MTSU Mondays: Local Red Cross honors alums; economist to give public lecture
- The American Red Cross Heart of Tennessee Chapter honored two MTSU alumni, Gloria Bonner and Ray Wiley, at their annual Heroes Luncheon.
- Bonner, a retired administrator and cancer survivor, was recognized as the Red Cross Hero for her lifetime of service to the organization.
- Wiley, interim co-director of MTSU Campus Recreation, was honored for his dedication to the Red Cross, including his work in disaster relief and blood drives.
- MTSU will host a Distinguished Lecture Series event March 26 featuring well-known economist and presidential advisor Arthur Laffer.
Here's the latest news from Middle Tennessee State University.
Two Middle Tennessee State University alumni were in the spotlight as honorees for the 2025 American Red Cross Heart of Tennessee Chapter “Heroes Luncheon” held recently on campus.
Gloria Bonner, dean emeritus of the College of Education and retired administrator, was named this year’s Red Cross Hero. Ray Wiley, interim co-director and associate director of facilities at MTSU Campus Recreation, was honored for his tireless volunteer efforts.
Around 400 Red Cross patrons packed the Student Union Ballroom, where Heart of Tennessee Chapter Board Chair Ginny Williams and Vice Chair Robert Coggin presented a year in review highlighting the results of nearly 29,000 volunteer hours and 14,588 units of blood donated.
Childhood experiences with the Red Cross made lasting impressions for both of this year’s honorees and spurred them to a lifetime of service to the international nonprofit.
“I remember as a little girl how helpful the Red Cross was to families in times of emergencies,” Bonner recalled. “However, the thing I appreciate most is the humanity that comes with the American Red Cross.”
Red Cross provisions proved lifesaving for Bonner, who battled colorectal cancer and twice battled breast cancer over the past 13 years.
“The Red Cross provides platelet donations for those of us who need an extra boost as we fight cancer,” said Bonner, who was the 2019 honoree for Wine Around the Square fundraiser benefiting Saint Thomas Rutherford Foundation’s Power of Pink breast health initiative.
With a strong faith in God and supportive family, Bonner said she has chosen to “live as if everything is a miracle.”
Wiley’s involvement in the nonprofit agency dates back to his teenage years when he took his first lifeguard course later leading hundreds in life-saving courses through the Red Cross programming. He credits the Red Cross for providing training that proved vital in saving his son’s life during a choking incident. Today, that son is a flight nurse.
In addition to teaching those courses, Wiley has been committed to being a lifeline for those fleeing natural disasters. In the early 2000s, Wiley led the initiative to get MTSU certified as a disaster relief shelter.
In 2013, Wiley took the helm of the campus committee for the annual “100 Miles of Hope” friendly blood drive “battle” held every fall in advance of the rivalry football game between the MTSU Blue Raiders and Western Kentucky Hilltoppers.
“The difference the blood makes in the lives of others, so many people are impacted. That is what excites me. We know it works,” said Wiley, explaining that up to three lives can be saved through one unit of blood. “We need your blood.”
Learn more about the American Red Cross Heart of Tennessee Chapter at https://rdcrss.org/41rbRvO.
Economist Arthur Laffer to give public lecture on campus March 26
MTSU will host a Distinguished Lecture Series event March 26 featuring well-known economist and presidential advisor Arthur Laffer.
The former economic policy advisor to Presidents Ronald Reagan and Donald Trump will be speaking on "America’s Economic Outlook in the Trump Era," beginning at 3 p.m. Wednesday, March 26, in Room S102 in the Business and Aerospace Building, 1642 MTSU Blvd. The lecture is free and open to the public.
Laffer, 84, is a leading economist known for his supply-side economics theories as well as the Laffer curve, which illustrates the relationship between tax rates and revenue. He is also a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom awarded by President Trump in 2019.
The focus of this lecture is to discuss the economic landscape shaped by policies from the Trump administration and their future implications.
“His talk will likely touch on topics such as tax policy, economic growth, inflation, employment trends, and the long-term fiscal implications of decisions made during that period,” explained Stuart Fowler, MTSU associate professor and chair of the Department of Economics and Finance.
Students, faculty, business professionals and anyone interested in economics, public policy or finance are encouraged to attend.
This event is hosted by the Jones College of Business, Department of Economics and Finance, and the Political Economy Research Institute and is sponsored by Young America’s Foundation student group.
Off-campus visitors attending the event will need a $2 temporary parking pass. More details on purchasing a pass online, in person or pay by plate as well as a parking map can be found on MTSU’s website https://parking.mtsu.edu/.
MTSU Mondays content is provided by submissions from MTSU News and Media Relations.