Our Story

Timeline

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The Business Department becomes the School of Business and Industry under Dean Firman L. Cunningham

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Jones College History

Institutional Origins (1911–1965)

Middle Tennessee State University was founded in 1911 as Middle Tennessee Normal School. In 1925, it evolved into a four-year teachers’ college authorized to grant the Bachelor of Science degree. The Tennessee General Assembly designated the institution Middle Tennessee State College in 1943, marking a broader academic charter beyond teacher preparation. On July 1, 1965, the institution achieved full university status, adopting its current name: Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU).

Early Business Studies & Departmental Growth (1939–1963)

Business education began in January 1939 when Elwin W. “Wink” Midgett arrived to establish a business curriculum within the Division of Social Sciences.

• 1946: The formal Department of Business was established, with Wink Midgett serving as its head until 1964.
• 1947: The institution awarded its first formal degree in business.

Formation of the School of Business (1964–1979)

In 1964, under Dean Firman L. Cunningham, the Business Department transitioned into the School of Business and Industry, encompassing seven foundational departments:

• Accounting
• Agriculture
• Business Administration
• Business Education
• Economics
• Industrial Arts
• Military Science

Key Milestones:

• 1968: Finance was added to the Economics department.
• 1969: The first Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) degree was awarded.
• 1970–1971: The school was reorganized. Industrial departments were moved to a separate unit, forming the dedicated School of Business and Economics. The Business and Economic Research Center (BERC) was established in September 1970.
• 1973–1975: Leadership transitioned through Acting Dean Dr. P. William Vaught (1973–1974) and Dean Dr. Alex J. Simon (1974–1975).
• 1977: The undergraduate program achieved initial AACSB accreditation under Dean Vaught.
• 1978: On April 10, the school established a chapter of the Beta Gamma Sigma honor society.

Decades of Expansion & Notable Achievements (1980–1995)

Leadership under Dean Ben B. McNew (1980–1988)

• 1983: Earned initial AACSB graduate accreditation and undergraduate reaffirmation.
• 1984–1985: The Accounting and Information Systems department split, creating the Department of Information Systems (renamed Computer Information Systems in 1986).
• Endowed Chairs: Established the Jack O. Weatherford Chair of Finance and proposed the Jennings A. Jones Chair of Excellence in Free Enterprise.
• 1986: MTSU alumnus Dr. James M. Buchanan (B.A. 1940) won the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Science for his pioneering work in Public Choice Theory.

Leadership under Dean Barbara S. Haskew (1988–1995)

• 1991: The School of Business was elevated to the College of Business.
• Jennings A. Jones Chair of Excellence in Free Enterprise: Former U.S. Ambassador Joe M. Rodgers was appointed as the chairholder.
• Business and Aerospace Building (BAS): Spearheaded planning for a new 163,000-square-foot facility featuring 41 master classrooms, a 200-seat university computer lab, a 235-seat lecture hall, and specialized aerospace labs.

Facility Expansion & AACSB Accreditation (1995–2012)

Leadership under Dean Rick Elam (1996–1999)

Dr. Rick Elam oversaw the completion of and move into the Business and Aerospace Building, restructured core business curricula, and expanded academic advising services.

Leadership under Dean E. James Burton (1999–2013)

• Reaffirmation & Specialized Accreditation: The college secured AACSB reaffirmation in 2001 and 2012. The Department of Accounting earned specialized AACSB accounting accreditation in 2003 (reaffirmed in 2012).
• Major Gifts & Endowments:
  • Alumnus Andrew Woodfin Miller Sr. gifted $10 million toward the creation of the Miller Education Center on Bell Street.
  • Alumnus Joey Jacobs contributed $2.5 million (matched by the State of Tennessee) to establish the Joey Jacobs Chair of Excellence in Accounting.

Modernization & Curriculum Innovation (2013–2023)

Leadership under Dean David Urban (2013–2023)

Dr. David Urban expanded online graduate programs, modernized undergraduate core requirements, created student learning spaces, and launched specialized research institutes.

Academic & Programmatic Innovations:

• Flex M.B.A. & Graduate Degrees: Converted the traditional M.B.A. into a 12-month, 100% online/flexible program.
• Introduced M.S. degrees in Management (2013), Finance (2015), and Supply Chain Management (2022).
• Undergraduate Curriculum: Integrated the Dale Carnegie® Course into the required undergraduate core in 2015. Added degree paths in Supply Chain Management, Commerce, Digital Marketing, Professional Selling, and Business Innovation & Entrepreneurship.
• ABET Accreditation: Earned initial ABET accreditation for the B.B.A. in Information Systems in 2021.

Physical & Technological Enhancements:

• Constructed the Jones College Executive Education Center (opened 2016) and a dedicated Undergraduate Advising Center in the BAS Building.
• Added experiential learning labs:
  • Jack Spann Risk and Insurance Lab
  • Mel Adams State Farm Agent Sales Lab
  • “I’m In!” Accounting Success Lab
  • Financial Analysis Center

Strategic Research Initiatives:

• Political Economy Research Institute (PERI): Established to analyze free-market policy solutions.
• Economic Surveys: Launched the quarterly Tennessee Consumer Outlook Index and Tennessee Business Barometer.

Recent Developments & Strategic Growth (2023–Present)

Leadership under Dean Joyce Heames (2023–Present)

Dr. Joyce Heames joined Jones College of Business as dean in July 2023. Since then, she has established new centers, created and strengthened external and community partnerships, and launched new programs designed to meet market demands.

• August 2024: Established the Center for Supply Chain Management and Sustainability.
• 2024–2025: Launched B.S. and M.S. degrees in Cybersecurity Management, followed by the October 2025 launch of the Center for Cybersecurity Management.
• Breaking Down Silos: Hosted the inaugural Tech Vision Conference, bringing together departments and centers from across campus, along with industry and community partners to explore topics related to cybersecurity, quantum computing, and other technology-related issues.
• Interactive Marketing: Developed a Neuromarketing Lab and hosted the inaugural International Neuromarketing and Artificial Intelligence Symposium.
• Legal Studies Partnership: Launched an M.S. in Legal Studies in partnership with the Nashville School of Law and the Scott Borchetta College of Media and Entertainment.
• Middle Tennessee Business Confidence Index: Launched by BERC in partnership with the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce.

Looking Ahead:

• Center for Student and Workforce Excellence: Recently established through a $1 million gift from the Hawkins family, construction and hiring are underway, with completion planned for the 26-27 academic year.
• Cyber Range: The State of Tennessee allocated $5 million to construct a state-of-the-art facility housed in the Jones College of Business. Construction and hiring are underway, with completion planned for the 26-27 academic year.