In this episode of Honors Spotlight, host Robin Lee sits down with Rachelle Laurel, a dual major in Japanese and Marketing whose Honors journey has taken her far beyond the classroom, and far beyond Tennessee. Rachelle shares how a childhood love of anime grew into a passion for language, culture, and international storytelling, eventually leading her to spend a full academic year studying abroad at Kansai Gaidai University in Japan.

She reflects on the transformative moments that shaped her experience: navigating a new country alone, building unexpected friendships, traveling to iconic sites like Mount Fuji and Okinawa, and discovering the everyday cultural differences that surprised her most. She also discusses how her time abroad strengthened her interest in global marketing and opened the door to hands‑on work with international partners.

The conversation expands beyond Japan as Rachelle talks about her time in Washington, D.C.—first through the Washington Center and later as Tennessee’s delegate in the National Cherry Blossom Program. From interning in a multicultural environment to reading Tennessee children’s books to a kindergarten class, her story highlights how opportunities cultivate confidence, curiosity, and global citizenship.

This episode is a celebration of stepping outside your comfort zone, embracing cultural exchange, and letting curiosity lead you to unexpected places.

(Intro music by MTSU Music major Elloise Layus.)

Thanks for joining us. Be sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share with others. 

Follow us on social media. @MTSUHonors

For more information, visit ⁠honors.mtsu.edu⁠.

What does it mean to survive inside a system where aid can exist nearby—but remain unreachable? In this episode of Honors Spotlight, student researcher Syd Panak takes us inside the spatial logic of Gaza’s humanitarian crisis. Using GIS mapping and real‑time conflict data, Syd uncovers a stark truth: the geography of destruction and the geography of aid rarely overlap.

We explore how families navigate collapsed roads, shifting frontlines, and miles‑long distances to essential services. Sid shows how aid distribution forms its own kind of infrastructure—one that can unintentionally deepen inequality when access, not need, determines where help flows.

From ethical dilemmas in conflict mapping to the challenge of working with incomplete datasets, Syd’s work pushes us to rethink how humanitarian success is measured. This episode is a reminder that crises are lived in space, shaped by systems, and experienced by real families whose stories are often hidden behind statistics.

(Intro music by MTSU Music major Elloise Layus.)

Thanks for joining us. Be sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share with others. 

Follow us on social media. @MTSUHonors

For more information, visit ⁠honors.mtsu.edu⁠.

RESOURCES

You can view various maps at the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs website: https://www.ochaopt.org/maps. 

What if the key to college success isn't working harder, but knowing where to find help?

In this episode of Honors Spotlight, host Robin Lee sits down with Cassie Pigott, the new Director of Advising for the MTSU Honors College, and Nancy Prescott, Honors Student Engagement Coordinator, to explore the many campus resources available to students.

From academic advising, tutoring, and financial aid support to career services, counseling, health services, the student food pantry, and campus recreation, this conversation is packed with practical information that can make college life easier and more successful. The trio also highlights some of MTSU's hidden gems, including the Walker Library's Library of Things, the Seed Library, special archives, and opportunities students may never realize are available to them. 

Drawing from their own experiences as former MTSU students, Cassie and Nancy share lessons they wish they had known in college, common mistakes students can avoid, and why asking for help is one of the smartest things you can do.

Whether you're a first-year student, preparing for graduation, or simply looking to make the most of your college experience, this episode is your guide to the people, programs, and resources designed to help you thrive. 

Listen now and discover why you don't have to navigate college alone. 

(Intro music by MTSU Music major Elloise Layus.)

Thanks for joining us. Be sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share with others. 

Follow us on social media. @MTSUHonors

For more information, visit ⁠honors.mtsu.edu⁠.

In this special collaborative episode, Honors Spotlight joins forces with MTSU's Out of the Blue podcast to explore America's upcoming 250th anniversary.

Honors College Dean John Vile and Amy Sayward, director of MTSU's American Democracy Project, discuss the significance of the nation's semiquincentennial and how MTSU is commemorating this historic milestone. They highlight the University's America 250 initiative, supported by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities, and preview lectures, exhibits, public discussions, and educational programs that invite students and the community to reflect on the nation's founding, its democratic ideals, and its future.

Whether you're interested in American history, civic engagement, or the events planned across campus, this conversation offers a look at how MTSU is helping commemorate 250 years of the American story.

(Intro music by MTSU Music major Elloise Layus).

Thanks for joining us. Be sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share with others.

Follow us on social media. @MTSUHonors

For more information, visit honors.mtsu.edu.

What if Game of Thrones looked entirely different?

In this episode of Honors Spotlight, studio art major Alina Caldwell reimagines one of the most iconic fantasy worlds through the lens of fashion, culture, and storytelling. Her creative thesis, “Refashioning Fantasy,” revisits the costumes of HBO’s Game of Thrones, drawing inspiration not from the screen, but from George R.R. Martin’s original texts and the real-world cultures that shape how people dress.

Alina shares how geography, climate, and social identity influenced her redesigns for nine major families and regions in Westeros, and why color, texture, and practicality matter far more than we often see on screen. From rethinking the portrayal of the Dothraki to tackling the challenge of designing for the austere Iron Islands, she reveals the research, creativity, and problem-solving behind each illustration.

Along the way, the conversation explores the role of costume design in visual storytelling, the pitfalls of fantasy clichés, and how thoughtful design choices can deepen our understanding of character and culture.

Whether you’re a fan of fantasy, fashion, or creative scholarship, this episode offers a fresh perspective on how art can reshape the stories we think we know.

(Intro music by MTSU Music major Elloise Layus.)

Thanks for joining us. Be sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share with others. 

Follow us on social media. @MTSUHonors

For more information, visit ⁠honors.mtsu.edu⁠.

Accounting and AI might seem like an unlikely pair — but according to honors student Luis Esmurria, tools like ChatGPT are already reshaping the field. In this episode of Honors Spotlight, Luis shares findings from his thesis on how large language models are influencing accounting education, from personalized learning benefits to ethical concerns around accuracy, transparency, and rapidly changing tax regulations.

We explore:

• Why ChatGPT’s accessibility has accelerated its impact
• How students use AI both responsibly and irresponsibly
• Why accounting remains a people‑centered profession despite automation
• The gaps in university AI policies
• How educators can integrate AI in ways that support, not replace, student learning

Luis also reflects on how researching AI has changed his own perspective as a future accountant — and what’s next for him after graduation.

A thoughtful, timely conversation for students, educators, and professionals navigating the future of learning and the future of accounting.

(Intro music by MTSU Music major Elloise Layus.)

Thanks for joining us. Be sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share with others. 

Follow us on social media. @MTSUHonors

For more information, visit ⁠honors.mtsu.edu⁠.

This episode of Honors Spotlight shines a light on finance major Truvell Haddox, whose commitment to service goes far beyond single volunteer events. For the past three years, Truvell has spent nearly every month preparing and delivering meals to food‑insecure and unhoused communities across Middle Tennessee.

He shares how faith reshaped his understanding of success, why consistent service matters more than one‑time gestures, and the powerful relationships formed along the way. From monthly outreach in three cities to holiday food distributions and hopes of expanding into Kentucky, Truvell’s story is one of compassion, resilience, and purpose.

If you’ve ever wondered how small, steady acts of kindness can transform lives, including your own, this conversation is for you.

If you’d like to help support or donate to The Remnant Church and its outreach efforts, please contact the church directly for more information.

(Intro music by MTSU Music major Elloise Layus.)

Thanks for joining us. Be sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share with others. 

Follow us on social media. @MTSUHonors

In this episode of Honors Spotlight, host Robin Lee sits down with Batoul Sawas, senior psychology major, Honors ambassador, and award‑winning student researcher. Batoul shares how her multicultural background, campus leadership roles, and research experiences shaped her Honors thesis: Beneath the Surface, an in‑depth exploration of how parenting styles, self‑esteem, and the Big Five personality traits intersect in the lives of college students.

Batoul also opens up about her work in mental‑health advocacy, from supporting elderly caregivers through Black Mental Health Village to delivering depression‑prevention interventions through Meharry Medical College’s HBCU wellness project. Together, Robin and Batoul explore what mental‑health resources college students need, what coping strategies actually work, and what it means to “enjoy being in the process of becoming.”

If you're curious about research, psychology, or student well‑being (or just need a dose of encouragement), this episode is for you.

(Intro music by MTSU Music major Elloise Layus.)

Thanks for joining us. Be sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share with others. 

Follow us on social media. @MTSUHonors

RESOURCES:

• Subscribe to the SOAR newsletter: urc.mtsu.edu/soarofficers/ 
• Follow the URC on LinkedIn   linkedin.com/company/undergraduate-research-center/posts/?feedView=all 
•  Counselling Services: counseling.mtsu.edu/services/
•  URECA: https://urc.mtsu.edu/ureca-overview/
•  Honors College Scholarships: https://honors.mtsu.edu/scholarships/

In this episode of Honor Spotlight, host Robin Lee sits down with Buchanan Fellow and English major Sarah Huffman to explore her Honors thesis, Halo Reach: Humanity's Desperation in the Face of Adversity."  Sarah dives into the emotional and narrative depth of Halo: Reach, examining how the game uses storytelling, environment, and player psychology to portray the indomitable human spirit in the face of inevitable loss.

Together, Robin and Sarah discuss dramatic irony, false hope, Noble Six’s unforgettable final stand, and how video games can function as powerful works of literature. Sarah also shares her personal journey from rediscovering gaming to analyzing one of the most beloved entries in the Halo franchise. And she reflects on how themes of perseverance and resilience resonate far beyond the screen.

Whether you're a longtime Halo fan, a storytelling enthusiast, or simply curious about the growing field of game studies, this episode offers a thoughtful look at how interactive media can shape our understanding of hope, sacrifice, and what it means to keep fighting.

Music sample from Halo: Reach – Overture, by: Martin O’Donnell and Michael Salvatori

(Intro music by MTSU Music major Elloise Layus.)

Thanks for joining us. Be sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share with others. 

Follow us on social media. @MTSUHonors

In this episode of Honors Spotlight, host Robin Lee sits down with 2025 MTSU Computer Science graduate Joshua Wheaton to explore the intersection of artificial intelligence, social media, and mental health. Joshua’s Honors thesis, “Using AI to Identify Depression on Social Media,” examines how machine learning models can detect linguistic signals of depression in online posts—particularly on platforms like Reddit, where anonymity often encourages honesty.

Together, Robin and Joshua unpack why this research matters, what the data reveals about how people express emotional distress online, and the ethical challenges of using AI to flag potential mental‑health concerns. He walks us through his work with logistic regression, LSTM, and BERT models and the surprising limitations of existing datasets. Then he explores what it would take to build tools that genuinely support early detection.

The conversation also looks ahead: How might AI assist clinicians? Could social platforms integrate mental‑health safeguards responsibly? And what does the future hold for technology designed to help people feel seen rather than surveilled?

(Intro music by MTSU Music major Elloise Layus.)

Thanks for joining us. Be sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share with others. 

Follow us on social media. @MTSUHonors

For more information, visit ⁠⁠honors.mtsu.edu⁠⁠, or ⁠counseling.mtsu.edu.⁠