Culture and Belonging
In a professional environment of increasing cultural diversity, what can administrators do to make sure everyone feels included? On the flip side, how can individuals speak up and make themselves heard? On Culture and Belonging, hosts Rich Ledet and Wendy Broyles and their guests share stories of the conflicts that arise when cultures collide and find equitable solutions.
Episodes
Today, we're speaking with Lauren Cochran about Troy University’s Office of Civic Engagement and its relational approach to service.
Through programs like the Trojan Pantry, Civic Lab, and community partnerships, they're teaching students practical skills and encouraging listening and reciprocity.
Today, we look back to our 2025 conversation with Dr. Duane Gunn, a lecturer and the Director of Operations for the Leadership Institute at Troy University. He served 27 years in the U.S. Air Force and was inside the Pentagon when it was struck 25 years ago.
Recent Troy graduate Jayden McQueen discusses her work with Civic Lab visiting 7th graders, promoting community and belonging, and her study-abroad experience in Puerto Rico.
Dr. Amanda Heitkamp defines deviance as any behavior outside social expectations and shows how cultural norms, cultural capital, and small acts of 'deviance' can help students feel they belong. She discusses mentorship, the educator’s role in creating safe spaces for trial and error, and the importance of autonomy for both faculty and students.
Carolyn Hutcheson, host of Troy Public Radio’s In Focus, reflects on her four decades in broadcasting and the craft of interviewing. Carolyn also discusses her passion for canoeing and outdoor education.
Danielle Hudson, a chemistry and physics lecturer at Troy University, describes her girls' STEM camp for rising 6th–8th graders that uses hands-on activities, field trips, and female mentorship to boost representation and belonging in STEM. We examine culture, stereotypes, the "leaky pipeline" for women in STEM, workplace barriers like parental leave and infrastructure, student food insecurity, and the power of service to cre...
Dr. Tish Warr, discusses her research on the impacts of parental incarceration, the stigma children face, and paths to resilience. She highlights how family connection, employment, and community support influence reentry and recidivism, and offers insights on promoting belonging for first-generation college students.
This episode caps off the third year of the Culture and Belonging podcast. In that time we've talked to more than 36 guests, from students and staff to faculty and beyond. We've heard so many great stories and learned so many lessons about promoting intercultural competency.
In this episode, Rich and Wendy reflect on how the podcast started, how far they've come, and where they would like to go from here. And they give t...
Troy University has more than 150 student organizations—so many that you could never hope to be an active member of them all. That hasn’t stopped Zara Smith from trying. She’s making it a priority to discover as many new experiences and perspectives as possible.
Zara is a member of Chi Omega sorority, a Trojan Ambassador, Chief Justice of the Student Government Association, and editor of Troy’s yearbook, The...
On this episode, Dr. Kerry Palmer shares how his experience working in K-12 education, particularly as a band director, changed his approach to leadership. And we'll talk about what we can do to promote a sense of belonging in higher education.
Today we’re talking to Dr. Javier Boyas, director of the TROY School of Social Work and Human Services. Together, we talk about how cultural understanding is not a destination but rather something dynamic and constantly evolving.
We are big believers in the power of study abroad trips. New sights, new sounds, new people—it all makes for a richer experience that goes beyond what students could learn from just reading about a new place. This month we’ve got another one of Rich’s students on to talk about her recent trip to Puerto Rico. Camille Bowers is a political science student here at Troy University. We'll hear what she learned in Puert...
To err is human. But being open about our mistakes in the workplace takes a culture of communication and trust. If you've ever been the new guy or gal in the office, you know it can take time to build that trust. Both of our guests today have changed departments at Troy University and share their experiences building a culture of openness.
Many people can remember exactly where they were and what they were doing on 9/11. That makes sense. It was a traumatic and unforgettable event that changed the course of history. But we are rapidly moving into a world where more and more adults have no memory of 9/11 because they were either too young when it happened or weren’t born yet. It’s been 24 years since September 11, 2001. And it’s difficult to explain ...
We often think of culture as something that develops naturally, but, in an institutional setting, building the right culture takes a concerted effort. Dr. Laura Dove is the assistant dean at the Sorrell College of Business here at Troy University. She’s also the director of the Sorrell 360 Center, which prepares students for success in business and life. She’ll tell us how she promotes cultural competence in her student...
Like it or not, the AI revolution is upon us. College students the world over are using generative AI and large language models like ChatGPT to do everything from helping with brainstorming and research to actually writing their papers for them. But there are responsible ways to use this new technology. Dr. Scott Nokes is a professor of English at Troy University and the director of Troy University’s AI Forward Initiative. He...
Before he was Director of Graduate and Specialized Programs at Troy University, Jahaziel Martinez was an ESL teacher, and he says that experience has helped him relate to people from all backgrounds.
Follow us on Bluesky: @belongingpod.bsky.social
Alex Nesmith is political science major at Troy University. She'll be graduating later this month with a minor that we designed called intercultural competence. Alex shares what she's learned in the program and her experiences growing up bilingual.
We're celebrating two years of Culture and Belonging with a conversation with our producer, Austin Toy. He'll give his definitions of culture and belonging and his thoughts on how infrastructure affects culture in small town America.
Follow us on Bluesky: @belongingpod.bsky.social
Were you a "gifted" kid, growing up? It's a label applied to students who show a higher aptitude in one or more areas. But, as our guest Dr. Shirley Farrell tells us, being gifted is not a golden ticket to success, and many misconceptions exist about what gifted students need for success in the classroom and later in life.
Follow us on Bluesky: @belongingpod.bsky.social
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