MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — MTSU recently recognized 55 retiring employees as the 2020-21 academic year winds down, saluting their hundreds of combined years of service devoted to students and the campus community. 

The university normally conducts a formal event each spring to honor its retiring employees. The pandemic forced the cancellation of last year’s gathering, however, and because MTSU has been limiting gatherings this spring and only recently brought faculty and staff back into offices to work, this year’s planned retirees celebration also was canceled. 

The retiring employees and their departments include:  

• Elizabeth Abernathyof Murfreesboro, Department of Accounting. 
• Ronald Adayof Nashville, Department of Sociology and Anthropology. 
• Foster Ameyof Murfreesboro, Department of Sociology and Anthropology. 
• Kim Baileyof Readyville, Tennessee, Office of the Provost. 
• Gwen Barrettof Shelbyville, Tennessee, Human Resource Services. 
• Debbie Carrollof Murfreesboro, Student Athlete Enhancement Center. 
• Elvira Casalof Murfreesboro, Department of English. 
• Sylvia Collinsof Murfreesboro, Office of Institutional Effectiveness of Planning and Research. 
• Peter Cunninghamof Murfreesboro, Office of the Provost. 
• Kathleen Darbyof Nashville, Department of Social Work. 
• Jackie Ellerof Murfreesboro, Department of Sociology and Anthropology. 
• Gore Ervinof Murfreesboro, Department of Biology. 
• Reggie Floydof Smyrna, Tennessee, Facilities Services Administration. 
• Marion Gwynof Murfreesboro, Information Technology Division. 
• Tina Hallof Murfreesboro, Department of Health and Human Performance. 
• Alicia Haynesof Murfreesboro, Human Resource Services. 
• Gerald Hillof Mt. Juliet, Tennessee, Department of Aerospace. 
• John Hillof Smyrna, Department of Recording Industry. 
• Denise Holtof Christiana, Tennessee, Housing Facilities Office. 
• Cynthia Howellof Murfreesboro, Department of Psychology. 
• Ray Howellof Murfreesboro, Veterans Affairs/Daniels Veterans and Military Family Center. 
• Connie Huddlestonof Murfreesboro, College of Liberal Arts. 
• Dorothy Huddlestonof Manchester, Tennessee, Creative Marketing Solutions. 
• Kathy Kingof Murfreesboro, Department of Health and Human Performance. 
• Darryl Leachof Murfreesboro, Department of Recording Industry. 
• Carroll Lewisof McKenzie, Tennessee, Business Office. 
• Terry Loganof McMinnville, Tennessee, Office of Environmental Health and Safety. 
• James Lovvornof Murfreesboro, Custodial Services. 
• Yuri Melnikovof Murfreesboro, Department of Mathematical Sciences. 
• Lisa Mitchellof Murfreesboro, Human Resource Services. 
• Sandy Nealof Murfreesboro, Department of Health and Human Performance. 
• Deborah Newmanof Murfreesboro, Ann Campbell Early Learning Center. 
• Debbie Nicholsof Murfreesboro, Office of Construction Administration. 
• John Pattersonof Hendersonville, Tennessee, Information Technology Division. 
• Buddy Peasterof Murfreesboro, University Police Department. 
• Chrisila Petteyof Eagleville, Tennessee, Department of Computer Science. 
• Sara Pollardof Murfreesboro, Campus Recreation. 
• Debra Registerof Murfreesboro, Housing Facilities Office. 
• Karim Salmanof Murfreesboro, Department of Engineering Technology. 
• Connie Schmidtof Murfreesboro, Department of Psychology. 
• Stephen Schmidtof Murfreesboro, Department of Psychology. 
• Lana Seiversof Murfreesboro, College of Education. 
• Lance Selvaof Murfreesboro, Department of Criminal Justice Administration. 
• Dawn Shelarof Readyville, Department of Health and Human Performance. 
• Rebecca Shultsof Murfreesboro, Early Intervention Program. 
• Vince Smithof Murfreesboro, Department of Marketing. 
• Horace Smothermanof Murfreesboro, Energy Services Department. 
• Martin Stewartof Murfreesboro, Department of Chemistry. 
• Debbie Strobelof Murfreesboro, School of Agriculture. 
• Lisa Thayerof Lascassas, Tennessee, Office of the Provost. 
• Shelley Thomasof Murfreesboro, Department of World Languages, Literatures and Cultures. 
• Theresa Toyof Readyville, Parking Services Office. 
• Joanne Venableof Murfreesboro, Undergraduate Recruitment Office. 
• Heidi Zimmermanof Murfreesboro, University Counsel. 
• Kathryn Zimmermanof Nashville, School of Nursing. 

The university’s academic year concludes at the end of each summer session. MTSU will begin its summer 2021 semester on Monday, May 17, and the 2021-22 academic year will begin with fall 2021 classes on Monday, Aug. 23.  

MTSU, which employs more than 2,500 faculty and staff members campuswide, honors its employees regularly with opportunities that include the MTSU Employee Recognition Program awards for administrators, classified and technical/service personnel and the MTSU Foundation Awards and Faculty Recognition presentations for faculty each fall.