Culture and Belonging

The Language of Understanding - Culture and Belonging - June 2025

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.
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The Value of Intercultural Competence From a 2025 Grad - Culture and Belonging - May 2025

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.

Where We Live Determines How We Live - Culture and Belonging - April

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.
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The Myths of Gifted: What We Get Wrong About Our Brightest Students - Culture and Belonging - March 2025

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.
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Culture and Belonging: Expectations and Takeaways from a Global Scholar

In this episode, we talk to Troy University student Kelsey Rumler about her trip to Puerto Rico and Peru and her involvement with the Global Scholars Program. We spoke to Kelsey before and after her trip to gauge how her experiences might change her perspective.
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Culture and Belonging: The Spark of Rosa Parks

December of 2025 will mark 70 years since Rosa Parks was arrested for refusing to give up her seat on a Montgomery city bus. On this episode, we're talking to Donna Beisel, Director of Museum Operations at the Rosa Parks Museum in Montgomery. We'll talk about what has changed in the 70 years since the Montgomery bus boycott and the obstacles that still remain.
 
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Culture and Belonging: Telling Your Story

In this episode Kyle Gassiott, Director of Radio at Troy Public Radio, shares what he’s learned in his 15 years as a radio, print, and television journalist about crafting a story that connects with listeners. We also talk about how our experiences and the stories we tell contribute to culture.

Culture and Belonging: Welcoming International Students Enriches Us All

Maria Frigge, Dean of International Student Services at Troy University, tells us how faculty, staff, and students can better accommodate the needs of international students. She also shares her own experiences coming to the U.S. as an international student from Sweden.

Culture and Belonging: Shared History Informs Community Culture and Belonging

Historian and archivist Dr. Marty Olliff is the Director of the Wiregrass Archives at Troy University’s Dothan Campus. Like other archivists, he seeks to identify, preserve, and make available the records of the local community. Those records inform community formation and preserve the corporate or institutional memory that typically walks out the door when an archivist is missing. We learn a great deal about how to proceed in the present and future based on our past experiences. We are tied to our communities because we share a worldview, but perhaps the healthiest communities have permeable boundaries that allow membership to change as needed.
 
 
 
 
 

Culture and Belonging: Putting the “Study” in Study Abroad

Political Science major Jud Keel, who participated in a study abroad trip to Puerto Rico this past summer, joined us to talk about how he engaged in research while on his trip. From the preparation before the trip to what he learned during the project, and what he is still learning while working to complete it, he shares his thoughts with us about this experience. Discussions with a professor during an undergraduate class for his major sparked Jud’s interest in studying Puerto Rico’s politics, but as he explains, learning is certainly not limited to the classroom. Jud’s experience allowed him to interview several locals during his visit, make observations about Puerto Rican perspectives, and sample authentic food, music, art, and people's perspectives on local politics. One thing that is clear, maintaining the status quo does not lead to happiness for everyone.