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SEGMENT ONE GUEST: Rick B. Nef, Commercialization Counselor at MTSU
TOPIC: MTSU is partnering with the Tennessee Technology Advancement Consortium, or T-TAC, in a push to make university research commercially viable.
At Middle Tennessee State University, some of the most interesting work is happening after the first research breakthrough.
From new antimicrobial compounds to plant-based crop treatments to a biodegradable film that could replace plastic wrap, researchers across campus are reaching the point where discovery gives way to a different question: “How does the work move out of the lab and into the world, beyond academic publishing and conferences?”
At MTSU, that transition is exactly what the Tennessee Technology Advancement Consortium, or TTAC, is built to support.
An initiative of Launch Tennessee, the public-private partnership that supports startups and innovation across the state, TTAC is helping MTSU researchers with funding and support to further test, protect, and position their ideas for the marketplace.
“A lot of promising university research stalls because the next steps are harder to navigate for many scientists. They need the right partners, the right support, and somebody helping connect the dots,” TTAC Director Charles Layne said.
The Tennessee Innovation Exchange, or TNIX, is part of that effort. Developed by Launch Tennessee and TTAC, the online platform went live in early 2026 and makes university research easier to find for companies, investors, and collaborators.
SEGMENT TWO GUEST: Dr. Sanjay Asthana, professor in the MTSU School of Journalism and Strategic Media and head of the Environmental Journalism concentration
TOPIC: MTSU’s Environmental Journalism concentration
A degree in Journalism with a concentration in Environmental Journalism and Communication will prepare students to use the knowledge they learn to cover the always-topical, data-driven subjects of environmental research, preservation, and law.
Students will learn how to critically examine and effectively convey complex information, keeping in mind relevant scientific and cultural context.
This is a growing area for journalists, media researchers, writers, and content creators; topics include biodiversity, sustainability, land and water use, environmental conservation, freshwater ecosystem, health communication, urban planning, rural development and much more.
With so many potential career paths to pursue, students will be able to tailor their education to their specific interests within this rapidly evolving field. Learn more by clicking the below link.
SEGMENT THREE GUESTS: Ella Cobb, a student in Master of Business Administration in strategic marketing analytics, and Savanah Gill, recently graduated digital marketing major
TOPIC: Cobb and Gill finished Top 3 in the nation at national DECA competition this spring
Two Middle Tennessee State University Jones College of Business students recently placed third in a national DECA competition.
Ella Cobb, a Master of Business Administration student in strategic marketing analytics, and Savanah Gill, a senior digital marketing major, attended the International Career Development Conference in Louisville, Kentucky, last month.
DECA, which stands for the Distributive Education Clubs of America, prepares emerging leaders and entrepreneurs for careers in marketing, finance, hospitality and management in high schools and colleges around the globe, according to its website.
As part of the conference competition, the MTSU marketing duo Cobb and Gill were given an hour — equipped with a prompt, blank paper and pens — to apply their knowledge to the prompt, create applicable content and prepare a presentation.
Cobb and Gill had 15 minutes to present their marketing plan to the judge, as if they were the marketing director and marketing communications specialists for the hypothetical company in the prompt.
After advancing into the final round and receiving a blue-ribbon medallion, the pair competed in the finals. At an awards ceremony, they learned they had scored in the top 10 in marketing communications.
The pair took home third-place trophies, marking their spot among the best in the nation in Collegiate DECA Marketing Communications. The two said it is “a big deal” in the DECA community to win a coveted glass trophy.
Cobb participated in the conference last year, placing in the top 10%, and will graduate in August with her master’s degree. Gill graduated with her bachelor’s degree on May 9 and plans to earn her master’s degree in digital media at MTSU.
Photo Below (L to R): Rick B. Nef, Dr. Sanjay Asthana, Savanah Gill and Ella Cobb
Click PLAY above this podcast description to hear the entire interview with host Scott Walker.
