Govs on the Go

In this episode, Dr. Buzz Hoon talks with Herzel Sireci, a 2025 graduate of APSU’s Art program with a concentration in Graphic Design. Now a graphic designer in Nashville for The Daily Wire, Sireci shares her journey from military service to pursuing her creative career, the experiences and connections that helped her along the way, and how she uses AI as a tool in her design work. She also offers advice to current students on networking, building experience, and making the most of opportunities both inside and outside the classroom.

In this episode of Govs on the Go: Faculty Spotlight, Dean Hoon talks with Dr. Cate LiaBraaten, a professor in APSU’s Department of History and Philosophy. LiaBraaten discusses her work in public history, including opportunities for students to connect with local history through community partnerships and hands-on projects. She also shares her research interests in cultural and women's history and explains how undergraduate research, internships, and conference presentations help students learn to think like historians.

In this episode of Govs on the Go: Alumni Edition, Dr. Buzz Hoon talks with Chad Malone, a 2013 graduate of APSU’s Visual Communication program. Now a graphic designer at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Malone shares his career journey, including designing artwork for Arrested Development and book covers, and discusses the importance of internships, building a strong portfolio, and adapting to new technologies like AI.

In this episode of Govs on the Go: Faculty Spotlight, Dr. Buzz Hoon talks with Yun Shin, Professor of Art in APSU’s Department of Art and Design. Shin discusses her journey as an artist, her exhibition Recordkeeping, which documents everyday moments of her son’s childhood, and how the mentorship she received as a student inspires the support and encouragement she gives her own students.

In this episode of *Govs on the Go: Alumni Edition*, Dr. Buzz Hoon talks with Jonathan Keener, a 2009 graduate of Austin Peay State University’s Department of Languages and Literature. Now working as a technical writer for a military software company, Keener shares how APSU mentors helped shape his career, how he grew from a shy student into a confident professional, and why he encourages current Govs to embrace new experiences and keep growing.

In this episode, Dean Hoon talks with Dr. Brandi Fuglsby, Professor of English at Austin Peay State University. Fuglsby discusses her journey from a love of literature to a career in technical writing, her international classroom collaborations, and how she helps students use AI critically and responsibly. She also shares why practical writing experience, communication skills, and student mentorship are central to her teaching.

In this episode of Govs on the Go: Alumni Edition, Dr. Buzz Hoon talks with Sean McCully, a 2018 graduate of APSU’s Department of Communication and Assistant Director for Visual Communications at Austin Peay. McCully shares his journey from Communication student to university storyteller, discussing his career in visual media and the experiences that have shaped his work at APSU.

In this episode of Govs on the Go: Faculty Spotlight, Dr. Buzz Hoon talks with Dr. Kelsey Smith, Assistant Professor of Music at Austin Peay State University. Smith discusses her work as a cellist and educator, her research into the intersection of classical music and jazz, and her experiences performing and teaching across the country.

In this episode of Govs on the Go: Alumni Edition, Dr. Buzz Hoon talks with Korean Harris, a 2018 and 2020 graduate of APSU’s Department of Communication. Now a success advisor at Jackson State Community College, Harris shares her journey as a first-generation college student, her experiences getting involved at APSU, and how her communication skills have shaped her career. She also discusses the importance of finding support, using available resources, and being willing to pivot when opportunities arise.

In this episode of Govs on the Go: Alumni Edition, Dean Buzz Hoon talks with Nea Paris, a 2010 Austin Peay State University Communication Arts graduate with an emphasis in print and web journalism. Paris shares her journey from The All State to a career in journalism, public relations, advertising, and entrepreneurship, and discusses how her Austin Peay experiences helped prepare her for an ever-changing communications industry. Now operating a boutique advertising agency in Chattanooga, Paris also offers advice to current Govs: stay curious, explore every opportunity, and “just be everywhere.”