Honors College

Buchanan Lecture Series Archive

The MTSU Honors College Buchanan Lecture Series is a long‑standing academic tradition that brings together students, faculty, and the wider community for thought‑provoking conversations on timely and enduring themes. Each fall and spring semester, the Series features expert speakers from across Middle Tennessee State University—spanning disciplines such as history, political science, chemistry, world languages, art and design, and more—to explore a unifying topic from multiple perspectives. Recent themes deep dive into how environments shape identity and society.

Held each Monday at 3 p.m. in the Simmons Amphitheater (HONR 106) of the Paul W. Martin Sr. Honors Building, the series is both an Honors course and a public event, inviting community members to engage with University scholarship in an accessible format. Visitors can expect sessions that illuminate how ideas evolve, how societies change, and how interdisciplinary thinking enriches our understanding of the world. With its blend of academic rigor and public engagement, the Buchanan Lecture Series serves as a cornerstone of intellectual life on campus and a valuable resource for lifelong learners across Middle Tennessee.

Honors College Lecture Series Through the Years

yearFall SemesterSpring Semester
2026Fall – Legacies of the American RevolutionSpring – Revolutions
2025Fall – Places and SpacesSpring – The Power of Play
2024Fall – DemocracySpring – Mental Health and the Good Life
2023Fall – History of the Honors CollegeSpring – Life Writing
2022Fall – Youth Activism
Fall – Friendship
Spring – Exegesis
2021Fall – Rewriting the Constitution
Fall – The Press
Spring – Social Justice
2020Fall – Civic Virtue
Fall – Images and Icons
Spring – Climate Change
2019Fall – SuffrageSpring – Letters
2018Fall – GovernorsSpring – American Values
2017Fall – Global EngagementSpring – Rhetoric in Contemporary Culture
2016Fall – Citizenship, Refugees, and ImmigrationSpring – The Value of a Liberal Education
2015Fall – VeteransSpring – Native American Studies



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Honors College
Paul W. Martin Sr. Honors Building
Campus Box 267
1737 Blue Raider Drive
Murfreesboro, TN 37132

Main Office: HONR Room 205 (Dean’s Suite)

Main Office Phone: 615-898-2152
Email: uhc@mtsu.edu