College of Arts & Letters at Austin Peay State University

Two College of Arts & Letters students were selected for the Summer Internship Program with the APSU Career Success Center!

Jeremiah Adams, a professional communication major, is interning with Habitat for Humanity of Montgomery County, TN.

Ryan Sharratt, a fine arts major, is spending the summer with Florim USA.

The 10-week paid program, offered in partnership with Workforce Essentials, provides rising juniors and seniors with meaningful, hands-on experiences that support local businesses, organizations, and community initiatives.

Happy to the realest 👌🎩

Join us in celebrating the College of Arts and Letters 2026 Distinguished Alumni! We are honoring six graduates whose careers, leadership, and service reflect the very best of a CoAL education.

Art + Design - Chad Malone, senior graphic designer at Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Communication - Will Roberts, assistant vice president of communications at Ardent Health
History & Philosophy - Phillip Christie, financial advisor at Edward Jones
Languages & Literature - Taylor Emery, assistant professor of English at Austin Peay State University
Music - Eric Willie, professor of percussion at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro
Theatre & Dance - Jaylan Downes, actor

Read more: www.apsu.edu/news/arts-letters-student-alumni-awards-2026

Dean Buzz Hoon and some other Peayple are currently taking advantage of the summer and spending time in Ireland, representing Austin Peay and exploring new opportunities abroad!

Whether you’re taking classes, traveling, interning, vacationing, or just enjoying some downtime, we want to know: what are you up to this summer? ⬇️

Hard work pays off 👏 Congratulations to our College of Arts & Letters students who made the Dean's List for the spring semester.

Find your name ➡️ apsu.meritpages.com/?merit_achievement_id=203067

Two APSU Department of Art + Design students recently partnered with Byers & Harvey on a large-scale mural installation celebrating the company's legacy in Clarksville. The project features "1878" which is the year Byers & Harvey was established and began serving the Clarksville area.

Working over several months with professor Rachel Bush, Abbi Farthing and Macie Addley designed custom illustrations within each number to reflect the people, places and traditions that have shaped Clarksville through generations. The "8" was dedicated to Austin Peay State University, incorporating iconic campus landmarks and Govs spirit.

This collaborative project gave students the opportunity to create work for a real client, contribute to a public installation and showcase how design can connect community history with visual storytelling!

The night before commencement, we gather to recognize the hard work, dedication, and achievements of our master’s candidates at one of our most meaningful traditions.

At our hooding ceremony, each graduate is individually hooded by a faculty member of their choice, a moment that reflects the mentorship, support, and connections formed throughout their academic journey!

Commencement photos are ready! ⬇️

Graduation photos are here and they’re free to download!📸

How to find yours:
• Visit apsuedu.canto.com/v/commencement
• Search your full name in the search bar

"The lessons that I’ve learned in the classroom, in the costume and just as a human here at Austin Peay State University are some of the biggest lessons that I’ve learned in my life."

Four years after becoming Austin Peay’s first scholarship mascot, AJ Crowder hangs up the Gov’s top hat and sets his sights on a career in professional sports.

Crowder graduated this spring with a bachelor's degree in communication media with a focus in sports communication, closing a chapter that began when he became the mascot four years ago.

He arrived in 2022 from Greenbrier, better known then as Bobby the Bobcat, calling Austin Peay his "book of empty pages." He wrote his story by making the Gov larger than life and by learning, in the classroom and on the field, how to tell the university’s story well!

The Man Behind the Mascot: AJ Crowder AJ Crowder, Austin Peay’s first scholarship mascot, is graduating and moving on to a career in professional sports management. Learn how the man behind The Gov redefined game-day energy, won a national championship, and now carries the lessons learned into his next chapter.