James Trigueros teaches History of Western Civilization and American History, bringing a scholar’s training and a practitioner’s clarity to courses that trace how ideas, institutions, and everyday people shaped the modern world. He has taught Western Civ (to 1500 and since 1500) and U.S. History at the College of Lake County, designing classes that blend […]

Chef Adam Alderman is a U.S. Army veteran, personal chef, and owner of Mantra Classic Cafe in La Vergne, Tennessee. A classically trained culinarian who studied at The Art Institute of Tennessee–Nashville, Adam built his reputation creating customized menus for private dinners, weddings, and special events across Middle Tennessee. His approach is simple and guest-first:

Dr Kendall Woods has been in education since 2012, serving in Administrative Leadership roles as well as Associate and Lead Professor capacities. Dr Woods completed her AAS at Nashville State, BS, Ashford University, MPA South University, and her Doctorate from the University of Charleston. She is a native Tennessean and currently resides with her dog

Karen Swinger is an educator and entrepreneur with three decades of experience at the intersection of fashion, business, and student success. She has taught Fashion Marketing & Management at The Art Institute of Atlanta and served in multiple academic leadership roles at Middle Tennessee State University, where she helped first-year and transfer students build the

Chef Eva has had a passion for baking since childhood, where her creative mind and love for the kitchen first took root. She pursued her culinary dreams at the Art Institute of Nashville, graduating in 2019 with a focus on baking and pastry arts. Always eager to expand her skills, she later earned her business

Laird Ogden is an illustrator and designer with extensive experience in sequential illustration, marketing communications, and video production. His work has appeared in numerous publications and has been exhibited in venues throughout the United States, Canada, and Europe. He has worked extensively with award-winning illustrator and cartoonist Peter Kuper, as well as noted film production

Craig Nolan is an educator with 18 years of college teaching experience across traditional and online formats. He currently teaches at Nossi College, specializing in Exercise Science while also instructing general education courses. Beyond higher education, Nolan has taught CPR and First Aid to the public and healthcare professionals for more than a decade. Previously

Rebecca Burney was born and raised in Texas and moved to Nashville in 1991 to attend Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) in Murfreesboro. Her restaurant career began at just 14 years old as a dishwasher, and she’s been in the industry ever since—spending more than 35 years in hospitality, including over 30 years as a

Brian Jervay is an award-winning filmmaker, actor, and producer whose work has earned more than 40 festival awards worldwide. A graduate of Oklahoma City Community College, where he studied under Academy Award–winning producer Gray Fredrickson (The Godfather, Apocalypse Now), and an alumnus of Columbia College Chicago, Brian brings both craft and vision to his storytelling. He

Allie graduated from Freed-Hardeman University in 2017 with a bachelor’s degree in photography. She currently photographs for Studio-1 talent agency, works with local production companies as a behind-the-scenes and stills photographer, and has recently started photographing for RBR Entertainment. Outside of work, she loves taking creative self-portraits, diving into a good fantasy book, and spending