An MTSU student who is turning trauma into triumph was the guest on a recent “MTSU On the Record” radio program. 

Stefanie Marvin-Miller

Host Gina Logue’s interview with Stefanie Marvin-Miller, a psychology major and sexual assault survivor, first aired March 10 on WMOT-FM Roots Radio 89.5 and www.wmot.org. You can listen to their conversation above.

Marvin-Miller was sexually assaulted in 2016 when she was in the Army National Guard. Her travails in trying to obtain justice through regular channels only exacerbated her agony. She was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder.

After she was turned down by other organizations, Florida-based Southeastern Guide Dogs paired her with Leland, a 2-year-old Labrador retriever. He’s since been her constant companion and comforter, a furry friend who receives Cheerios as a treat for performing his job.

Marvin-Miller said her psychology classes have helped her understand how Leland is so helpful.

“They actually help me understand my traumatic brain injury that I sustained from the attack,” Marvin-Miller said. “They help me understand a lot about my sleeping rhythms, how they do get interrupted by night terrors, and how Leland helps me with my sympathetic nervous system and that ‘fight-or-flight’ response, how he calms that down.”

Marvin-Miller speaks about her experience at no charge to groups to help raise awareness about sexual assault. She can be contacted through her website at www.lelandthesuperdog.com.

To hear previous “MTSU On the Record” programs, visit the searchable “Audio Clips” archives at www.mtsunews.com.

For more information about the radio program, contact Logue at 615-898-5081 or WMOT-FM at 615-898-2800.

This undated photo shows Leland, a 2-year-old Labrador retriever and service dog for MTSU student Stefanie Marvin-Miller, a military sexual assault survivor who is living with post-traumatic stress disorder. (Courtesy of www.lelandthesuperdog.com)