Mark Byrnes grew up in Murfreesboro and graduated from Riverdale High School before completing a B.S. in political science from MTSU in 1983. He went on to earn a Diploma in International and Comparative Politics from the London School of Economics (1987), and an M.A. and Ph.D. (1991) in political science from Vanderbilt University. A specialist in American government and politics, he joined the MTSU Department of Political Science in 1991 and has published books on NASA, James K. Polk, and Tennessee politics. Byrnes served as Dean of the College of Liberal Arts from 2010 to 2016 and as Associate Dean of the College from 2006-2010.  He was appointed MTSU Provost in 2017 after serving as interim since 2016. As Provost, Byrnes oversees teaching, research and creative activity, and service at MTSU through its academic programs, more than 900 full-time faculty members, and 400 staff in Academic Affairs.  

Byrnes was elected to two terms (2004-2012) on the Rutherford County Board of Education. During that time, he served as chairman for four years and vice chairman for three.  

Byrnes has also served as president of the Tennessee Political Science Association and of the MTSU chapters of the American Association of University Professors and the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi.

« Read Less

Books
Series editor for The President's Position: Debating the Issues. Nine volume series. Greenwood Press, 2002-2006.
James K. Polk: A Biographical Companion. ABC-CLIO, 2001.
Tennessee Government and Politics: Democracy in the Volunteer State. Co-edited with John R. Vile. Vanderbilt University Press, 1998.
Politics and Space: Image Making by NASA. Westport, CT: Praeger Publishers, 1994.

Articles and Book Chapters
“The Fourth Amendment in Film and Television” in The Encyclopedia of the Fourth Amendment, edited by John R. Vile and David Hudson. CQ Press, 2012.
“Political Science and Primary Sources." Teaching with Primary Sources across Tennessee. MTSU Center for Historic Preservation, September 2012.
“The ‘Bitterest Fight’: The Tennessee General Assembly and the Nineteenth Amendment.” With Robert B. Jones. Tennessee Historical Quarterly, Fall 2009.
“Film” in The Encyclopedia of the First Amendment, edited by John R. Vile, David Hudson, and David Schultz. CQ Press, 2008.
“George Carlin” in The Encyclopedia of the First Amendment, edited by David Hudson, David Schultz, and John R. Vile. CQ Press, 2008.
“The President and the Bureaucracy.” (50,000 words). In Guide to the Presidency, 4th ed., edited by Michael Nelson. CQ Press, 2008. Also in 1st, 2nd, and 3rd editions.
“John Bragg” in The Tennessee Encyclopedia of History and Culture. University of Tennessee Press. http://tennesseeencyclopedia.net. 2008.
“William H. Frist” in The Tennessee Encyclopedia of History and Culture. University of Tennessee Press. http://tennesseeencyclopedia.net. 2008.
“ ‘Rebels never forgive’: Former President Andrew Johnson and the Senate Election of 1869.” With Robert B. Jones. Tennessee Historical Quarterly, Fall 2007.
“Abraham Lincoln” in Encyclopedia of American Civil Rights and Liberties, edited by Otis H. Stephens, Jr., John M. Scheb, and Kara E. Stooksbury. Greenwood, 2006.
“Gerald R. Ford” in The Encyclopedia of Civil Liberties in America, edited by David Schultz and John R. Vile. M.E. Sharpe, 2005.
“Movie Treatments of Civil Liberties” in The Encyclopedia of Civil Liberties in America, edited by David Schultz and John R. Vile. M.E. Sharpe, 2005.
"Charles Evans Hughes" in Great American Judges: An Encyclopedia, edited by John R. Vile. ABC-CLIO, 2003.
"Chappaquiddick Incident" in Dictionary of American History, 3rd ed. Scribner's, 2003.
“Checkers Speech” in Dictionary of American History, 3rd ed. Scribner’s, 2003.
“National Aeronautics and Space Administration” in Dictionary of American History, 3rd ed. Scribner’s, 2003.
"Martin Van Buren" in Great American Lawyers: An Encyclopedia, ed. John R. Vile. ABC-CLIO, forthcoming in 2001.
"NASA" in A Historical Guide to American Government. New York: Oxford University Press, 1998.
"The FBI" in A Historical Guide to American Government. New York: Oxford University Press, 1998.
“The Presidency and Domestic Policy” and “Lesson Plan for ‘The Presidency and Domestic Policy.’” Magazine of History, vol. 11, no. 4, Summer 1997.
"Campaign '96 on the Web." Tennessee's Business, vol. 7, no. 3, 1996.
"The Civil War Presidents: 1857-1869" in The Presidency. New York: Smithmark, 1996.
"The Jacksonian Era: 1829-1857" in The Presidency. New York: Smithmark, 1996.
"Tennessee Government and Politics" in United States Government: Democracy in Action. New York: Glencoe/McGraw-Hill, 1995.
"The President and the Bureaucracy" in Guide to the Presidency, ed. Michael Nelson, 1203-1245. Washington, D.C.: Congressional Quarterly, 1989.
"The Challenger Disaster: A Political Science Analysis." Mid-American Journal of Politics (Fall 1989): 50-76.

Book Reviews
Howard E. McCurdy, Space and the American Imagination, in the New England Quarterly, December 1998.
G. Calvin Mackenzie, The Irony of Reform: Roots of American Political Disenchantment, in Choice, October 1996.
Colin Campbell and Bert A. Rockman, The Clinton Presidency: First Appraisals, in Choice, February 1996.
Stephen C. Craig, The Malevolent Leaders: Popular Discontent in America, in Choice, May 1994.
Stephen Skowronek, The Politics Presidents Make, in Choice, February 1994.
David Ray Griffin and Richard Falk, eds., Postmodern Politics for a Planet in Crisis: Policy, Process, and Presidential Vision, in Choice, December 1993.
Burton I. Kaufman, The Presidency of James Earl Carter, Jr., in the American Review of Politics, Autumn 1993.
Daniel J. Palazzolo, The Speaker and the Budget: Leadership in the Post-Reform House of Representatives, in Choice, July/August 1993.

General Editor
Series editor for The President's Position: Debating the Issues. Nine volume series. Greenwood Publishing.

« Read Less

Papers and Presentations
Panelist, Conference on Bridging Cultures at Community Colleges through Religious Pluralism in Tennessee, Nashville, 29 July 2016.
“Liberal Arts: Still Vital and Valuable.” Murfreesboro Breakfast Rotary Club, 31 March 2016.
Moderator, AARP Candidate Forum, Murfreesboro, 11 July 2014.
“Leadership Lessons from Lincoln.” Omicron Delta Kappa Initiation, Murfreesboro, 22 November 2013.
“Civics.” Adventures in Learning (adult education group), Murfreesboro, 10 September 2012.
Panelist, “Creativity and Learning,” Tennessee Art Commission’s Create 2011 Conference, Murfreesboro, 12 July 2011.
“Civics 101.” Middle Tennessee Association of Realtors, 4 June 2010.
Moderator, League of Women Voters’ forums for candidate for state and local offices, March 2010, October 2008, October 2004, March 2004, and March 2002.
“To District or Not to District in the Boro.” Murfreesboro/Rutherford County League of Women Voters, 1 February 2010.
Roundtable on “Governing in Economic Turmoil.” Tennessee Press Association, Nashville, 5 February 2009.
“The 2008 Election Results.” Murfreesboro Kiwanis Club, 5 November 2008.
“Politics, the Presidency, and Film.” Honors Lecture, MTSU, October 2008.
“The Perils of Second-Term Presidencies.” Rutherford County Historical Society, Murfreesboro, 18 August 2008.
“Polk and Presidential Personality.” Polk’s America lecture series. James K. Polk Home, Columbia, TN, 28 August 2007.
“Crime and Film.” Honors Lecture, MTSU, February 2007.
“Assessing the 2006 Elections.” First Baptist Church Senior Citizens group, 9 November 2006.
Moderator, Forum on Health Care, Patterson Park Community Center, 19 October 2006.
Roundtable on Legislative Internship Programs. National Conference of State Legislatures Annual Meeting, Nashville, 17 August 2006.
“Political Participation.” Democracy for Rutherford County, Murfreesboro, 17 January 2006.
“Current Politics.” Franklin Noon Rotary Club, 1 December 2005.
“America’s Two Party System.” United Way of Davidson County, Nashville, 19 March 2003.
“The 2002 Elections.” Murfreesboro Noon Rotary Club, 22 October 2002.
“James K. Polk.” Rutherford County Historical Society, Murfreesboro, 21 October 2002.
“James K. Polk.” Book Talk at First United Methodist Church, 17 September 2002.
“The 2002 Elections.” Franklin Noon Rotary Club, 12 September 2002.
“Great American Leaders.” Linebaugh Library, Murfreesboro, 8 May 2002.
“President Polk.” Women’s Club of Murfreesboro, 28 January 2002.
“The Electoral College.” Murfreesboro League of Women Voters, 15 November 2001.
“Presidential Communication.” DAR of Murfreesboro, 11 October 2001.
“Tennesseans in the War of 1812.” Ward’s Grove Baptist Church, 29 September 2001.
"Presidential Lying." Madison Day Banquet, Belmont University, April 2001.
“President James K. Polk.” MTSU Faculty Research Symposium, 25 April 2001.
“The Elections.” Franklin Kiwanis Club, 6 November 2000.
“The Presidential Election.” Cason Lane Academy, Murfreesboro, 2 November 2000.
“Bush vs. Gore.” Franklin Noon Rotary Club, 5 October 2000.
“The 2000 Election.” Murfreesboro Optimist Club, 2 October 2000.
"Abuse of Power in the White House." Honors Lecture, MTSU, April 2000.
“Overview of Tennessee State Government.” Tennessee Municipal Clerks Conference, Nashville, 23 March 2000.
“Tennessee in National Politics.” Murfreesboro Exchange Club, 15 February 2000.
“Politics 2000: The Presidential Campaign.” Adventures in Learning (adult education group), Murfreesboro, 13 and 20 September 1999.
“The 2000 Elections.” Oaklands Kiwanis Club, Murfreesboro, 15 July 1999.
Program chair. Tennessee Political Science Association Annual Meeting, Fall Creek Falls, April 1999.
“Tennessee Government and Politics.” Southern Festival of Books, Nashville, 9 October 1998. Televised on C-SPAN 2.
"An Electoral College Anomaly." With John R. Vile. Tennessee Political Science Association Annual Meeting, Townsend, April 1998.
Chair, panel on American National Politics and Institutions. Tennessee Political Science Association Annual Meeting, Townsend, April 1998.
“The Memoirs of Cordell Hull.” Linebaugh Library, Murfreesboro, 29 March 1998.
“Tennessee’s Presidents.” Phi Kappa Phi induction ceremony, MTSU, 1 December 1997.
“Campaign Finance.” Murfreesboro/Rutherford County League of Women Voters, 20 October 1997.
"Probing the Personal Lives of Politicians: Searching for Character or Looking for Dirt?" Honors Lecture, MTSU, September 1997.
Chair, panel on the 1996 elections. Tennessee Political Science Association Annual Meeting, Memphis, April 1997.
“Picking the President: 1996.” Honors Lecture, MTSU, February 1997.
"The Sensitive Presidency." American Political Science Association Annual Meeting, San Francisco, September 1996.
“Political Communication.” Honors Lecture, MTSU, March 1996.
“East Africa.” Franklin Rotary Club, 12 January 1995.
“Analyzing the 1994 Elections.” McMinnville Rotary Club, 9 January 1995.
“The 1994 Elections in Tennessee.” Smyrna Rotary Club, 3 November 1994.
"Examining the Post-Convention Bounce." American Political Science Association Annual Meeting, New York City, September 1994.
Participant, roundtable on "Reinventing Government." Tennessee Political Science Association Annual Meeting, Fall Creek Falls State Park, April 1994.
"Public Opinion of Presidential Candidates: The Role of National Party Conventions." Southern Political Science Association Annual Meeting, Savannah, Georgia, November 1993.
"Districting in Murfreesboro." League of Women Voters, Murfreesboro, Tennessee, 13 October 1993.
“FDR as World War II Leader.” Adventures in Learning (adult education group), Murfreesboro, 4 October 1993.
"A Comparison of Carter and Clinton." Tennessee Political Science Association Annual Meeting, Henry Horton State Park, April 1993.
Chair, panel on “The Presidency, the Congress, and the Supreme Court After the 1992 Elections.” Tennessee Political Science Association Annual Meeting, Henry Horton State Park, April 1993.
“Rating the Presidents.” Stones River Kiwanis Club, Murfreesboro, 4 January 1993.
“My Visit to East Africa.” La Vergne Rotary Club, 15 December 1992.
"Image Making by NASA." Southern Political Science Association Annual Meeting, Atlanta, Georgia, November 1992.
Participant, roundtable on "Japanese and American Politics and The Media: A Comparison." Sponsored by the Japan Center of Tennessee, MTSU, September 1992.
Participant, roundtable on "Divided Government." Tennessee Political Science Association Annual Meeting, Montgomery Bell State Park, April 1992.
"The Politics of NASA." Rhodes College, Memphis, Tennessee, 23 March 1992.
"Lobbying Effectiveness in the Tennessee General Assembly." Southern Political Science Association Annual Meeting, Tampa, Florida, November 1991.
Discussant, "Presidential Elections" panel. American Political Science Association Annual Meeting, Washington, D.C., August 1991.
"Environmental Influences on NASA's Strategies for Winning Political Support." Southern Political Science Association Annual Meeting, Atlanta, Georgia, November 1990.
"NASA's Strategies for Winning Political Support." Midwest Political Science Association Annual Meeting, Chicago, Illinois, April 1990. Nominated for award for best graduate student paper at the convention.

« Read Less