Honors Spotlight

In this episode, host Robin Lee sits down with Renee Tettah, an MTSU Honors student, political science major, and recipient of the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship, to share her unforgettable study abroad experience in Senegal.

Renee opens up about what it was like to step into a new, but semi-familiar, culture, study a new language, and build connections that reshaped how she sees the world. From moments of challenge to...

This episode of Honors Spotlight takes you inside the world of undergraduate research with MTSU Honors students Tatyana Martinez and Ian Wilson. Through the National Science Foundation’s Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program, they spent the summer working in the Microbiome Ecology Lab, where they studied snake fungal disease—a serious threat to wildlife health.

Hosted by Robin Lee, this conversation explores:

·       W...

In this episode of Honors Spotlight, we catch up with Honors alumnus John Tate, a recent graduate in Video and Film Production who is now living in Japan through the JET Program. From navigating life overseas to teaching English and immersing himself in Japanese culture, John shares what his journey has been like so far.

We also rewind to his time at MTSU, where he produced his Honors thesis project: Go! Go! Challenge—a Japanese...

In this inspiring episode of Honors Spotlight, we talk with Alex Roberecki, a Canadian-born Honors College student majoring in Commercial Songwriting and minoring in Entrepreneurship.

Alex opens up about his journey to faith through music, how his creative work helped him escape a destructive lifestyle, and the role that MTSU and the Honors College have played in shaping his path.

From writing heartfelt songs to releasing music as ...

In this episode of Honors Spotlight, host Robin Lee sits down with two extraordinary Honors students, Taylor Tims and Ariel Nicastro, as they reflect on their transformative study abroad experiences that took them across continents and deep into their fields of study.

Taylor, an anthropology major, shares what it was like to hike into the Amazon Rainforest for a real archaeological excavation in Brazil—and how her adventures continu...

In this powerful Constitution Day episode of Honor Spotlight, host Robin Lee sits down with Dr. Amy Sayward—Professor of History and the new Director of the American Democracy Project at MTSU—for a deep dive into civic life, personal responsibility, and the enduring relevance of the U.S. Constitution.

From her early experiences with student-led activism in rural New York to her family’s legacy of military service, Sayward shares how...

In this quick teaser episode of Honors Spotlight, we’re giving you the inside scoop on all the exciting events and upcoming podcast episodes this month! From the Student Organization Fair to the ice cream social, Buchanan inaugurations, and Homecoming, September is packed with opportunities to connect and celebrate.

Plus, don’t miss what’s coming on the podcast: Dr. Amy Sayward on Constitution Day (Sept. 9) and a special study abroa...

In this debut episode of Honors Spotlight, host Robin Lee sits down with Colman Connolly—an MTSU Honors student, world champion accompanist, and passionate steward of Irish musical heritage. Colman takes us on a journey through his creative thesis project, which brings new life to the legendary recordings of Michael Coleman, a master fiddler who transformed traditional Irish music in the early 20th century.

Blending his deep cultura...