Austin Peay State University's Department of Music, with support from the Center of Excellence for the Creative Arts, will present Piano Fest from March 25-27, as part of CECA's 40th anniversary celebration. All events are free and open to the public and will be held in the Mabry Concert Hall.

Austin Peay alumnus Nicholas Herrud has been awarded a Fulbright to conduct archival research in Vilnius, Lithuania. Now a doctoral candidate at Notre Dame, Herrud is exploring the history of the Polish and Soviet borderlands between the World Wars. Read his story.

The Department of Music, with support from the Center of Excellence for the Creative Arts, will present the 21st annual GuitarFest from March 16-17. All events are free and open to the public, and guest artists will perform at 7:30 p.m. on both days in the Art + Design Building's Heydel Hall.

The Department of Music has announced that the APSU saxophone ensemble was accepted to perform at this year's North American Saxophone Alliance conference, which will be held at The Ohio State University from March 12-15.

Natalee (Rae) Daniels and Jessica Sun of Middle College at Austin Peay State University were recently selected from among students nationwide to present their literary research at the Sigma Tau Delta International English Convention, to be held from March 29 to April 1 in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Leverett, a certified Christian Leadership Coach from Newark, New Jersey, has served on the Montgomery County Commission since 2018. She authored The Four Sights of Visionary Leadership, published in February 2025, based on her TEDx Talk of the same name.

In remote mountain schools on Costa Rica's Caribbean side, children saw brass instruments up close for the first time when Austin Peay State University's Aurum Sonor Brass Quintet arrived to begin a 10-day run of concerts, master classes, and community outreach from Limón to San José.

Austin Peay State University's annual Asanbe-Eichhorn Symposium will take place at 1 p.m. on March 19 in Morgan University Center Rooms 303-305. The free public event will feature a keynote address from author and genealogy expert John F. Baker Jr., followed by a panel discussion.

Written by acclaimed playwright Daniel Pearle, the production examines a married couple's struggles as they navigate their roles as parents to a gender-nonconforming child.

The Austin Peay State University Department of Music, with support from the Center of Excellence for the Creative Arts, has named Giancarlos Jose Carvajal Fonseca and Tyler Orendorff as the winners of the 2025-26 Concerto & Aria Competition, with an honorable mention awarded to Cal Luzzo.

Madison Pertuset set her sights on Africa's highest peak with the same determination she brings to her marketing studies at Austin Peay State University, and her persistence paid off when she reached the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro over winter break.

The free public symposium will feature letterpress and typographic demonstrations along with short evening lectures from artist-designers Heather Moulder, Cory Wasnewsky, Celene Aubry, and Kathleen O'Connell.

Austin Peay State University's Zone 3 Press, with support from the Center of Excellence for the Creative Arts, is hosting NEA Creative Writing Fellowship recipient and award-winning writer Toni Jensen for a free public reading and book signing at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 19, in Art + Design Room 120. 

The Tennessee Holocaust Commission, in partnership with Austin Peay State University, will host "Auschwitz: Investigations and Legacies" from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026, in APSU's Morgan University Center Room 307.

Austin Peay State University's Wind Ensemble has been selected to perform at the 2026 College Band Directors National Association (CBDNA) Southern Division Conference in Tampa, Florida, on Thursday, Feb. 19.

Professor Margaret Rennerfeldt is the artistic director for the concert, which features works by Nashville-based dance collective New Dialect, Fuse, and the Austin Peay dance faculty.

Through this fellowship, Booker will receive $5,000 to create new artwork and additional funding to present a free artist lecture at 6:30 p.m. on Feb. 12, at the Frist Art Museum in Nashville.

Kershner, an associate professor in Austin Peay State University's Department of Languages and Literature, recently earned the 2025 Award for Excellence in Teaching at the College Level from the Society for Classical Studies (SCS).

For the second consecutive year, Austin Peay State University (APSU) and the College of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) will sponsor two drone shows at the New Year's Eve Party, hosted by Montgomery County Parks and Recreation at the Downtown Commons.

Mary Lee McCreary Rugraff ('41) attended Austin Peay State College on a music scholarship and performed as a soprano soloist. Music was her lifetime passion, and in addition to funding APSU music scholarships, she supported the music program at her church with gifts to the endowment.

Aakhu is a founding member of the Ma'at Production Association of Afrikan Centered Theatre (MPAACT) and has developed several critically acclaimed works for the organization. He also writes for television and feature films.

The funding allowed students to take on projects ranging from international music masterclasses to animation development and dance performances.

Mwangi has more than 15 years of branding and design experience, and is the founder of the Memphis-based Cheers Creative. She also serves as a consultant, website strategist, and public speaker. Her visit was made possible through the Department of Art + Design and the Center of Excellence for the Creative Arts (CECA).

The Department of Languages & Literature is hosting its 31st annual Bread and Words reading on Nov. 24, featuring student and faculty performances. Proceeds from the event will support the APSU Food Pantry.

Austin Peay State University's Department of Art + Design will offer free hands-on workshops, campus tours, and portfolio reviews during the event.

The show will run from Nov. 13-16 in the Mike and Sara Gotcher Theatre, located in the Trahern Building at APSU. Playwright Gina Femia and Farm Theater Executive/Artistic Director Padraic Lillis will also host a free playwriting masterclass on Nov. 13.

Zone 3 Press is hosting Molberg for a free public reading and book signing on November 13, 2025. She is the author of three poetry collections: Marvels of the Invisible; Refusal; and The Court of No Record.

The three-minute film tells the story of an unlikely friendship between two cryptid creatures. It was screened alongside nearly 140 selections from around the world during the festival, which ran from Sept. 18-24.

Phi Alpha Theta history received the Best Chapter Award in Division IV for the 2024-25 academic year, building on a long history of recognition at the organization's national level.

The Department of Music will present its free Choir Fest featuring performances from regional high schools and university ensembles on Oct. 29 in the Mabry Concert Hall.

A Brief* History* of Manmade* Spacefaring* Objects* (*Mostly) ran from Oct. 2-5 as part of APSU's New Musicals Project, with Gibson as assistant director. The one-act production sees personifications of Entropy, Curiosity, Hope, and Inevitability gather around a campfire at the end of the universe to reflect on humanity.

The Harnsberger/Jones Duo, featuring acclaimed marimba soloists Andy Harnsberger and Dr. Caitlin Jones, will perform a free public concert on at 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 27, in Mabry Concert Hall.

Joe and the late Cathi Maynard have created the JoAnn and Frank Hindsley Endowment to support APSU students affiliated with the U.S. Army who are pursuing arts degrees.

Holloway, an active national mixed media artist, will give a lecture at 6 p.m. Oct. 28 in the Art + Design Building Room 120, and a gallery talk at noon Oct. 29 in The New Gallery.

Rachel Bush, a graphic design professor at Austin Peay State University, cofounded the Say Yes to Recess advocacy group with Clarksville mothers Morgan Garner and Kathryn Truman. Now, they're building chapters across the U.S., championing recess in grades 6-12, and working to fund playground equipment for low-income schools.

The Department of Art + Design and CECA will host an exclusive prerelease screening of selections from Art21's "Artists and the Unknown" series followed by a panel discussion on Oct. 15.

Austin Peay State University's Symphony Orchestra performs Michael Shapiro's live score to the 1931 film "Frankenstein" on October 9, 2025. The Halloween concert features Grammy winner Shapiro's contemporary score plus "The Baby in Yellow" game music. Tickets: $5-$10.

Clarinet Day is an opportunity for local clarinet students to engage in masterclasses and performances on APSU's campus. The evening recital, in Mabry Concert Hall at 6 p.m. on Sept. 28, is free and open to the public.

Abas, who worked live on campus as The New Gallery's first artist-in-residence over the summer, will discuss her exhibition "New Beginnings" and present a gallery talk on Sept. 25-26.

Animation duo Tom and Tony Bancroft, who have worked on iconic Disney films such as The Lion King, Mulan, Aladdin, and Beauty and the Beast, will speak at Austin Peay State University during a free public event at 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 11 in Art + Design Room 120.

Austin Peay State University's Zone 3 Press, with support from the Center of Excellence for the Creative Arts, is hosting Pulitzer Prize nominee Rebecca Makkai at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 18, in the Mabry Concert Hall for a reading and book signing.

The College of Arts and Letters is hosting the free Govs Creative Arts Festival at the Downtown Commons on Sept. 13, featuring live performances, hands-on art activities, and community partners.

Nearly a decade ago, Austin Peay State University alumnus Dr. Thom Murphy found his calling when he accidentally signed up for a French course. Now, he is teaching early modern French through a Career Development Fellowship at New College Oxford.

The Dr. Solie Fott Strings Scholarship Endowment will benefit Austin Peay State University music students whose primary instrument is the violin, and was established through a gift from Michael Humnicky.

Austin Peay State University has announced that two recent graduates, Jacob Gunter and Christian Taliento, have been selected for the highly competitive Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Program.

Austin Peay State University's Community School of the Arts recently hosted two space-themed summer camp sessions, offering local youth hands-on experience in theatre, ceramics, dance, and painting.

A generous donation from Atlanta residents Bill and Anne Newton honoring long-time Austin Peay State University community members Jim and Dorothy "Dottie" Mann has been designated to create the James T. Mann, Sr. and Dorothy Newton Mann Family Endowment Scholarship in the College of Arts and Letters.

Syrian-born painter and printmaker Soulaf Abas will be working live on campus in the New Gallery through Aug. 9, with a reception from 5-7 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 7 as part of the First Thursday ArtWalk. 

APSU students traveled to South Carolina on a study away trip with Associate Professor Eboné Amos to explore African American history through visits to museums, plantations, and historic sites.

The group immersed themselves in Native American art, literature and culture while traveling approximately 1,800 miles across the state, making connections with Indigenous people and visiting sacred sites.

Austin Peay State University alumna Christina Reyes ('17) spent the early part of her college journey confined to a hospital bed, battling a rare bacterial disease while finding herself. Now she is sharing her battle for survival, self-discovery, and faith in her first book, "Heartbeat."

APSU alumna Maggie Lehtola rekindled her academic journey at APSU after being inspired by a Nashville Shakespeare Festival production and is now heading to London for her MFA.

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The Johnson Family Letters Endowment, created by Austin Peay State University alumni Cecelia ('71) and the late Mitchell ('71) Johnson, is now fully funded and will provide ongoing support to history and English majors at APSU.

Six accomplished alumni - Scotty Peek, Dr. Thomas Murphy, Jim Thweatt, Dr. Mike Gotcher, Dr. Rich Ripani, and Drew McCollum - have been recognized for their professional achievements and contributions to their fields.

The university has also established two new professorships supporting arts education: the Dr. Mike Gotcher Communications Professorship and the Dr. Sara Gotcher Theatre and Dance Professorship.

Sara Lusk will attend Princeton Theological Seminary this fall on a top scholarship, pursuing her passion for ministry after graduating with degrees in philosophy and classics.

Paul Collins, a professor in the Department of Art + Design, is capturing the federal corruption trial of former Tennessee House Speaker Glen Casada through courtroom sketches for multiple Nashville news outlets.

Six outstanding student leaders were recognized during the college's third annual Student Leadership Awards ceremony on April 17.

Four APSU creative writing graduate students attended the AWP conference in Los Angeles, gaining invaluable experience through panels featuring prominent writers like Roxane Gay and Camille Dungy, with financial support from the Center of Excellence for the Creative Arts.

Austin Peay State University will welcome Domee Shi, the director of "Turning Red," "Bao," and co-director of Pixar's upcoming feature film "Elio," to campus on April 24 for the inaugural CECA Interdisciplinary Director's Series.

Austin Peay State University's Department of Art + Design hosted students from Barksdale Elementary School's Spanish Immersion Program for an interactive field trip featuring hands-on art activities.

The event will feature a large-scale choral performance with students from University Heights Academy, Rossview High School, and Northwest High School.

Directed by Dr. Penelope Shumate, director of APSU Opera Theatre and associate professor of voice, this performance features a narrative based loosely on the life of F. Scott Fitzgerald and his marriage to Zelda Fitzgerald.

This free public exhibition will be in The New Gallery and features 55 student works of art selected by juror Kariann Fuqua, an instructional assistant professor of art and the director of museum studies at the University of Mississippi.

To qualify for this scholarship, students must be enrolled full-time in the College of Arts and Letters and have at least a 3.0 GPA. The scholarship is meant to cultivate success among Austin Peay students interested in communications, literature and writing. 

Austin Peay State University's animation program has been ranked among the top animation schools in the southern United States, securing the No. 24 spot in Animation Career Review's 2025 regional rankings.

The Community School of the Arts is hosting a space-themed Summer Arts Camp with two weeklong sessions in July, and families can register now through May 23.

Austin Peay State University will host its inaugural Zone 3 Writers' Festival featuring readings, panels, and workshops from April 10-12, welcoming writers from across the country.

This year's event features performances by the APSU Jazz Collective, Cumberland Winds Jazz Project, and the Bobby Watson Group.

Austin Peay State University has installed "Cracked Earth," a new outdoor public sculpture by artist Araan Schmidt, on the campus's Arts Quad as part of an initiative to transform the university into a public sculpture park.

APSU's revamped Zone 3 internship gives students hands-on experience in publishing and event planning, culminating in the inaugural Zone 3 Writers' Festival this April. This innovative program provides transferable skills for creative writing students while elevating student voices in literary arts.

Registration is now open for the Tennessee Young Writers' Workshop at Austin Peay State University, a week-long creative writing summer camp for ages 14-18. Join us June 15-22, 2025, for workshops, activities, and creative growth.

McArthur Genius Fellow and nationally acclaimed author Kiese Laymon will speak at Austin Peay State University at 7 p.m. on March 20, in the Mabry Concert Hall.

The Living Gallery at Austin Peay State University has announced its Spring 2025 artists in residence, and community members can visit to enjoy diverse works from 11 talented students.

This year's event will feature performances by the Maharajah Flamenco Trio, Colin Isotti, McKelvey Duo, Juanito Pascual, and Montrose Duo from March 16-19.

Austin Peay State University will host the annual Asanbe-Eichhorn Symposium on March 20, 2025, featuring keynote speaker James Vukelich Kaagegaabaw, who will discuss "The Seven Generations and the Seven Grandfather Teachings."

A semi-autobiographical musical written by and based on the life of Jonathan Larson, "Tick, Tick...Boom!" is directed by Zakk Mannella with musical direction by Austin Shaw.  Tickets are on sale now for the show, which will run from Feb. 27 - March 2.

Adjunct professor and former Washington Nationals broadcaster Phil Wood uses his rare collection of baseball memorabilia, including a century-old Washington Auditorium pass, to bring America's pastime to life in the classroom.

Austin Peay State University has announced the inaugural Tennessee's Emerging Creative Writers Contest for high school students, offering recognition across multiple categories and two $1,500 scholarships for seniors who plan to attend APSU.

From immersive cultural experiences in South Korea to service projects in the United Kingdom, the Gilman-McCain Scholarship offers countless opportunities for military dependents - but only four Austin Peay State University (APSU) students have earned the award in the last 15 years.

Austin Peay State University's Writing Center and its director, Dr. Allie Johnston, will receive the prestigious SWCA CARE Certification in February for excellence in student support and innovative writing assistance.

Austin Peay State University's Community School of the Arts will provide Spring 1 term classes in art, music, dance, and theatre from Jan. 27-March 7, with new offerings including Melody Makers and Music for Children courses.

Dr. Karen Sorenson, professor of French at Austin Peay State University, has been selected as one of 14 educators to participate in a Fulbright-Hays Group Project Abroad to develop educational resources at the University of San Pedro in Côte d'Ivoire this summer.

APSU and its College of STEM will sponsor two drone shows at Montgomery County's New Year's Eve Celebration at Downtown Commons, featuring student-designed animations and offering pre-event drone workshops to the community.

Austin Peay State University senior Courtney Gatewood, a mother of three graduating with a BFA in studio art, secured a prestigious Arcade Arts residency in downtown Nashville. She is the only recent graduate among 12 selected artists for the six-month program. 

Austin Peay State University's Community School of the Arts will present the Clarksville Youth Theatre's performance of "Lord of the Flies" on December 13 at the Margaret Fort Lab Theatre.

The Honors Program is launching a new Faculty Fellows initiative to enhance student experiences through mentorship and engagement, and Dr. Dzavid Dzanic and Gina Nigro will begin working as fellows in January 2025.

Austin Peay State University's Center of Excellence for the Creative Arts (CECA) has named photographer Stacy Kranitz of Smithville, Tennessee, as the 2024-25 Tennessee Artist Fellow, awarding her $5,000 to support the creation of new artwork.

Austin Peay State University's Department of Music, with support from the Center of Excellence for the Creative Arts, is presenting American Opera Adventures at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 24, in the Mabry Concert Hall. This event is free and open to the public, and the department will livestream the event on its YouTube channel.  

The Center of Excellence for the Creative Arts (CECA) at APSU has announced a new public art installation in collaboration with the Department of Art + Design, the Center of Excellence for Field Biology (CEFB), and the College of Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics (STEM).