MTSU professor charged for theft, forgery, and misconduct

Dr. Don Hong / Middle Tennessee State University via their website

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (WDEF) —  A professor at Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) has been indicted on multiple charges following an investigation by the Tennessee Comptroller’s Office (TCO) and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI).

Dr. Don Hong, affiliated with MTSU’s Actuarial Science Program, is accused of misappropriating over $8,200 in student donations intended for the university by transferring them into his personal bank account.

While he later submitted $11,700 after the investigation began, at least $8,225.48 was not initially turned over.

According to TCO, investigators also discovered also the following:

• He used a false identity and a fictitious business name to lease his personally owned rental properties to international students whom he recruited through his university-funded role.
• He received cash from students for airport transportation, which he also claimed as a reimbursable expense from the university.
• He accepted other questionable payments from students and used student labor for personal benefit without proper authorization.
• He did not report a student’s allegation of violence after it was reported to him.
• He appeared to retaliate against a student who reported his misconduct by submitting an anonymous allegation of academic misconduct using a fictitious identity associated with his personal information.

In May 2025, the Rutherford County Grand Jury indicted Hong on charges including:

• Theft of Property ($60,000–$250,000)
• Theft of Property ($2,500–$10,000)
• Criminal Simulation ($60,000-$250,000)
• Forgery ($60,000 or more)
• Retaliation for Past Action
• Official Misconduct
• Official Oppression