has been the "greatest professional honor" of his life to serve the institution for over a quarter-century.

During his tenure, McPhee oversaw a massive physical and academic expansion of the campus. Chairman Smith highlighted that McPhee presided over $2 billion in new construction, renovations, and infrastructure improvements. Significant milestones under his watch include the 2014 opening of the 250,000-square-foot Science Building, the ongoing $100 million Aerospace flight training expansion in Shelbyville, and the creation of nearly 50 new degree programs.

While stepping down from the presidency, McPhee does not intend to leave the Blue Raider family entirely. As a tenured professor, he plans to take a sabbatical to prepare for an eventual return to the classroom as a faculty member in the College of Education.

The Board of Trustees passed a resolution Tuesday officially thanking McPhee for his service and authorizing the Executive and Governance Committee to begin the process of selecting an executive search firm. Chairman Smith indicated that the board hopes to have a successor in place by the end of 2026 to ensure a smooth transition of leadership.

In addition to the retirement news, the board approved the permanent appointment of Drew Harpool as Vice President for Business and Finance and elevated General Counsel James Floyd to the rank of Vice President. Trustees also greenlit a new Master of Science degree in Mechatronic Systems Engineering, pending further state and regional approvals.