Partners in Progress

Community First: Why Your Connections Matter Most with Logan Locke

Transferring colleges sounds like a clean new start until you’re living it. The credits have to line up, the social circles feel sealed, and you’re trying to make big career decisions on a shorter clock. We sit down with Logan Locke, a senior finance student in the Honors College at Arkansas State University, to talk honestly about what it takes to regain your footing and build momentum fast. Logan shares what pushed him to transfer, why the “extension of high school” fear often isn’t real, and how community becomes a serious career advantage when you treat it like part of the work. We dig into Greek life at a smaller university, leadership lessons from managing chapter finances, and the underrated value of showing up consistently in class, student organizations, and campus programs. We also get practical about career prep: how Logan landed a role at Centennial Bank, what his Corporate Finance Institute fintech certification covers (think financial technology, regulations, and modern banking, not get-rich crypto hype), and why networking still beats a perfect resume in an AI-shaped job market. The mindset that ties it together is “learn, adapt, lead,” and it’s a reminder that progress is built through steady reps, not one flawless choice. If you’re a transfer student, a new student, or just feeling behind, this conversation will help you rethink the timeline and focus on what you can control. Subscribe for more stories like this, share the episode with a student who needs it, and leave a quick review with the best advice you’ve ever gotten about college. @Arkansasstatemedianetwork. 0:00 Welcome and Logan’s Resume 1:27 What is Alpha Lambda Delta? 1:50 Exploring Fintech and CFI Certifications 2:52 Why Transferring Feels So Awkward 4:39 Choosing A-State After the U of A 6:32 The Myth of "High School Extension" 7:50 Finding Community Through Greek Life 10:40 Mentors and the Power of Effort 12:59 Life Advice: Try Your Best 14:10 Advice for Future Transfers 16:06 Working at Centennial Bank 17:49 Why You Must Stand Out 21:29 Learn, Adapt, Lead as a Mindset 23:30 Rapid Fire Campus Favorites 26:20 Best Study Spots and Snacks 28:44 A-State Athletics and Campus Vibes 33:34 Staying Connected as an Alumni 35:49 Defining Progress at A-State

The AI Pivot: Essential Tools for New Grads

A perfect GPA looks great on paper, but it’s not the thing that opens the biggest doors. We’re talking with Braden Deese, a senior accounting student from Walnut Ridge and a standout in A-State’s College of Business, about what actually moves a career forward: mentors who advocate for you, clubs that put you in the right rooms, and the courage to start conversations before you feel fully “ready.” From honor societies to the Accounting and Finance Club, Braden breaks down how involvement becomes a real professional network you can lean on for years. We also get practical about work experience. Braden shares what he’s learning as an intern at a hospital, from accounts receivable and insurance payments to asking better questions about costs and efficiency. If you’re aiming for an accounting internship, a healthcare finance role, or a future in leadership, you’ll hear how classroom theory turns into decisions that matter, and why showing up prepared and curious beats trying to look like you already know everything. Leadership is the thread that ties it together. Braden walks us through the three costs of leadership he heard from Coach Butch Jones: you will make hard calls that affect people you care about, you will be disliked sometimes, and you will be misunderstood without getting to defend yourself. We also talk about a major shift happening right now in business and higher education: AI is no longer a forbidden shortcut; it’s a tool you need to learn if you want to stay competitive, adaptable, and effective. If you care about Arkansas State University, student success, mentorship, networking, accounting careers, or AI in business, this conversation will hit home. Subscribe for more, share this with a student who needs encouragement, and leave a review with your biggest takeaway: what connection or mentor changed your path? @Arkansasstatemeidanetwork. 0:00 Introduction 1:00 Walnut Ridge Roots 2:22 Why Accounting? 3:11 The Power of Mentorship 4:46 Hospital Internship Insights 6:17 Coach Butch Jones: Three Costs of Leadership 9:49 Future Growth: Shields and White's Vision 11:25 The AI Business Shift 12:40 Redirection: From Baseball to Academics 14:30 Connections You Can't Get Elsewhere 17:10 Adaptive Leadership in Accounting 18:25 Advice for First-Year Students 21:06 Smaller Classes, Closer Bonds 22:02 Only at A-State Moments 23:43 Campus Traditions and Favorites 26:14 High School vs. College Reality 28:02 The Class That Humbled Me 29:14 Career Goals: Path to CFO 29:43 What Alumni Need to Know 31:30 Community and the Food Bank 32:44 A Note of Gratitude 34:04 Defining Progress

First Look into: Partners in Progress

Cori Keller’s career story is proof that the “straight line” is overrated. She starts with Arkansas State University, stacks credentials in exercise science, communication, and a doctorate in healthcare administration, and then builds a real-world path that moves from marketing and ESPN freelance sports reporting to healthcare leadership as a physician liaison with the Baptist Health System. We talk about what actually carries over when your job title changes: communication skills, showing up prepared, and staying connected to the people who helped you grow. Cori shares how being deeply involved on campus as a Red Wolves dancer, in Greek life, as a campus ambassador, and as Miss A-State 2018 built confidence and relationships that still matter today. The thread running through it all is alumni networking with purpose, not just for nostalgia but for references, opportunities, and long-term professional development. You’ll also hear why she’s excited to launch the Partners in Progress segment as a casual conversation where listeners can be a fly on the wall and learn how A-State continues to support graduates well beyond their student years. If you care about career growth, alumni success stories, leadership development, higher education impact, or building a network in Arkansas that lasts, this conversation brings practical insight and real momentum. Subscribe, share this with a fellow Red Wolf, and leave a review, then tell us who you want to hear on Partners in Progress next.