Govs on the Go

In this episode of Govs on the Go: Alumni Edition, Dean Buzz Hoon sits down with Dr. Joseph Miller, an alumnus of Austin Peay State University’s Department of History & Philosophy who earned his bachelor's degree in 2002 and now serves as Vice President for Enrollment Management & Marketing at Winthrop University. Dr. Miller shares how his APSU experience laid the foundation for a successful career in higher education l...

In this episode of Govs on the Go: Alumni Edition, Dean Buzz Hoon sits down with Tori Felton, a 2015 graduate of Austin Peay State University’s Department of Art + Design. Now a designer with M&S Brands, Tori brings more than eight years of experience leading creative teams and developing impactful visual strategies across diverse media platforms. She and Dean Hoon discuss her journey to APSU, the mentors who shaped her path, a...

In this episode of Govs on the Go: Alumni Edition, Dean Buzz Hoon sits down with Ebony Walton, a 2019 graduate of Austin Peay State University’s Department of Art + Design. Now working as a Content Developer for Hyster-Yale Materials Handling in North Carolina, Ebony shares how her time at APSU helped her discover her creative voice and build a career in graphic design. She reflects on her growth from student projects to designing ...

In this episode of Govs on the Go: Alumni Edition, Dean Buzz Hoon sits down with Will Roberts, a two-time graduate of Austin Peay State University with a Bachelor’s and Master’s in Communication. Now serving as Communications Director for Ardent Health in Nashville, Will reflects on his path from growing up in Maryville, Tennessee, to finding community and direction at APSU through mentors, fraternity life, and the Department of Co...

In this episode of Govs on the Go: Alumni Edition, Dean Buzz Hoon talks with Kali Woodward, a 1989 graduate of Austin Peay State University with a degree in Spanish and a minor in Communication. Kali is the founder and executive director of the American Youth Literacy Foundation, which he has led for the past 18 years. A former Spanish and Arabic linguist with the 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell, Kali now devotes his work ...

In this episode of Govs on the Go: Alumni Edition, Dean Buzz Hoon sits down with Jonathan Castile, a 2004 theatre graduate of Austin Peay State University. An award-winning actor, filmmaker, and magician, Jonathan has performed on stage and screen, co-founded Runes Picture Company in Los Angeles, and created illusions for film, music videos, and television. From his early days performing sketch comedy at APSU to his creative work i...

In this episode of Govs on the Go: Alumni Edition, Dean Hoon speaks with Arthur Orr, a 2023 graduate of Austin Peay State University with a Master’s in History with a concentration in Military History. Arthur currently serves as Executive Vice President at Cook’s Pest Control and has represented North Alabama in the State Senate for nearly two decades, where he chairs the Appropriations Committee. A former Peace Corps volunteer and...

In this episode, Dean Hoon sits down with Darren Michael, professor of acting and directing in the Department of Theatre and Dance at Austin Peay State University. A seasoned performer, director, and published playwright, Darren shares insights from more than two decades of professional theatre experience across the South and beyond. From his early love of performance to his nationally produced plays and deep commitment to theatre ...

In this episode of Govs on the Go: Alumni Edition, Dean Buzz Hoon sits down with Zacharie Kinslow, a 2019 graduate of Austin Peay State University’s Department of History and Philosophy. Now the Executive Director of the Clement Railroad Hotel Museum in Dickson, Tennessee, Zacharie shares his academic journey, his time working at the President James K. Polk Home & Museum, and his ongoing research on slavery, the American presid...

In this episode of Govs on the Go: Faculty Spotlight Edition, Dean Buzz Hoon talks with Dr. Linda Crenshaw, a longtime faculty member in the Department of Languages and Literature at Austin Peay. A scholar of Southern literature, Dr. Crenshaw shares how her academic journey—from the University of Arkansas to Vanderbilt University—shaped her love for authors like Faulkner, O’Connor, and Welty. She reflects on her decades of teaching...

In this episode of Govs on the Go: Alumni Edition, Dean Hoon sits down with Kyle Christmas, a dedicated APSU alumnus who has earned a bachelor's and master's degree from the Department of Languages and Literature, a master's degree from the College of Education and is currently completing his EdD in Higher Education. Now serving as the Executive Director of Accreditation & External Compliance at APSU, Kyle discusses...

In this episode of Govs on the Go: Faculty Spotlight Edition, Dean Buzz Hoon talks with Professor Lauren Edmonds, assistant professor of music and director of Austin Peay’s Music Therapy program. A board-certified music therapist, Lauren has worked extensively with children with disabilities and in mental health settings. She shares how she’s transforming APSU’s Music Therapy program with a methods-based approach, a cutting-edge mo...

In this episode of Govs on the Go: Alumni Edition, Dean Buzz Hoon sits down with Lakyn Earhart, a 2016 graduate of Austin Peay State University’s Department of Communication. Now a Personal Executive Assistant and Client Success Manager at Project 2231 Profit—the parent company of Miss Lucille’s, The City Forum, and Dock 17—Lakyn shares how a teacher’s advice sparked her passion for event planning, her journey from UT Chattanooga t...

In this episode of Govs on the Go: Faculty Spotlight Edition, Dean Hoon sits down with Wansoo Kim, a professor in the Department of Art + Design at APSU. Born and raised in a small town in South Korea, Kim discovered his passion for art at an early age. After studying abroad at Grand Valley State University and earning his graduate degree from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Kim now teaches APSU students not only how to craft c...

In this episode of Govs on the Go: Alumni Edition, Dean Hoon chats with Richard Ripani, a 1998 graduate of APSU’s Master’s of Music program and founder of the Nashville Jazz Youth Ensemble. Richard shares his journey as an educator, his transition into retirement (which hasn’t slowed him down!), and his passion for providing Middle Tennessee students with opportunities to grow through jazz music. Discover how his father’s love for ...

Join Dean Hoon as he speaks with James "Jim" Thweatt, a proud 1991 graduate of Austin Peay with dual degrees in History and English. Now serving as an archivist in the History of Medicine Collection at Vanderbilt University, Jim reflects on his upbringing in Clarksville, where gardening and a passion for history were instilled by his parents—his father, a historian and archivist, also taught in APSU’s History Department. He shares ...

In this episode, Dean Hoon sits down with Dr. Jill Vogel, a 2018 graduate of Austin Peay's Department of Music and Assistant Professor of Music at Hollins University. Growing up in Middle Tennessee with a love for dance and music, Jill’s journey to APSU started with a Psychology major and Dance minor, but shifted to music thanks to her love for music. Her mother, a professor in APSU's Math Department, inspired her commitment to edu...