The Jennings and Rebecca Jones Chair of Excellence in Urban and Regional Planning

History

In 1995, Jennings A. Jones had a dream. This is not really unusual for a man who is a visionary. He has been dreaming all of his life. What is unusual is that he makes his dreams come true.

Mr. Jones dreamed of a program that would assist the citizens of middle Tennessee to create a better future through urban and regional planning. He approached President James E. Walker at Middle Tennessee State University about establishing such a program. And the dreams began to take form.

Jennings and Rebecca Jones provided $625,000. With matching funds from the State of Tennessee, the Jennings and Rebecca Jones Chair of Excellence in Urban and Regional Planning at Middle Tennessee State University was established in 1997.

Mr. Earl Swensson, FAIA, renowned architect and planner, is Chairholder of the Jennings and Rebecca Jones Chair of Excellence in Urban and Regional Planning.

Mission

The Jennings and Rebecca Jones Chair of Excellence in Urban and Regional Planning produces and disseminates information relevant to the planning needs and issues in the mid state region. It encourages dialogue on these important issues among area policymakers, opinion leaders, and the broader community of interest.

Objectives

• Promote applied research and service focused on regional and urban planning
• Provide a forum for the discussion of regional and urban issues and for the development of solutions to promote effective economic development
• Act as a resource to the regional community of interest in identifying, analyzing, and solving problems
• Encourage interactions of faculty and students with practitioners in a broad range of industries and institutions influenced and expected to be impacted by growth
• Support the on-campus development of curriculum materials and faculty more conversant with the issues of the region.

Area Focus

Currently the Chair of Excellence focuses on the Nashville Standard Metropolitan Statistical Area (Cheatham, Davidson, Dickson, Robertson, Rutherford, Sumner, Williamson, and Wilson) plus the counties of Maury and Montgomery.

Earl Swensson’s Four Point Program

1. Bring together leaders of the counties of the middle Tennessee region to address the various areas of concern to all counties such as education, transportation, health delivery systems, infrastructure, land use and community development.
2. Use the talents on campus in all the various disciplines to interact with the middle Tennessee counties through symposia, conferences and focus groups.
3. To be a resource center in these many areas of activity in which the counties are involved. Through sponsorships we hope to establish current data that may be easily disseminated to the interested parties through mailings, fax and Internet.
4. To provide student participation through the classroom, research projects and field participation in all the multi-disciplined areas that affect the region.

The Chair is primarily focused on public service. The following events were hosted for the year 2003-2004.

	Mr. Swensson conducted a series of lectures on “Synergenial Planning” on the MTSU campus during the Fall semester. Approximately 150 students, faculty and staff attended these lectures.
	“Training & Continuing Education Pursuant to Public Chapter 862” – December 6, 2003 Public Chapter 862 was passed in July, 2002. Public Chapter 862 requires annual training and continuing education for planners and those that advise planners. This conference was jointly created by a partnership with the MTSU and the Chair of Excellence in Urban and Regional Planning and the city and county planners in Murfreesboro/Rutherford County.
	Mr. Swensson delivered a presentation entitled “Leadership of Professional Organizations” at the MTSU Leadership Essentials:  Improving Your Leadership Potential seminar held on November 14, 2003 at World Outreach Church co-sponsored by the Jennings A. Jones College of Business, the Jennings A. Jones Chair of Excellence in Free Enterprise and the Jennings and Rebecca Jones Chair of Excellence in Urban and Regional Planning. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist was the Guest Speaker for a luncheon held on the MTSU campus on February 20, 2004, at the request of Mr. Swensson, Chairholder of the Jennings and Rebecca Jones Chair of Excellence in Urban and Regional Planning.
	In Spring 2004, Mr. Swenson conducted another series of lectures on “Synergenial Planning” and “Shifting Paradigms” on the MTSU campus during the spring semester.  Approximately 75 students, faculty and staff attended.

Mr. Swensson represents the Chair on the Executive Committee of Leadership Middle Tennessee, a regional leadership institute. This group meets monthly.