College Town Talk

This week on College Town Talk, Jonathan and Shan are joined by Maria Baltazar, a two-time Tennessee Tech graduate and former local elementary school teacher who now serves as the new recruitment specialist in Tech’s Office of Access, Belonging and Community Outreach. Maria shares about being a first-generation college graduate and the sacrifices that her immigrant parents made to equip her for su...

This week on College Town Talk, Jonathan and Shan are sitting down with Sidonie Sansom, board president for the Bryan Symphony Orchestra, the Upper Cumberland's professional symphony that operates in partnership with Tennessee Tech's School of Music. Then, we hear from Kelly Chambers, a two-time Tennessee Tech graduate and the current assistant director for the university's Crawford Alumni Center.

This week on College Town Talk, Jonathan and Shan are joined by Dr. Harry Ingle, Tennessee Tech's executive director for Student Affairs and head of the university's new Office of First-Generation Student Success. Then, we hear from Andrea Kruszka, assistant director of the Tennessee Center for Rural Innovation, a celebrated local artist and current Tennessee Tech graduate student.

This week on College Town Talk, Jonathan and Shan are joined by State Senator Paul Bailey, who represents the Tennessee Tech campus as part of his six-county region in the Tennessee General Assembly. Senator Bailey discusses the importance of Tech’s Rural Reimagined Grand Challenge, lessons he learned from an early campaign loss, future goals in the state legislature and the impact of Tennessee Te...

This week on College Town Talk, Jonathan and Shan are joined by University Archivist Megan Atkinson. Megan discusses the history behind the upcoming centennial anniversary of Tech's identity as the Golden Eagles and shares about Tech's rich concert history, including performances on campus from Johnny Cash, Ray Charles, Neil Diamond and others. Then, we hear from Tech alumnus and former assistant...

In the season two premiere of College Town Talk, Jonathan and Shan are joined by Amy New, a Tennessee Tech alumna, member of the Tennessee Tech Foundation Board, and the President and CEO of the Cookeville-Putnam County Chamber of Commerce. Then, we hear from Tennessee Tech head football coach Bobby Wilder about his plans for the Golden Eagles' upcoming season.

On the season one finale of College Town Talk, we're joined by Kaitlin Salyer, a Tennessee Tech graduate and former staff member who now serves as talent development director for the Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce and was this year's recipient of the Mandala Award at Tech's annual "Window on the World" festival. Later, we hear from J.R. Russell, a proud Tennessee Tech alumnus who now serves...

This week on College Town Talk we're joined by Lela Gracy, the reigning Miss Tennessee Tech and a current senior majoring in computer science with a concentration in cybersecurity and French. Then, we're joined by Tennessee Tech alumnus and award-winning sports writer Thomas Corhern. Thomas has served as Tech's sports information coordinator since 2016 and previously worked for a decade at the Her...

This week on College Town Talk we're chatting with Dr. Alma Núñez, associate professor of finance at Tennessee Tech’s College of Business. Dr. Núñez tells us about the college's events for Financial Literacy Week (April 1-5) made possible through a partnership with Wilson Bank & Trust. Later, we hear from Myron Douglas, MPH, a 2010 Tennessee Tech graduate who now works as a health communications s...

This week on College Town Talk we're joined by Bob Luna, a longtime community leader, proud Tennessee Tech alumnus and the voice of the Golden Eagle Marching Band for more than 30 years. Then, we hear from Amelia Greer. Amelia is the morning anchor for WDEF News 12 in Chattanooga and a proud graduate of Tennessee Tech's class of 2023.

This week on College Town Talk, Jonathan and Shan are visited by Chelsea Dartez, founder and publisher of the popular local magazine Cookeville Lifestyle. Then, we hear from Dr. Helen Hunt, director of the Women's Center at Tennessee Tech University and associate professor of English. Find Cookeville Lifestyle on Facebook at @cookevillelifestyle and Instagram at @cookevillelifestyles. Find the Ten...

This week on College Town Talk, we're joined by Tennessee Tech alumni Jay Albrecht and Dr. Rosa Vásquez Espinoza. Jay owns the popular local restaurant "Seven Senses" and is a former newspaper publisher who was recently named chair of the board for the Cookeville-Putnam County Chamber of Commerce. Dr. Espinoza is a native of Peru and a proud graduate of Tech Honors. Today, she is an award-winning...

As Black History Month comes to a close, Jonathan and Shan are joined by two trailblazing Tennessee Tech alumni. First, we hear from Morris Irby who, in 1967, became the first Black baseball player recruited to Tennessee Tech. Morris is a Tennessee Tech Sports Hall of Fame member and a past board leader for IMPACT Cookeville, WCTE-TV, the Cookeville-Putnam County NAACP, and other organizations. La...

On this special Presidents' Day episode of College Town Talk, Jonathan and Shan are joined by a bipartisan pair of Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles who previously served in presidential administrations. First, we hear from Penny Grace Judd, a Tech alumna and former SGA President who served under President George W. Bush. Then, we hear from Cheryl Montgomery, director of program development and engagem...

This week on College Town Talk, we're catching up Dr. M. Dianne Murphy, a trailblazing athlete, coach, and university administrator. Dr. Murphy is a Tennessee Tech Sports Hall of Fame member and the 2005 winner of the university's Distinguished Alumna Award. She is also the former athletic director at Columbia University and the University of Denver. Dr. Murphy now serves as a vice president with...

On episode 20 of College Town Talk, Jonathan and Shan are joined by Dr. Monic Ductan, associate professor of English at Tennessee Tech and author of the new book, "Daughters of Muscadine." Then, we hear from Lee Gatts, a former Tennessee Tech SGA President and Derryberry Award winner who now serves as vice president of government affairs for the Water Sports Industry Association.

On episode 19 of College Town Talk, Jonathan and Shan are joined by Dr. Jennifer Shank, dean of the College of Fine Arts at Tennessee Tech, who gives us all the details about the college's upcoming "Arty Gras" celebration on March 2. Then, we hear from Larry Stone, the president and general manager of Stonecom Radio - the company behind many of your favorite Upper Cumberland radio stations. Be sur...

On episode 18 of College Town Talk, Jonathan and Shan are joined by Claire Myers, a Tennessee Tech senior and current Student Government Association (SGA) vice president. Later in the program, we're joined by Lisa Uhrik, a Tennessee Tech alumna and the co-owner of Plenty Downtown Bookshop in Cookeville.

On episode 17 of College Town Talk, Jonathan and Shan hear from Rev. Dr. W. Antoni Sinkfield, the winner of Tennessee Tech's 2023 Distinguished Alumnus Award. Later in the program, we're joined by Jamie Lankford, the owner of Jamie's Eats & Sweets in Cookeville.

College Town Talk is kicking off 2024 with an appearance from country music sensation, Tennessee Tech alumnus, and winner of season 17 of The Voice, Jake Hoot. We also hear from Dr. Christina Mick, director of the Tennessee Tech University Counseling Center.

On episode 15 of College Town Talk, we're joined by the power couple of Hannah and Justin Davis - Tennessee Tech alumni who own Vertical Coffee Company in downtown Cookeville. Later in the program, we hear from Dr. Joseph Slater, dean of Tennessee Tech's College of Engineering.

On episode 14 of College Town Talk, Jonathan and Shan are joined by Brooke Mayo, a Tennessee Tech soccer alumna and officiant at the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup. We also hear from Dr. Catherine Godes, professor of piano in Tennessee Tech's School of Music. Dr. Godes shares a deeply personal story about her late husband's years in a Nazi concentration camp and how his memory inspires her work to co...

On episode 13 of College Town Talk, Jonathan and Shan are joined by Tennessee Tech alumna Kirsten Cooper, the owner of The French Cookie of Cookeville. Later in the program, we hear from Dontrell Baines, a former Golden Eagles football player and the chair of the Tennessee Tech Alumni Association Board of Directors.

On episode 12 of College Town Talk, Jonathan and Shan are joined by Philip Gibbons, a Tennessee Tech alumnus who is a CMA Award and ACM Award-nominated radio personality for 94.7 The Country Giant. We also hear from Susan Luna-Hazlewood, a Tennessee Tech alumna and the newly appointed director of Tech's Crawford Alumni Center.

On a special episode of College Town Talk, Jonathan and Shan memorialize Michelle Huddleston, a longtime Tennessee Tech staff member and proud alumna who passed away on Oct. 21. Joining us to share tributes are Tennessee Tech Chief Diversity Officer Dr. Robert Owens, Tennessee Tech Dean of Students Dr. Katie Aikens, Tennessee Tech Vice President for Enrollment and Communication Karen Lykins, Tenne...