Rhymes With Orange

Kayla Clark lives behind the message of "Leading With Purpose" as an academic advisor and sounding board for Campbell University students. Clark ('08) has worked in the Residential Advisor office, the Provost office, the Pharmacy department, the Campbell University band, and academic advising for over 15 years in the Creek. We dive into the psychological and physical hurdles of mentoring students on campus, providing academic vision and guidance for students, and the role of the Campbell family on campus.

Vidit Vaghela grew up in Ahmedabad, India, traveling the country for international tournaments during his prep career. Vidit moved to the United States for college and played in the ITF future tour, before accepting a GA position here at Campbell University as an assistant men's tennis coach. We dive into the tennis culture growing up in India, the legendary stars of Nadal, Federer and Djokovic that reign supreme and Vidit's journey playing tennis and expanding his education in the Lundy-Fetterman School of Business.

A Buckethead is an enthusiastic devotee of baseball who has a “bucket list” of baseball-related items. We chat with Anna DiTommaso ('11), a former Campbell women's soccer player and current manager of BaseballBucketList.com about her passion for travel, the fascinating sights and sounds of minor league and professional, and what makes her ultimate bucket list. Visit her website BaseballBucketList.com to document your next journey.

Kendra Hancock has been director of student athlete support at Campbell University for over 10 years now — helping not only our wrestling program, but golf, women’s soccer, softball and swimming, to name a few more. She joins Rhymes With Orange this week to talk about what it takes to motivate athletes to win in the classroom and her passion — running. Kendra will take part in the Boston Marathon next year, and in doing so, she’s supporting a good cause. Help Kendra reacher her fundraising goal: https://www.givengain.com/ap/kendra-hancock-raising-funds-for-good-sports-inc/#timeline

Campbell Ransom is one of the many student-run organizations on campus. Ransom is a "radical ministry that strives to provide an open community that is comfortable and relatable." We sit down with student leaders from the organization to explain more.

When we featured Michael Watkins in a 2018 edition of Campbell Magazine, he was on the doorsteps of a college degree after spending over 20 years of his life homeless and battling addiction. Now a 2020 Campbell graduate, Watkins has since gone on to earn a master's degree and is currently enrolled in a doctorate program at Walden University. Watkins shares his story with Rhymes With Orange host Billy Liggett in this week's podcast.

Former Campbell Football OL and current team chaplain, Adrian Dorsey, first stepped foot on campus as a wide-eyed freshman in 2014. Eight years later, Dorsey completed his Master of Divinity and transformed his passion and excitement for the Campbell community into the first-year experience program. Dorsey explains what makes Campbell University special and unique for people from all walks of life.

In a study published in August, researchers at Campbell and Baylor University found that users will be disappointed if they expect smartphones and social media to fill their need for purpose and meaning. In fact, it will probably get worse, according to their findings. Dr. Justin Nelson, assistant professor of sociology at Campbell University, and Dr. Christopher Pieper, senior lecturer of sociology at Baylor University partnered to understand the complex relationship between meaning-seeking and technology using the most recent wave of the Baylor Religion Survey. Their research appeared this year in the journal, Sociological Perspectives.

Martha Bizzell is the Director of Student Success at the Campbell University School of Engineering. She features experience as an engineer, K-12 math/science educator, homeschool parent, museum director and director of engineering summer camps, we dive into a bunch of topics with Martha Bizzell covering the highly successful Campbell Engineering program.

When he’s not working with the Red Cross as an advisor for International Humanitarian Law, Thomas Harper ('10 Law) can be found writing about, speaking on or taking part in the “geekier” side of pop culture. A massive Star Wars fan and collector, Harper is a popular writer for the website, thelegalgeeks.com, which analyzes the legal side of sci-fi, fantasy and comic book movies. Harper has written about everything from the legality of Princess Leia’s imprisonment in “A New Hope” to Ahsoka’s legal options in “The Clone Wars.” Harper talks to Rhymes With Orange host (and Star Wars geek to a lesser extent) Billy Liggett about his love of the franchise and how he's incorporated elements of it into his legal career.

We are joined by the newly appointed Dean for Spiritual Life and Campus Minister, Rev. Louisa Ward. Louisa heads up an essential aspect of the student experience on campus. We dive into the value of spiritual development during college and the various avenues where students can express and practice their faith on campus.

Junior political science major and Ester Howard Research Fellows student Dean Locklear talks about his research on North Carolina Native American tribes — specifically the Coharie and Lumbee tribes found in central and southeastern parts of the state. Locklear, a Lumbee Indian himself, conducted his research this year at a time when Campbell University developed a partnership with the North Carolina Commission of Indian Affairs through School of Education & Human Sciences Dean — and fellow Lumbee — Dr. Al Bryant.

This week's guest is Campbell University Football assistant head coach Steven Williams. Coach Williams enters his fourth season in the Creek after stops at South Carolina, Penn State, and the Detroit Lions. A father of three, Williams balances being a dad, football coach and community service liaison for the athletic department. We dive into the story of an All-American Harvard Crimson football player turned Campbell Fighting Camel coach.

Welcome back to the new semester at Campbell University. Our hosts Billy Ligget and Evan Budrovich preview the first few episodes of the podcast, introduce our backgrounds and lay out the schedule for shows running EVERY TUESDAY on Rhymes With Orange.

This week's guest is Campbell University baseball player Zach Neto, last year’s Big South Conference Player of the Year and a young man many are predicting could go in the first three rounds of the Major League Baseball draft this summer. We talk about how a skinny kid from Miami, Florida ended up in Buies Creek, North Carolina and became one of the most feared hitters in all of college baseball.

Dr. Jaclyn Stanke, associate professor of history whose research has included U.S.-Soviet Cold War relations and Cold War popular culture, talks about her experiences in Ukraine and her understanding of Russia's invasion of their neighbor. Stanke was part of a faculty panel on March 1 to answer student questions about the history of the two countries and what effect the invasion may have on the United States going forward.

Dr. Glenn Jonas, associate dean for the College of Arts & Sciences and Charles Howard Professor of Religion, joins the Rhymes With Orange podcast to talk Campbell University history on Founders Week. Jonas has been with Campbell since 1994.

Campbell University alumnus and former adjunct Spanish professor Tyler Jackson talks about the brain aneurysm that nearly took his life one year ago, and how it changed it life. Jackson is a skilled banjoist and a member of the Roxboro-based bluegrass group Drive Time.

Dr. Laura Lunsford is professor and chair of psychology at Campbell University. In addition to more than 40 articles, chapters, books and presentations on mentoring and leadership development, she wrote the definitive Handbook for Managing Mentoring Programs. She joins the podcast to talk about mentoring, particularly Campbell's mentor program to assist first-generation college students.

Fall is in the air and Dr. Jaqueline Gartner knows all the best places to watch seasons change at Campbell. A professor of engineering and chair of the Sustainability Committee, Gartner discusses green spaces on campus and the value of engineers when it comes to creating and maintaining sustainable systems. We also discuss Harnett County’s plans for trails and wildlife preserves, plus campus initiatives to save energy and other resources. Last but not least, Gartner shares the details of an upcoming plant sale, meant to raise funds to spruce up the Campbell Pollinator Meadows and River Park — more commonly known as “the Back Nine.” Visit campbellriverpark.org/plants to learn more.