College Town Talk

This week on College Town Talk, Jonathan and guest co-host Susan Luna-Hazlewood are joined by Dr. Nancy Hamilton, a two-time Tennessee Tech graduate and chair-elect of Tech’s Alumni Association Board of Directors. Dr. Hamilton also serves as a Roane County commissioner and as program director for college success at Roane State Community College.

In the interview, Dr. Hamilton reflects on her path to higher education leadership after first enrolling at Tech as a mechanical engineering major—and the unlikely journey that led her to elected office.

She also shares how a milestone birthday inspired her service on Tech’s Alumni Board and recounts powerful stories of students she has personally supported in persisting toward their degrees—including a single mother of five who is now set to transfer to Tech this fall.

This week on College Town Talk, we’re joined by guest co-host Susan Luna-Hazlewood, executive director of Tennessee Tech’s Crawford Alumni Center, for a special conversation with Thomas Lynn—a two-time Tech graduate, member of Tech’s Board of Trustees and chairman of the board for First National Bank of Tennessee.

Thomas is also a generous philanthropist who helped establish Mustard Seed Ranch, a home for children from difficult backgrounds to heal and grow. In 2004, he organized a concert with country music star Vince Gill to raise funds for the construction of Bell Hall, home of Tech’s Whitson-Hester School of Nursing.

In this interview, Thomas shares how he first learned of his appointment to the Board of Trustees, the “why” behind his latest gift supporting the Professional Readiness and Leadership (PRL) Center in the College of Business, and the inspiration behind founding Mustard Seed Ranch in 2009. Plus, he offers practical advice for current Tech students—including how to plan and save for the future, and what he looks for when hiring new talent.

This week on College Town Talk, Jonathan and Shan sit down with Rachel Smalling, a 2014 Tennessee Tech graduate and classically trained cellist who went on to become a successful local entrepreneur.

Today, Rachel performs with the Orfeo String Quartet and owns two local hotels and a popular cocktail lounge. She is also helping protect and enhance Cookeville’s vibrant downtown as president of the Cookeville Downtown Development Group. 

In our interview, Rachel tells us about the similarities between being a performing musician and a small business owner, describes the “happy accident” that led to owning two hotels and pays tribute to the professor whom she calls “the number one reason I ended up at Tennessee Tech.”

This week on College Town Talk, Jonathan and Shan catch up with Dr. Colin Hill, director of the School of Music at Tennessee Tech. Dr. Hill is a sought-after percussionist who has presented concerts and events throughout the United States, Europe, Africa and Asia. Here in Cookeville, he is also a musician and board member with the Bryan Symphony Orchestra.

In our interview, Dr. Hill tells us about the unique path that led him to Tennessee Tech—including a period of time when he commuted three and a half hours each way to campus—and reflects on the School of Music’s rapid growth over the last four years, including new degree programs in live audio engineering technology and musical theatre. Dr. Hill also discusses how Cookeville has become a welcoming home for him, his wife and their two children, saying, “Tech feels like our family.”

This week on College Town Talk, Jonathan and Shan sit down with Braxton Westbrook, a Tennessee Tech student pursuing a master’s degree in computer science after graduating magna cum laude in May 2024. Braxton also serves as the student trustee on Tech’s Board of Trustees, representing nearly 11,000 students on the university’s governing body. He shares insights from his experience working alongside fellow trustees — including retired NASA astronaut Barry “Butch” Wilmore — discusses his passion for student government and reflects on the impact of Tech Honors, the university’s honors program, on his student journey.

This week on College Town Talk, Jonathan and Shan visit with Emily Thomas, a senior in Tennessee Tech's College of Business, Cookeville native, and third-generation Golden Eagle. Emily tells us about her busy schedule on and off-campus - including an internship at the Upper Cumberland Tourism Association and her role on the College of Business social media team. Plus, she explains how she is pursuing her master's degree even as she finishes her undergraduate studies, all thanks to the College of Business's "FastTrack" program. Later in the interview, Emily also puts her marketing skills to the test with a game of "Sell It In a Second."

This week on College Town Talk, we’re joined by Dr. Susan Miranda, executive director of the Bryan Symphony Orchestra - the Upper Cumberland’s professional symphony, which is celebrating its 62nd season in partnership with the Tennessee Tech School of Music. 

Susan shares about her background as a renowned oboist, her recent move to Tennessee after many years in the Midwest, and her efforts to visit all of our national park sites across the country.

Plus, she tells us about the Bryan Symphony Orchestra's upcoming concert on Feb. 15 and takes us behind the scenes of her journey to becoming the organization’s new leader.

Learn more about the Bryan Symphony Orchestra and purchase tickets to upcoming concerts at www.bryansymphony.org. Learn more about Dr. Susan Miranda at www.susanmiranda.com.

This week on College Town Talk, we’re catching up with Ben Higgins, a two-time Tennessee Tech graduate who now serves as a licensed professional counselor and mental health services provider in Tech’s Center for Counseling and Mental Health Wellness. Ben is also an accomplished musician and local worship leader whose songs can be found on Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube and other platforms.

In our interview, Ben shares how he tends to his own mental health through music, bicycling and time in nature. He also reflects on the beginnings of his musical journey, which took shape during open mic nights at the Backdoor Playhouse while he was a Tech student.

Ben offers helpful advice on navigating social media while protecting mental health, and in our rapid-fire round, he tells us about his dream duet partner (hint: she has an amusement park in Tennessee) and his favorite spot in Cookeville.

This week on College Town Talk, Jonathan and Shan sit down with Bella Rigsby, a Tennessee Tech junior and elementary education major who serves as a Student Orientation Assistant (SOA) and as Panhellenic president - meaning that she helps oversee all of Tennessee Tech’s sororities across campus. Bella tells us about the value of Greek life to her student experience, her advice to prospective students and what most excites her about becoming a teacher.

This week on College Town Talk, Jonathan and Shan catch up with Tyler Asher, a 2014 Tennessee Tech graduate now serving as assistant commissioner for the Tennessee Department of Labor & Workforce Development. Tyler tells us about his passion for supporting Tennessee's job seekers and small businesses and shares about his experiences serving his alma mater on the Tennessee Tech Alumni Association Board of Directors. Plus, Tyler discusses his involvement with CityScape, a local nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving and enhancing Cookeville’s historic downtown, and explains how he turned a passion for woodworking into a successful side hustle.