Honors Spotlight

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...

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 th...

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 col...

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.

Toge...

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 o...

In this episode of Honors Spotlight, host Robin Lee sits down with Victoria Grigsby, a first‑generation college student whose journey from a small Tennessee town led her to become one of MTSU’s distinguished Buchanan Fellows.

Victoria shares how she navigated the transition to university life, found her academic passions, and embraced opportunities within the Honors College. A double major in political science and German, she refle...

What makes Lyon Hall, the Honors College living and learning community at MTSU, such a special place to call home? In this episode, host Robin Lee sits down with Amy Korstange (Associate Director of Residence Life), Nana Adu (Area Coordinator for Lyon Hall), and Kera Reynolds (Honors alumna and former Lyon Hall resident) to explore the unique opportunities and experiences this community offers.

From application deadlines and fees to...

Honors student and aspiring airport director Mahi Ramesh takes listeners inside her summer internship at the Boise Airport, where she worked hands-on across departments—from project management and operations to environmental systems and emergency response.

In this episode, Mahi shares how being the only intern at a major U.S. airport taught her independence, precision, and leadership under pressure. She opens up about meeting Boise ...

In this special episode, the MTSU Honors College ambassadors take the mic to share their stories, advice, and campus tips. From what first drew them to the Honors College to their most memorable class experiences, they open up about the surprises, challenges, and proudest moments of their Honors journey.

Listeners will hear about insider recommendations for underrated campus resources, hidden study spots, and favorite places to rech...

As the holiday season winds down and a new year begins, it’s the perfect time to reset, refocus, and rethink your relationship with food.

In this year-end episode of Honors Spotlight, host Robin Lee sits down with Lena Eccles — a senior Nutrition and Food Science major, Buchanan Transfer Fellow, Honors Ambassador, and associate editor for Collage: A Journal of Creative Expression.

Lena shares what it’s really like to study nutrition ...

In this special episode of Honor Spotlight, host Robin Lee sits down with the powerhouse trio behind MTSU’s Honors advising team: Dr. Judy Albakry, Laura Clippard, and Emilee Buckmeyer. From thesis triumphs to Reddit-fueled student questions, we pull back the curtain on the people who guide, cheer, and occasionally rescue students through their academic journeys.

Hear how each advisor found their way to the Honors College, what they...

It’s Giving Tuesday—and we’re spotlighting the power of generosity in action. In this episode of Honors Spotlight, host Robin Lee sits down with Katie Enzor from MTSU’s Development Office and Johari Hamilton and Honors alumna to demystify endowments and explore how gifts of all sizes are transforming student lives in the Honors College. From personal stories to practical insights, we’re breaking down how endowments work, why they m...

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...