Transfer Student and Talk Show Host Finding Her Voice at Trevecca

For sophomore journalism major Alana McLaughlin, dreams of a future career in television proved to be well founded even before she started college-but thanks to a hunger for learning and a desire to amplify voices and connect people and communities, she's soaking up every bit of education and experience she can during her time at Trevecca.

For McLaughlin, a family legacy turned into a role as host of her own locally-televised talk show, "Perspectives," and she built an impressive professional resume as a high school student. Through the elements of passion, preparation and presentation that go into creating the show, she's been embracing her potential to make a positive difference in the world.

Airing every weekend on FOX Nashville, "Perspectives" is a blend of current events, cultural moments and interesting stories, all delivered with a deep sense of empathy by McLaughlin. It isn't just another talk show; it's a space where she gets to shine a light on underrepresented voices, bridging the gap between social media users and traditional TV viewers. "I want to bring the stories that go viral on social media to a wider audience-to people who might not be familiar with those platforms," McLaughlin explains. "I like to go into communities and share the stories of those underdogs who are doing hard work."

At the core of McLaughlin's drive is her relationship with her grandfather, Dr. James Haney, known by McLaughlin as "Papa." A former professor at Tennessee State University, James was the host of the talk show "Comments with Dr. James Haney" on FOX Nashville from 1980 to 2022. The show consisted of interviews featuring TSU colleagues as well as members of the Nashville community who had been making a positive impact. A taping back in 2010 featured a special first-time guest: his eight-year-old granddaughter Alana.

"I would just be super excited to tell them what I had learned at school that day," she said. "He's never complained about me talking his head off." Her conversations with her Papa turned into regular guest appearances on his show throughout the years.

That all came to a sudden halt in 2022, when James was diagnosed with dementia and it became clear that he'd be unable to keep producing the talk show.

Wanting to keep her grandfather's show running, and in doing so continue the project that had been his dream for 40 years, McLaughlin took matters into her own hands. She drove to the station's Nashville headquarters and met with the programming director. Armed with nothing but a strong will and the slight advantage of being a familiar face, she made her case.

Her pitch worked, and the outcome was even better than she expected. At age 18, McLaughlin walked out of the meeting with an offer to take over as the show's host, and to put her own spin on it.

Today at 22, McLaughlin is a full time student at Trevecca as well as a talk show host, continuing what Dr. Haney started back in 1980. Though still battling dementia, Dr. Haney is a huge fan of what his granddaughter has done with the show, and the two remain as close as ever. "He's always been there for me," McLaughlin says. "He watches my show every Saturday and Sunday morning. We go to church together, and I still get to spend time with him and go to lunch occasionally."

Family has always been important to McLaughlin. She also has a very close relationship with her mother, Cheryl, who earned two master's degrees in education from Trevecca. That connection helped her make the decision when she looked for a new university to attend.

Hearing about Trevecca from her mother, Alana transferred to Trevecca as a sophomore to begin the 2024-2025 academic year. At first, she wondered if she'd fit in and find community. What she found was a place that truly embraced her. "Trevecca has been a perfect fit for me," McLaughlin says. "This has been the greatest decision I've made in a long time. I am fully appreciative of this experience, and it has changed my life."

Outside of her coursework, McLaughlin works as a writer for the school paper, Trevechoes. One of the things that McLaughlin loves most about Trevecca is the way it prepares students for success, not just in the classroom, but in life. "The professors here don't just teach-they mentor. They help you figure out where you want to go, and they give you the tools to get there," she says. For McLaughlin, that means learning how to balance her academic life with her show, building connections with peers from all walks of life and becoming part of a community that feels like family. "I didn't expect to make this many friends. I thought I'd kind of keep to myself as a transfer student, but Trevecca made it easy," she adds.

Her future plans involve continuing "Perspectives" and potentially expanding it, with a focus on local and national issues that matter to people across the spectrum. But no matter where her career takes her, McLaughlin's heart will always remain with the values she's learning at Trevecca-values that have shaped her into the storyteller she is today.

"Trevecca has given me the confidence to go after what I want," she says. "I'm proud to be here."

Perspectives with Alana McLaughlin on Youtube ➜