Angelica & Marisa sit down with Cassie Mitchell, senior graphic design and communication major, about blending art, leadership, and community on campus. From leading in UBI and working several campus jobs to creating murals and bringing people together through theater, Cassie shares how she balances it all, stays grounded, and uses her creativity to make an impact. In honor of Black History Month, she reflects on what it means to take up space as a Black creative and inspire connection through her work.

Angelica sits down with Demetree Jones--senior mechanical engineering major, Alpha Phi Alpha chapter president, and student-athlete--to talk about perseverance when things don't go as planned. From leading through low engagement to navigating a tough end to an undefeated football season, Demetree reflects on what it means to carry responsibility, manage ego, and keep showing up when it would be easier not to. During Black History Month, this conversation centers resilience, brotherhood, and the kind of leadership that's built in pressure.

In this special episode, we turn the mic over to the voices from the Transformational Leadership & Service Conference (TLSC), which happened at Marian University on January 19, 2026. This is an annual tradition at Marian University in honor of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Student host Blessing Malunga connects with conference attendees, workshop speakers, university staff, and administrators to capture their biggest takeaways—from meaningful moments of service to personal definitions of transformational leadership. Through these reflections, we explore how leadership shows up in action, community, and everyday choices, and how TLSC continues to shape the way Marian leads and serves. See interview timestamps below:

0:00—Welcome & Conference Overview

2:53—Interviewer Introduction

4:21—Sergio Palacio-Ornelas

7:19—Kalyn Rudow

10:44—President Daniel Elsener

15:32—Demetree Jones

18:06—Zion Dawson-El

22:27—Dr. Jennifer Plumlee

25:59—Peter Waning

29:19—Jadyn Akers

32:39—Tori Williams

37:10—MacKenzie Harless

41:32—Jerson Medina

46:21—Marisa Zambrano

51:14—Christian Yataco

54:59—Lian Fernandez

58:44—David Esquivo

1:01:29—Linny Rousseau

1:05:11—David Gibson