MTSU Honors College Launches Fall Buchanan Lecture Series on “Spaces and Places”
The Middle Tennessee State University Honors College has kicked off its fall Buchanan Lecture Series with the theme “Spaces and Places.” Nearly 50 Honors students are enrolled in the class, which explores literature, astronomy, geosciences, religion, philosophy, history, historical preservation, and more through the multifaceted concepts of space and place.
“This interdisciplinary honors lecture series dives into the dynamic relationship between place, space and meaning,” said Philip Phillips, Honors College associate dean. “Throughout the semester, we will consider how individuals, communities and cultures imbue physical and conceptual environments with meaning, grappling with questions of identity, community, power, spirituality and memory.”
The lecture series, held each fall and spring, is open to the public. Sessions take place at 3 p.m. every Monday through Nov. 17 (with no class Oct. 13 for fall break). Lectures are typically hosted in the Simmons Amphitheater, Room 106, at the Paul W. Martin Sr. Honors Building, 1737 Blue Raider Drive.
Highlights this semester include:
- Oct. 6 – “Sacralizing Secular Spaces through Ritual, Sound and Imagination” by Rebekka King, professor of philosophy and religious studies.
- Oct. 20 – “Turning Down the Pressure Cooker: How Public Spaces Can Reduce Inequitable Heat Exposure and Increase Community Health and Resilience” by Alisa Hass, associate professor of geosciences.
The series began with a kickoff lecture by William E. Engel, professor at the University of the South. MTSU faculty will continue leading the lineup throughout the semester. The full schedule is available at honors.mtsu.edu/lecture-series-fall-2025-places-and-spaces.
Students are also engaging in activities beyond the classroom. Already this fall, they have read the Constitution outside the Honors Building and attended a Constitution Week special lecture by New York Times columnist and PBS contributor David Brooks.
For participants, the series has sparked meaningful reflection. “We’ve gotten some interesting perspectives so far — how do you collect memories and where do you keep memories, and how spaces resonate with different people,” said Kylee Thompson, a junior audio production major from Knoxville.
The Buchanan Lecture Series is named in honor of the late James M. Buchanan, a Rutherford County native, MTSU alumnus, and recipient of the 1986 Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences.
Visitors are welcome to attend, though parking permits are required. Daily permits ($2) may be purchased online at bit.ly/4mJxuAX or at the Parking and Transportation Services office, 205 City View Drive.
