College Town Talk

On the season three premiere of College Town Talk, Jonathan and Shan are joined by Brad Sells, a Tennessee Tech alumnus and award-winning wood sculptor whose handiwork has been displayed in the Smithsonian and it multiple public art installations around town, including the beloved "Spokes" bicycle arch in Cookeville's WestSide. Brad recalls his early years as a student at Tech's Appalachian Center for Craft, offers words of wisdom for aspiring artists, and shares about the meaning and memories behind some of his best loved works.

This week on College Town Talk, Jonathan and Shan are joined by Elizabeth Sofia, a two-time Tennessee Tech graduate and current doctoral student serving as a director of development in Tech's Division of University Advancement. As one of Cookeville's foremost animal advocates, Elizabeth also helped relaunch the region's local spay and neuter clinic and serves as a board member for "Carin' About the Strays" rescue.

This week on College Town Talk, we're catching up with Michele Niec, a two-time Tennessee Tech graduate, current doctoral student and instructor of communication. Michele shares about the surprising path that brought her to Cookeville and her passion for supporting nontraditional students and lifelong learners like herself. Then, we're speaking to Brent Young, a 2002 Tech graduate recently named director of the Sparta-White County Chamber of Commerce. Brent shares about his hopes for his new role and recalls fond memories as a Tech student in Phi Gamma Delta (Fiji).

This week on College Town Talk, Jonathan and Shan talk with Jeremy Crabtree, a Tennessee Tech alumnus who owns "Poet's Coffee," Cookeville's longest-running local coffee shop. Jeremy talks with us about the decision to become the owner of a beloved local hotspot and tells us all about the newest Poet's Coffee location inside the Volpe Library on Tech's campus. Then, we're chatting with Professor Kimberly Winkle, director of Tech's School of Art, Craft & Design and director of the Appalachian Center for Craft. Professor Winkle looks back on her more than 20 years at Tech, highlights the Appalachian Center for Craft's upcoming "Celebration of Craft" and takes us behind the scenes of her recent feature in Cookeville Lifestyle magazine.

This week, Jonathan and Shan talk to a living legend of Tennessee Tech and the Upper Cumberland, Marc Burnett. Marc is a three-time Tech graduate, TTU Sports Hall of Famer, and served the university for 36 years, including 28 as vice president for Student Affairs. Marc is also a Cookeville Lifestyle magazine 2024 "Most Influential People" honoree. Then, we're joined by Tennessee Tech MBA candidate and College of Business graduate assistant Emily Armstrong. Emily tells us about her experience as a credentialed photographer at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France and shares why Tech's College of Business was the right fit for her.

To kick off 2025, Jonathan and Shan catch up with Dr. Katie Aikens, Tennessee Tech's dean of students and assistant vice president for strategic initiatives. Dr. Aikens shares about her path to working in higher education, the significance of becoming Tech's first female dean of students, and the fulfillment she finds through her involvement with a local nonprofit. Then, we're chatting with Dr. Stephen Canfield, professor of mechanical engineering at Tennessee Tech. Dr. Canfield shares about the changes he's seen at Tech over his more than 25 years on campus and tells us about the inspiration behind his popular "Tech Engineering for Kids" program.

On our last episode for 2024, Jonathan and Shan catch up with Chris Savage, a proud Tennessee Tech alumnus and co-owner of the iconic Cream City Ice Cream & Coffee House in Cookeville. Then, we're chatting with Brittney Herman, the winner of the Tennessee Tech Alumni Association's 2024 Outstanding Young Alumna Award and founder of the nonprofit organization We Will, which is dedicated to sexual assault prevention and survivor empowerment.

This week on College Town Talk, Jonathan and Shan are joined by Candyce Clifft, a proud Tennessee Tech alumna and former student body president. Today, Candyce is an Emmy Award-winning journalist and has been the morning anchor for WDRB News in Louisville, Ky. for more than 20 years. She shares with us the secret to her longevity in broadcasting, her advice for aspiring young journalists, and takes us behind the scenes of her daily routine - including her 2:45 AM wake-up call! Then, we're chatting with Tennessee FFA President and current Tennessee Tech freshman T. Wayne Williams. T. Wayne shares with us about his passion for agriculture and why Tennessee Tech was the right choice for him.

This week on College Town Talk, Jonathan and Shan speak with Tina Francis-Hodges, a four-time Tennessee Tech graduate and the 2023-2024 Principal of the Year for the State of Tennessee. Then, we're catching up with Matt McClanahan, a Tennessee Tech alumnus and adjunct instructor who also serves as executive director of the Tennessee Association of Conservation Districts and won the American Farm Bureau 2024 "Discussion Meet" competition.

This week on College Town Talk, Jonathan and Shan talk with Jameson Wharton, a Tennessee Tech junior and defensive back for the Golden Eagle football team who founded the nonprofit "Football for the Cure" to raise money for cancer research. Then, we're joined by Rachel Wingo, cultural arts superintendent for the City of Cookeville and former executive director of the Bryan Symphony Orchestra. Rachel is also an adjunct instructor of religious studies at Tennessee Tech.