College Town Talk

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 Tennessee Tech Women's Center on Facebook and Instagram at @tntechwomenscenter.

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 chemical biologist, National Geographic explorer, sought-after speaker and host, and the founder of Amazon Research Internacional.

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. Later, we're joined by three-time Tennessee Tech graduate Lori Jackson Strode. Lori is a longtime local educator and past IMPACT Cookeville honoree of the year who recently directed and co-created the Cookeville Theatre Company's production of "I Am My Ancestors' Wildest Dream," a musical and spoken-word production honoring the struggles and triumphs of Black history.

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 engagement in Tech's College of Business, who worked on the Clinton-Gore 1992 presidential campaign and served in the Clinton administration for more than five years as an aide to U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno.

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 The PICTOR Group, an intercollegiate athletics consulting firm. Later on, we are joined by Luke Eldridge, the vice mayor of Cookeville and a proud Tennessee Tech alumnus from the class of 2010. Luke is also an executive director at Career TEAM, an organization dedicated to closing the opportunity divide, reducing unemployment and eradicating poverty.

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 sure to get your Arty Gras tickets at www.tntech.edu/fine-arts/

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.