Episodes

  • College Town Talk, Episode 98 - Dr. Kim Hanna

    College Town Talk, Episode 98 - Dr. Kim Hanna
    28 Oct 2026
    This week on College Town Talk, we sit down with Dr. Kim Hanna, dean of Tennessee Tech’s newly elevated Whitson-Hester College of Nursing and a proud Tennessee Tech alumna who has served the university in various roles since 1989. Dr. Hanna discusses what the transition from a school to a college means for the nursing program and reflects on the momentum that has led to record enrollment, a 95% first-time pass rate on the NCLEX and growing national recognition. She also looks back on her own journey from Tech student to faculty member and, ultimately, dean, and shares her perspective on the mentors and experiences that shaped her career. Plus, Dr. Hanna discusses the moving story behind the Roy and Syd Byrd Scholarship Endowment and takes on our rapid-fire round.
    Show more Show less
    24 min
  • College Town Talk, Episode 97 - John Williamson

    College Town Talk, Episode 97 - John Williamson
    21 Oct 2026
    This week on College Town Talk, we catch up with John Williamson, a Tennessee Tech junior studying civil engineering who stays busy helping other students make the most of their college experience. As a Trailblazer, Student Orientation Assistant and President’s Ambassador, John plays a role in welcoming prospective students and helping new Golden Eagles find their footing on campus. John shares what drew him to Tech, what he’s learned from helping students navigate their first days of college, and what he hopes to do after graduation. Plus, he tells us all about Tech intramurals and takes on a Golden Eagle-themed game of “this or that."
    Show more Show less
    23 min
  • College Town Talk, Episode 96 - Dr. Teresa Chasteen-Dunn

    College Town Talk, Episode 96 - Dr. Teresa Chasteen-Dunn
    14 Oct 2026
    This week on College Town Talk, we sit down with Dr. Teresa Chasteen-Dunn, a longtime educator, philanthropist and business leader who now serves as a member of the Tennessee Tech Board of Trustees and Tennessee Tech Foundation Board of Directors. Dr. Chasteen-Dunn shares her educational journey, from community college to postdoctoral work at Harvard University, and the story behind WIN Learning, the organization she co-founded that has helped more than 10 million learners worldwide develop the skills they need to succeed in life and in the workplace. She also discusses her role as board chair for Mustard Seed Ranch, a local nonprofit serving children from difficult circumstances, as well as her generous financial support of Tennessee Tech and how overcoming serious health challenges has given her a deeper sense of purpose and gratitude.
    Show more Show less
    23 min
  • College Town Talk, Episode 95 - Dr. Russ Witcher

    College Town Talk, Episode 95 - Dr. Russ Witcher
    30 Sep 2026
    This week on College Town Talk, we sit down with Dr. Russ Witcher, a longtime Tennessee Tech journalism professor who has some big news to share about his future after more than 35 years of service to the university. Dr. Witcher also talks about the changing world of journalism, his role as faculty advisor for the Society of Collegiate Journalists, his research into former President Richard Nixon and the fascinating piece of history that inspired his latest book and award-winning screenplay. Plus, he takes on our rapid-fire round and shares what Tennessee Tech has meant to him.
    Show more Show less
    23 min
  • College Town Talk, Episode 94 - Dr. Mickey A. Latour

    College Town Talk, Episode 94 - Dr. Mickey A. Latour
    23 Sep 2026
    This week on College Town Talk, we catch up with Dr. Mickey Latour, Tennessee Tech’s new provost and vice president for Academic Affairs. Dr. Latour tells us why Tennessee Tech was the right fit after an already successful more than 30-year career in higher education, including at universities in Indiana, Illinois and Arkansas. He also tells us about a memorable first-day experience that captured the spirit of Tech and the story behind a special keepsake in his office honoring his late mother. Later in the interview, Dr. Latour talks about the book that he is reading alongside Tech’s deans and the surprising (and selfless) hobby he picked up many years ago that he continues today.
    Show more Show less
    25 min
  • College Town Talk, Episode 93 - Abby Weeden

    College Town Talk, Episode 93 - Abby Weeden
    16 Sep 2026
    This week on College Town Talk, we sit down with Tennessee Tech alumna Abby Weeden, owner of Cookeville’s Edison Hills New & Old. Abby shares the story behind her popular vintage boutique, how her experience studying art at Tech’s Appalachian Center for Craft shaped her creative career, and how she got started as a professional photographer. She also discusses her work with Art Round Tennessee, a new song inspired by her business and more.
    Show more Show less
    25 min
  • College Town Talk, Episode 92 - Dr. Jeremy Schoen

    College Town Talk, Episode 92 - Dr. Jeremy Schoen
    9 Sep 2026
    This week on College Town Talk, we're joined by guest co-host Jamie Fancher for a conversation with Dr. Jeremy Schoen, associate professor in Tennessee Tech’s College of Business. Dr. Schoen discusses his innovative organizational leadership course, where students put leadership lessons into practice by raising money for charitable causes throughout the Upper Cumberland and beyond. He also talks about his volunteerism with the Tennessee Central Heritage Rail Trail, the College of Business’ focus on societal impact, his time teaching remotely in New Zealand during the COVID-19 pandemic and more.
    Show more Show less
    24 min
  • College Town Talk, Episode 91 - Dr. Frank Tittle

    College Town Talk, Episode 91 - Dr. Frank Tittle
    26 Aug 2026
    This week on College Town Talk, guest co-host Susan Luna-Hazlewood returns for a conversation with Dr. Frank Tittle, a two-time Tennessee Tech graduate now serving as executive director of Tennessee Tech GEAR UP - the university's groundbreaking initiative to increase college and career readiness for students from underserved communities across the Upper Cumberland. Dr. Tittle talks about his decades-long career in education, from teaching middle school chorus to serving as Tech’s director of admissions. He also discusses GEAR UP’s work in our local K-12 schools, including an unforgettable trip to the Super Bowl for one lucky middle school student. Plus, Dr. Tittle shares advice for new college students and weighs in on Cookeville’s live music scene, his favorite place on Tech’s campus and more in our rapid-fire round.
    Show more Show less
    24 min