Belmont University | FYI


March 20, 2009

BELMONT NEWS


Belmont Hosts Regional Math Association Meeting
MAA1.JPGUnder the leadership of mathematics faculty members Dr. Andy Miller and Dr. Sarah Ann Stewart, Belmont’s Department of Mathematics and Computer Science hosted nearly 400 mathematics faculty members, graduate students and undergraduate students on Belmont’s campus for the 88th Annual Meeting of the Southeastern Section of the Mathematical Association of America (MAA-SE) Meeting March 12-14. The MAA-SE section covers Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina; almost 100 colleges and universities were represented at this year’s meeting. Miller and Stewart had worked for two years to make all the necessary preparations, including working with Belmont staff to set up events, overseeing Belmont students and faculty volunteer efforts, and communicating with MAA officials to organize the program of talks and other activities.

There were more than 90 contributed paper presentations on a wide variety of topics, including presentations by Belmont faculty members Dr. Danny Biles and Dr. Mike Pinter. Activities for undergraduate students included sessions for presentations of undergraduate research, a Poster Session with nearly 25 posters presented, a Treasure Hunt and Math Jeopardy. Belmont mathematics majors Amy Valentine and Cat Simpson received the Walt and Susan Patterson Award for their paper presentation on “Ugly Curves and the Loewner Equation,” which was the result of their work supervised by Belmont faculty member Dr. Joan Lind. Both of Belmont’s Math Jeopardy teams tied or won their preliminary round of the competition; the team with members Cat Simpson, Amy Valentine, Hank Carter and Neil Kowalewski came in Second Place overall during the Final Round.

Scarlett Leadership Institute Hosts Cam Marston on Campus
camCOLOR.jpgThe Scarlett Leadership Institute at Belmont University hosted generational expert Cam Marston for a special, invitation-only appearance Wednesday in the Frist Lecture Hall. Marston, founder and president of Generational Insight, is a consultant, author and speaker who has worked with Fortune 500 companies and small businesses throughout the world to improve multigenerational relations and communications.

During his hour-long lecture Marston compared and contrasted the Matures (born prior to 1946), the Baby Boomers (1946-64), Generation X (1965-79) and the Millennials (born since 1980). In describing characteristics of each era, Marston noted that economic situations contribute to forming each generation's personality. "Parents want their children to have things they didn't have. In an age of affluence, that means options." This, in part, can lead to the delayed adulthood and "what's in it for me" attitude seen in Generation X and the Millennials.

In the workplace, Marston suggested it was important to keep different traits in mind, especially when working with diverse age ranges. With issues that arise due to generational differences, he noted, "Ninety percent of the solution is understanding your own bias."

Marston has appeared in the Chicago Tribune, Philadelphia Inquirer, Entrepreneur Magazine and Money Magazine, among others. In addition to his presentations, workshops and targeted coaching, Marston has written a book on his findings titled Motivating the "What's In It For Me" Workforce: Managing Across the Generational Divide.

Alumnus Clifton Forbis to Receive Encore Award
0157_20061114_01.jpgWorld-class tenor Clifton Forbis will return to Belmont University to accept the inaugural Encore Award on March 31 at 7:30 p.m. in Massey Concert Hall. “Clifton is a natural choice for the first presentation of this award,” said Dr. Jeffery Kirk, associate dean for performance studies. The award has been created to honor a School of Music alumnus for achievement in the field of classical music. “With performances with opera houses and symphonies around the world, Clifton is one of Belmont’s most distinguished classical alumni,” said Kirk. “He is a great example of what we hope all of our alumni achieve both personally and professionally.”

In addition to receiving the award, Forbis will present a recital program of arts songs and arias and a master class with four Belmont students. The event is free and open to the public.

A 1985 graduate of Belmont and native Nashvillian, Forbis has performed demanding tenor repertoire around the world including the title roles in Samson et Dalila, Otello and Tristan und Isolde. He is a leading artist with the Metropolitan Opera, Opéra National de Paris, Canadian Opera Company and Teatro all Scala. The School of Music plans to present the Encore Award annually to an alumnus in the field of classical music.


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