The campus of Middle Tennessee State University is a lot quieter this week. People are mourning the sudden passing of Jonathan Trundle. He was only 46 years old when he died. As the associate professor and director of photography at MTSU, he was the literal heart of the entire program. His sudden departure has left a massive hole in the community.
Everyone on campus knew him by his signature look. He was a soft-spoken, gentle giant who always wore classic denim overalls. You could usually spot him rocking a pair of casual Converse sneakers too. He had a rare gift for pairing deep technical knowledge with a childlike sense of wonder. He didn’t just teach people how to take photos; he taught them how to love the art.
Jonathan was a homegrown Tennessee talent through and through. He grew up in Chattanooga before heading over to Murfreesboro for college. He graduated from MTSU back in 2001 after studying mass communications, art, and theatre. He wanted to go deeper into the craft, so he headed up north to Maryland. He earned his Master of Fine Arts from the prestigious Maryland Institute College of Art in 2006.
He spent a few years running the photography department labs up in Baltimore. But the pull of his home state was too strong to ignore. He officially returned to MTSU in 2011 to start his teaching career. For over a decade, he gave everything he had to his students. He worked day and night to make sure they had the best education possible.
In the classroom, Jonathan was completely obsessed with the magic of traditional film. He loved the smell of the darkroom chemistry and the patience it required. He would even build, hack, and modify his own custom film cameras. He used these special cameras to explore how time moves inside a single image. He wanted his students to see the world differently, beyond factory settings.
Away from the cameras and the college campus, Jonathan lived a beautiful, simple life. He was a devoted family man who loved going on outdoor adventures. He cherished every single moment spent with his beloved wife, Liberty. Together, they raised their wonderful son, Arlo. He found pure joy in the quiet, everyday moments of life with his family and close friends.
Now, his family is preparing to celebrate his incredible life and legacy. The local community has rallied around them with an outpouring of love, prayers, and shared photographs. His former students and colleagues are deeply grateful for his years of mentorship. His physical presence is gone, but his artistic spirit will live on through every life he touched.
