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Interior designer Katie Vance selected for MTSU alumni award




Vance

Vance

Katie Vance is the 2022 Middle Tennessee State University Distinguished Alumni Award winner, the university has announced.

The award has been given each year since 1960.

Vance (Class of 2005) is the partner and chief creative officer of Powell Architecture + Building Studio, an architecture, interior and construction firm in Nashville.

Vance’s work includes Butcher and Bee, Butchertown Hall, The Green Pheasant and The Russell Hotel. At Powell Architecture, she runs the interior design department, plus the firm’s marketing and social media endeavors.

Vance founded Porter Flea, a well-known handmade modern craft market, to propel Nashville’s independent craft and design scene. She is a 2021 recipient of the Nashville Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 award. She has served on many juries for the MTSU Interior Design Department midterm and final reviews.

This year’s Young Alumni Achievement Award, given to a graduate age 35 or younger making a positive impact in the world, goes to Tay Keith (Class of 2018) of Memphis. The Grammy-nominated producer and songwriter has collaborated with Drake, Travis Scott, Beyonce and DJ Khaled.

Keith

Keith

Keith earned his bachelor’s degree in integrated studies and media management from MTSU. He was nominated for Best Rap Song for his work on “Sicko Mode” at the 61st Grammy Awards in 2019 just after graduating.

He returns to campus often and was named an honorary MTSU professor in 2021, speaking with students in a new recording studio.

For the ninth consecutive year, True Blue Citations of Distinction are being awarded.

• Achievement in Education (MTSU faculty) — Alanna Vaught (Class of 2003), a School of Agriculture faculty member instrumental in starting a new Master of Education in Agricultural Education Leadership program. Vaught has also received numerous national and local agriculture awards as well as MTSU’s Outstanding Teacher Award in 2014.

• Achievement in Education (non-MTSU faculty) — Jackie Morgan (Class of 2008) is the outreach senior adviser at the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta-Nashville branch. Morgan has been appointed to many boards and committees, including the MTSU Jones College of Business Dean’s Advisory Board, MTSU Economics and Finance Advisory Board and the Tennessee Financial Literacy Commission.

Vaught

Vaught

• Service to University — Ed Arning (Class of 1978) former MTSU sports information director who went into private industry before returning to the university as director of two major project areas within the Division of Marketing and Communications. Arning, who earned his bachelor’s in mass communications, became sports information director in 1979, covering 17 sports.

• Service to Community — Elveta Cooper (Classes of 1996 and 2000), a UPS area human resources manager who has been involved in numerous community organizations. Cooper is co-founder of Taylor & Taylor Family Resource Center, has served as a United Way Champion, as a Pencil Foundation board member and Junior Achievement team captain.

Morgan

Morgan

• Military Service — Brig. Gen. Robert Powell (Class of 1991), a cyber security expert in the Army, the first Army Reserves cyber general and the 17th general officer in the 50-plus year history of the MTSU ROTC program. Powell was commissioned through ROTC and started his military career as an armor officer with the 1st Calvary Division in Fort Hood, He commanded the U.S. Army Reserve Cyber Protection Brigade from 2016-19.

The Alumni Association will recognize them at several events during MTSU Homecoming Oct. 14-15.

Arning

Arning

Cooper

Cooper

Powell

Powell

 

 

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