Undergraduate/Graduate Summer Research Fellows

Chris is a Political Science 2020 graduate of the MTSU Honors College. Chris will be researching and developing a working paper — “The Art of Peace: Reforming the Terminology and Theory of American Non-Interventionism.”

Chris’s research interests include markets, human action and the origins of human rights in fields such as Austrian Economics, Epistemology and Ethics. Chris is the founder and president of MTSU’s Buchanan Society student organization and he just wrapped up nine years of competitive debate as president and award-winning captain of MTSU’s Blue Raider Speech and Debate team. During his time on campus Chris served as president of MTSU Young Americans for Liberty and president of MTSU eSports. Chris is an active member in multiple honor societies at MTSU: Phi Kappa Phi; Omicron Kappa Delta; Pi Sigma Alpha; and Pi Kappa Delta.

Hector Hernandez (Mathematics)
- Hector is the additional recipient of the Hispanic Organization of Leaders and Achievers (HOLA) research grant.
  Hector, a mathematics student with the MTSU Honors College, will be researching and developing a working paper — “The Ideal Extent of Social Distancing to Preserve Economic Prosperity when Society is Marginalized.”
  
  After Hector completes his undergraduate studies in statistics next year, he plans to pursue a master’s degree in higher education, aspiring to work in the college administration field or in ministry. Hector is a Murfreesboro native (Central Magnet alumni) who also works as an intramural sports supervisor at MTSU Campus Recreation and as a Blue Elite tour guide in the admissions office.

Ashley Nipper (Accounting M.Acc.)
- Ashley, a graduate student in the Master of Accounting program at MTSU, will be researching and developing a working paper — “A Comparison of Audits by Governmental Auditors and CPA Firms in Tennessee.” Her long-term plans include sitting for the CPA exam and pursing a Ph.D. as she continues her graduate studies. She earned her undergraduate degree in business administration with a focus on accounting as a dean’s list scholar at MTSU in 2019.
  
  Ashley’s previous independent research project on governmental audits was presented to directors at the Tennessee Comptroller’s office and her findings were met with great interest. She is a student member of the Tennessee Society of CPAs and MTSU’s Accounting Connections organization. Outside of MTSU, she is an active volunteer at a church to provide meals and support for those in need in the Mt. Juliet community.
Christian Saenz

Caleb Watts (Economics)
- Caleb, an economics student at MTSU, will be research and developing a working paper — "Populism is More than Hysteria: A Selective Review of the 2016 U.S. Presidential Elections." Caleb is pursuing his Ph.D. in economics (2024) and is also a student researcher at the Business and Economic Rearch Center at MTSU.

Summer Project: "Corporate Social Responsibility in Business-to-Business and Business-to-Consumer Companies: Nucor Corporation and Starbucks Corporation"