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19 page transcript of an interview of Laishka Bruno by Aaron Stewart conducted over Zoom for the Black Cultural Center Oral History Project. Bruno studied mechanical engineering at Tennessee Tech University from 2008 to 2014, with a year and a half break for a co-op at General Electric. Bruno discusses her background growing up in a military family with Puerto Rican heritage and living in Fort Hood, Texas; Germany; and Tennessee. She describes what school was like for her growing up, why she decided to attend Tennessee Tech, why she picked her major, the challenges of being a Hispanic and woman student in engineering classes and at Tech, her favorite projects while at Tech and difficult classes, how she lived on and off campus during her time at Tech, and her experience with her co-op. She details her college extracurricular activities with the National Society of Black Engineers, American Society of Mechanical Engineers, Engineering Joint Council, the Multicultural Affairs peer mentoring program, Engineering a Future, E-Week, and Theta Tau. She follows that with a discussion of four Tech employees who influenced her: Dr. Robert Owens, Marc Burnett, Dr. Kristine Craven, and Dr. Elizabeth Ojo. Bruno describes her work with PepsiCo Frito-Lay and how the COVID-19 pandemic has changed her work environment. She follows by discussing how she used the Leona Lusk Officer Black Cultural Center (BCC) and the influence of the BCC on her. She describes the subtle racism she experienced in Cookeville and how she and her friends did not feel safe going out alone. Bruno details her career path after she graduated, her school and career accomplishments that she is most proud of, what her life is like, and some of her favorite and challenging memories from Tech. Bruno ends with advice for underrepresented students at Tech and offers mentorship assistance to students. Throughout the interview, Stewart compares his experience as a student and in Cookeville to Bruno’s experience. For the interview recording, see item BCCOH_Bruno_20210108.

Audio recording of an interview of Laishka Bruno by Aaron Stewart conducted over Zoom for the Black Cultural Center Oral History Project. The recording duration is 54 minutes, 16 seconds. Bruno studied mechanical engineering at Tennessee Tech University from 2008 to 2014, with a year and a half break for a co-op at General Electric. Bruno discusses her background growing up in a military family with Puerto Rican heritage and living in Fort Hood, Texas; Germany; and Tennessee. She describes what school was like for her growing up, why she decided to attend Tennessee Tech, why she picked her major, the challenges of being a Hispanic and woman student in engineering classes and at Tech, her favorite projects while at Tech and difficult classes, how she lived on and off campus during her time at Tech, and her experience with her co-op. She details her college extracurricular activities with the National Society of Black Engineers, American Society of Mechanical Engineers, Engineering Joint Council, the Multicultural Affairs peer mentoring program, Engineering a Future, E-Week, and Theta Tau. She follows that with a discussion of four Tech employees who influenced her: Dr. Robert Owens, Marc Burnett, Dr. Kristine Craven, and Dr. Elizabeth Ojo. Bruno describes her work with PepsiCo Frito-Lay and how the COVID-19 pandemic has changed her work environment. She follows by discussing how she used the Leona Lusk Officer Black Cultural Center (BCC) and the influence of the BCC on her. She describes the subtle racism she experienced in Cookeville and how she and her friends did not feel safe going out alone. Bruno details her career path after she graduated, her school and career accomplishments that she is most proud of, what her life is like, and some of her favorite and challenging memories from Tech. Bruno ends with advice for underrepresented students at Tech and offers mentorship assistance to students. Throughout the interview, Stewart compares his experience as a student and in Cookeville to Bruno’s experience. For a transcript of the recording, see item BCCOH_Bruno_20210108_transcript.

Transcript of an interview of Dana Mason Owens by Ariauna Buckingham conducted over Zoom for the Black Cultural Center Oral History Project. The recording duration is 1 hour, 3 minutes, 50 seconds. Owens enrolled in Tennessee Tech University as an undergraduate in Fall 1992. She earned three degrees from Tech. Owens describes growing up and attending school in Knoxville, Tennessee, her decision to attend Tennessee Tech University, what it was like transitioning to a predominantly white university and university academics, her decision on majoring in engineering and then switching to biology, what it was like living in Early Hall and another dormitory on campus, her work-study positions while in school, staff and faculty members that influenced her, how the Black Cultural Center changed over time and the different directors of the Center, what she did for fun while a student, pleding and being a soror in Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., what it was like being a minority student on campus, her pride in getting three degree from Tech and how she applies those as a homeschool educator and mother, the Blizzard at basketball games, step shows on campus, lasting friendships from college, the differences between the assistance and resources available to students now compared to when she was in college, advice for minority college students, her memories of President Angelo Volpe, and how she did not have any Black teachers for her undergraduate courses. For the audio recording, see item BCCOH_Owens_20201118.

Audio recording of an interview of Dana Mason Owens by Ariauna Buckingham conducted over Zoom for the Black Cultural Center Oral History Project. The recording duration is 1 hour, 3 minutes, 50 seconds. Owens enrolled in Tennessee Tech University as an undergraduate in Fall 1992. She earned three degrees from Tech. Owens describes growing up and attending school in Knoxville, Tennessee, her decision to attend Tennessee Tech University, what it was like transitioning to a predominantly white university and university academics, her decision on majoring in engineering and then switching to biology, what it was like living in Early Hall and another dormitory on campus, her work-study positions while in school, staff and faculty members that influenced her, how the Black Cultural Center changed over time and the different directors of the Center, what she did for fun while a student, pleding and being a soror in Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., what it was like being a minority student on campus, her pride in getting three degree from Tech and how she applies those as a homeschool educator and mother, the Blizzard at basketball games, step shows on campus, lasting friendships from college, the differences between the assistance and resources available to students now compared to when she was in college, advice for minority college students, her memories of President Angelo Volpe, and how she did not have any Black teachers for her undergraduate courses. For a transcript of the recording, see item BCCOH_Owens_20201118_transcript.

Materials on international students at Tennessee Tech University.