Tennessee Tech Today

This week on Tennessee Tech Today, we talk to Dr. Holly Anthony, Professor in the department of curriculum and instruction in the College of Education about her work and winning the university’s Caplenor Award, the university’s highest faculty honor. We will also hear from David Johnson, a Tennessee Tech alumnus who is moving up the ranks of Nissan’s corporate structure and currently serving as senior vice president of manufacturing and supply chain management.

In this week’s episode of Tennessee Tech Today, we talk to newly-elected Student Government President and junior business major Addison Dorris. We also chat with Chemical Engineering Professor Pedro Arce, winner of the university’s Scholar-Mentor Award.

This week on Tennessee Tech today, we talk to student winners of this year’s Eagle Works competition to hear about their innovative and award-winning business ideas. Another display of student ingenuity is set to take place April 21st with the 17th Annual Research and Creative Inquiry Day on Tech’s campus. We will talk to event organizer Amy Hill and some of the students presenting their work.

In this week's episode of Tennessee Tech Today, we celebrate cultural diversity, and harmony with an event held on Tech's campus! We will hear from a Tech alumna about why she has a passion for teaching. And WTTU, Tech's radio station, is celebrating 50 years of achievements and success.

In this program, for only the second time in school history, a student has earned the prestigious Goldwater Scholarship; one of the most coveted and highly sought after scholarships in the nation.  We’ll visit with the winner and those who actually encouraged him to apply when he was reluctant to do so.
And this coming week is one of the most popular in the sporting world, the Masters.   A director of career development at Tech has a special connection with the tournament.  We’ll learn about his ties to a tournament that is a tradition unlike any other.

In this episode, Tennessee Tech has three different professors that have received National Science Foundation career awards this year.

The Golden Eagle women’s basketball team advanced to the second round of the women’s National Invitation Tournament.  Coach Kim Rosamond reflects on the season and what’s ahead.

In this program, from rising gas prices to increased interest rates, Tennessee Tech’s dean of the college of business says it’s the most volatile time for the economy in recent U.S. history.

The college of business is also hosting a women’s leadership conference at the end of March, celebrating achievements of women and discussing working in the post pandemic world.

In this program, the spring engineering job fair took place this past week.  More than 150 companies from across the southeast made their way to the Hooper Eblen Center to interview Tech’s best and brightest. 

A significant number of the representatives of the companies attending the job fair were very familiar with 

Tennessee Tech.  We will visit with some alumni that once were engineering students, and now are back at the job fair recruiting for companies.

Tennessee Tech has earned high honors from an organization that focuses on service to the military and veterans.  Tech has been rated a military friendly school with additional honors, recognizing the university’s support and commitment to active military members, veterans and their families.

In this program, the war between Russia and Ukraine has escalated quickly.  We will hear the perspective of a Tennessee Tech political science professor on what has become a full-scale war in less than two weeks.

On a brighter topic, it’s never to early to start thinking about summer camp.  The Elinor Ross Children’s Defense Fund Freedom School, which is sponsored by Tech’s college of education, has an amazing six week summer program for disadvantaged children and families that is accepting applications now.

And we’ll learn more about an initiative to help reduce costs for Tech students.  This year the program saved almost 1,000 Tech students a total of almost 150-thousand dollars.

In this program, Tennessee Tech faculty are finding ways to reduce the financial burdens on students, using open educational resources to utilize free online textbooks and more.  A small group of faculty helped save students almost 150-thousand dollars this semester.

The landscape keeps changing in collegiate athletics.  The Ohio Valley Conference and the Big South have announced an agreement to combine their two conferences for football starting in 2023.  Tennessee Tech president Phil Oldham explains what that means for Tech, as well as what the future might hold.

In this episode, one of the world’s biggest current headlines is the potential invasion of the Ukraine by Russia.  A Tennessee Tech political science professor helps us understand what’s going on and what’s at stake.

The man who led the Tennessee Tech University marching bands and all its musical ensembles for almost 30 years is now enshrined into the National Band Association hall of fame, along with legends the likes of John Philip Sousa.

And Engineers Week is coming on campus.  We’ll learn about the schedule of events, competitions and challenges where engineering students battle to decide which major is the best.

In this program, Tech hosts and manages a website that is really a one stop shop for those interested in giving their time to organizations through volunteerism or service, or for those that need assistance. And it’s not just for students or staff.  Anyone can take advantage and get involved.

The national signing day for college football took place recently.  Tech head football coach Dewayne Alexander signed 13 players to become Golden Eagles.  The coach will talk about how the landscape of recruiting has undergone a drastic change, with the addition of subjects like Name, Image and Likeness and the transfer portal, as well as the impact of Covid.

In this edition, Tech president Phil Oldham discusses his recent meeting as a member of the NCAA Board of Governors overseeing collegiate athletics.  He also touches on local issues including the renovation of Tucker Stadium and the prospect of new interstate gateway signage.

The Oakley STEM center not only provides teaching and learning of science, technology, engineering and mathematics to college students, but also provides events for young children that haven’t even started school yet.

In this edition, Tech celebrates the 50th anniversary of its women’s basketball program.  Head coach Kim Rosamond reflects on a memorable get together to celebrate the anniversary.

A Tech cybersecurity team of students has earned a top three finish in an international competition. 

In this episode, Martin Luther King, Junior events at Tennessee Tech revolve around more than just one day, with service as the theme.

A cybersecurity team of students from Tech recently placed third in an international competition, and had to find a way to do it remotely.

An assistant professor of mechanical engineering is involved in research hoping to create a car that drives itself.

In this episode, more than 800 degrees were awarded during Tennessee Tech’s fall commencement.  One went to a registered nurse on the Tech campus who overcame hardship and abuse in her early years to build a wonderful life and family, and now holds a master’s degree. 

And we’ll get some helpful tips from a Tech cybersecurity expert on how to avoid being scammed during the holiday season.

Mechanical engineering students at Tennessee Tech have been designing and constructing special projects for special needs students in the upper Cumberland region for years.  We’ll join a group of students on the delivery of one of their projects.

The department chair of the school of mechanical engineering is passionate about engineering, but he’s also passionate about meditation, and what it can do for you. 

The holiday season can be extremely stressful for students dealing with impending exams.  We will get some tips on things to do and not to do in studying to prepare.

With the COVID pandemic and the stress of holidays, the Tech counseling center is there to serve all who need help.

Allison Clark knows very well what her players are going through during the holidays.  The assistant basketball coach was a Tech student athlete a couple of decades ago. 

The holiday can be a joyous time for many, but for some it can be stressful and depressing.  We’ll get tips on what to look for in yourself and in others to help combat depression.

Tech mechanical engineering students have been providing special gifts for special needs children in the upper Cumberland for years.  That tradition continues this holiday season.

Tech president Phil Oldham revisits the Wings Up Way.

In this program, mechanical engineering students at Tennessee Tech combine practical classroom experience with designing and creating equipment to help special needs children in the upper Cumberland region.

Tech president Phil Oldham lays out plans for a significant upgrade of the university’s football facilities, a new Football Operations Center and a renovation of Tucker Stadium.

Advice from Tech’s school of human ecology on dealing with the challenges of all the food that goes with Thanksgiving.

Homecoming weekend means induction of the new classes of the Tech Sports Hall of Fame.  Frank Harrell has been a part of the Tech community for 40 years.

The annual Alumni Awards are handed out, and include a member of the Tech Board of Trustees who was surprised to be selected as this year’s Distinguished Alumnus.

Tech’s Director of the School of Art, Craft and Design Kimberly Winkle describes the current faculty exhibition on display in the Derryberry Art Gallery.

Matt Bragga led the Tech baseball team to unprecedented success in 2018.  After three years away, he’s back as coach of the Golden Eagles.

In this program, the Marc Burnett Student Recreation and Fitness Center is one of the most popular buildings on the Tech campus.  Coordinator of intramural sports Les Fralix details how the building has garnered national awards.

Ken Moore is a Tech graduate whose career has taken him from success as an orthopedic surgeon to the mayor of one of the most popular cities in middle Tennessee. 

November 11th is Veteran’s Day.  Ben Iles is one of a large number of Tech students who currently or previously served in the United States military. 

Tech director of admissions Steve Keller describes the on-campus and off-campus initiatives to recruit new students.

Professor of theater Mark Creter is the artistic director for the Backdoor Playhouse, which opens its 67th year of performances on campus this coming week.

Men’s golfer Nick Sutton is a tournament champion, winning the Battle at Black Creek in Chattanooga to claim Ohio Valley Conference men’s golfer of the week honors.

Christina Mick, interim director of the Tech Counseling Center, talks about the joy of helping students, and dealing with life during the pandemic

Director of Greek Life Alyssa Robinson discusses what fraternity and sorority life are like on the Tech campus, and how rewarding Greek life can be

Men’s basketball coach John Pelphrey previews the upcoming season, and remembers his own battle with COVID.

In this episode, Tech assistant professor of physics Adam Holley talks about new research about the development of the universe that has landed in a national publication.

Director of the College of Business Cheryl Montgomery shares details on the annual Fall Celebration, featuring Pulitzer Prize winning author Doris Kearns Goodwin.

Tech women’s basketball coach Kim Rosamond shares the excitement and expectations for a run at a championship season.

Capt. Barry Wilmore, member of the TN Tech Board of Trustees, on waiting for his next NASA spaceflight.

A visit with six members of the Tech class of 2025 that are National Merit Finalists.

Pingen Chen, assistant professor for mechanical engineering, on what the proposed new Ford manufacturing and battery plant in west Tennessee means for Tech and for its students.

On this edition of Tennessee Tech Today, we meet a freshman whose hometown is almost nine thousand miles from Cookeville. 

Chester Goad is the director of the Accessible Education Center at Tech, and has been elected to an international board dealing with disabilities in higher education. 

Tech president Phil Oldham discusses the origin and the meaning behind the Wings Up Way.

Brandon Johnson, vice president for enrollment management and career placement, discusses the new Presidential Scholars program, with more scholarships and more money for more students.

Tech president Phil Oldham talks about his appointment to a board overseeing collegiate athletics.

Steve Keller, director of admissions, provides a preview of the annual Preview Day on campus coming up Saturday, October 2nd.

Guests are Russ Coughenour, director of career development at Tennessee Tech, on the upcoming Engineering/STEM career fair at the Hooper Eblen Center and how it can be a life changing event for Tech students, Mark Wilson, director of athletics at Tennessee Tech, on the football game at Tennessee, the philosophy of scheduling games like this, what it means to Tech financially and otherwise, and how games like this may become more difficult to schedule in the future.

Guests are Dr. Joe Slater, dean of the College of Engineering, on the groundbreaking for the new Ashraf Islam Engineering Building, Lieutenant Colonel James Bryant, professor of Military Science, on staff of Tennessee Tech University ROTC, on the stair run at Tucker Stadium to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, Polk Brown, head coach of the Tennessee Tech men’s golf team, on the start of the season and his new role of no longer being the head coach of both the men’s and women’s teams.

Guests are Don Sowers, adjunct professor for the College of Interdisciplinary Studies, who helped coordinate volunteers for the clean up efforts in the massive flooding in Waverly Dr. Jeremy Wendt, chair and professor, Department of Curriculum & Instruction in the College of Education, on Tech having the first licensed program completer in the state of Tennessee in the new K-12 Computer Science Education program. Courtney Brehm, assistant director for New Student & Family Programs, discussing the upcoming family weekend at Tennessee Tech.

Guests are Cynthia Polk-Johnson, Vice President for Student Affairs, on her new role at Tech, the appeal of the university and of Cookeville and putting students first; Dewayne Alexander, head football coach of the Golden Eagles, on entering the new season with the opener Thursday, September 2nd.

The guest is Tennessee Tech University president Dr. Phil Oldham. Topics covered include beginning a new year on campus, dealing with the COVID pandemic past and present, building and growth on campus, relationships with the local government and community, research opportunities for students and vision for the future.