The Tennessee Economic Council on Women (TECW) continued its statewide hearing series on the subject of violence against women with a public hearing on Belmont’s campus yesterday in the Massey Board Room. The “Public Hearing on the Economic Impact of Violence Against Women” is just one of the ways in which TECW is committed to providing unique, relevant information about women in the state.

The hearing, the fourth of nine, followed events in Chattanooga, Columbia and Crossville, which have identified millions in local costs and exposed a need for better prevention efforts and communication among local authorities, service providers and funding sources.

TECW Council Chair Yvonne Wood said,  “We learned from our 2006 research that domestic violence was costing Tennessee millions every year from legal costs, healthcare costs, lost productivity and a tremendous burden on our social services system.  The 2013 hearings are revealing that the trend is continuing and it erodes more than just the social fabric of our families, but also the economic strength of our state. ”

Thursday’s event was co-chaired by Dr. Mimi Barnard, Belmont’s assistant provost for interdisciplinary studies and global education, who also serves on TECW.

Belmont University was more than a venue for this important event; the university sees the issue as one of significance.  “We are honored to host this important event at Belmont.  Raising awareness of the impact of violence against women can save lives and prevent immeasurable heartbreak,” said Cathy R. Taylor, dean and professor, College of Health Sciences and Nursing at Belmont.  Among other efforts in its continued commitment to understanding issue that impact women worldwide, Belmont also plans to host a local viewing of the film Girl Rising this fall.

Also scheduled to be in attendance were many members of the statewide Council as well as several elected and appointed officials from the area including Mayor Karl Dean and Tennessee Dept. of Safety Commissioner Bill Gibbons.

The TECW will hold a public hearing in each of Tennessee’s nine development districts before producing its report on the subject in October 2013. For further information about the TECW’s hearings on Violence Against Women, please contact the Tennessee Economic Council on Women at (615) 253-4266, www.tennesseewomen.org, www.facebook.com/TNECW, or info.ECW@tn.gov.

“It is an honor for Belmont to be a major sponsor and to host the Middle Tennessee STEM Expo. Belmont has a strong commitment to STEM education as evidenced by our STEM Education Initiative, our STEM Pathways project in the School of Sciences, and our accredited Audio Engineering Technology program in the Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business. The students participating in the Middle Tennessee STEM Expo and their exceptional projects demonstrate the value of supporting STEM education at all education levels,” said Belmont College of Arts and Sciences Dean Bryce F. Sullivan.

High schools from the 20 Middle Tennessee school districts that are part of the STEM Innovation Hub will participate. Expo projects represent one of five categories, including:

• STEM Research: Science, mathematics, engineering, biotechnology or medicine/veterinary medicine
• Engineering I: Mechanical, industrial, civil, aerospace or automotive
• Engineering II: Environmental, biomedical, chemical or electrical
• Technology: Computer programming, computer games programming, designing computer applications, or designing websites
• Agricultural STEM: Farming and animal husbandry.

The STEM Expo is not a competition.  It is a showcase for the most outstanding projects created by individual students and student teams from participating schools and districts. Each entry will be scored and eligible for an award, with recognition levels of Gold, Silver, and Bronze.

“The quality of projects students have prepared is inspiring,” said Vicki Metzgar, Director of the Middle Tennessee STEM Innovation Network.  “The STEM Innovation Hub has encouraged students to develop projects in response to complex questions, problems or challenges, as a way to learn academic content and develop communication, collaboration and critical thinking skills.  One of the primary benefits of Saturday’s Expo will be students coming together to learn and share with each other.”

Schools from all over the middle Tennessee region are turning to STEM education to engage students in rigorous and relevant learning and to prepare them to make informed decisions about their careers and college aspirations.

Click here to learn more about the Middle Tennessee STEM Innovation Network and the STEM Expo.

In addition to Metro Nashville Public Schools, the STEM Expo is sponsored by Aegis Sciences Corporation, Belmont University, Tennessee State University, Deloitte Services, Texas Instruments, the Vanderbilt School of Engineering, the American Society of Civil Engineers, MTSU’s Tennessee STEM Education Center, and Volunteer State Community College.

About TSIN
The Tennessee STEM Innovation Network (TSIN) is a unique, public-private collaboration between the Tennessee Department of Education and Battelle Memorial Institute designed to promote and expand the teaching and learning of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education in K-12 public schools across Tennessee. The TSIN comprises six Regional STEM Innovation Hubs and six STEM Platform Schools. The schools are designed to encourage local educational innovation by investigating and creating new STEM teaching and learning best practices to be shared throughout the state, all while providing their students with the skills necessary to succeed in the 21st century workplace. In addition to supporting the platform schools, the hubs are the nucleus of regional STEM activity, representing a formal partnership among school districts, post-secondary institutions, STEM businesses, and community organizations.

About MNPS
Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools is the nation’s 42^nd largest district, preparing more than 81,000 students to excel in higher education, work and life with the goal of being the first choice for Nashville’s families. The governing body for Metro Schools is the Metropolitan Nashville Board of Public Education, a nine-member elected body. For more information, visit www.mnps.org. The 2013-14 school year begins August 1, 2013.

]]> http://forum.belmont.edu/news/2013/05/10/belmont-hosts-first-regional-stem-expo/feed/ 0 http://forum.belmont.edu/news/2013/05/09/executive-education-students-host-disability-baseball-camp/ http://forum.belmont.edu/news/2013/05/09/executive-education-students-host-disability-baseball-camp/#comments Thu, 09 May 2013 18:39:57 +0000 Juanita Cousins http://forum.belmont.edu/news/?p=4070 Middle Tennessee children with special needs will swing for the fences on Saturday at Greer Stadium when Dave Clark, the only professional baseball player to have pitched and played from crutches, hosts Disability Dream Day Baseball Camp in partnership with the Nashville Sounds. Belmont University Center for Executive Education students worked closely with the Dave Clark Foundation and the Sounds to launch the camp in Nashville.

“We are thrilled to work with Belmont University to bring the Disability Dream Day to Nashville for the first time,” said Clark, who contracted polio at 10-months-old yet went one to become a Major League Baseball pitcher and first baseman.  “The Nashville Sounds have stepped up to the plate to welcome Middle Tennessee’s disability community to Greer Stadium. Without a doubt, this will be an inspiring day for everyone involved.”

As part of the Belmont Executive Leadership program, executives enrolled in CEE are organizing, managing and facilitating the disability camp in partnership with the Dave Clark Foundation and the Sounds.  Among them are Belmont’s Director of University Marketing and Special Initiatives Annie Mitchell, Assistant Provost of Assessment & Institutional Research Tracy Rokas and Director of Undergradate Studies in Nursing Martha Buckner.

“The leaders who participate in our program are already making a difference in Middle Tennessee, but we saw this as an opportunity where they can further develop their leadership skills while impacting an important segment of our community,” said CEE Executive Director Gene Mage.  “We’re honored to play a role in bringing the disability camp and Dave Clark’s inspiring story to Nashville.”

In conjunction with the baseball camp, middle school students Jared Stevens and Justin Kievit will receive the Dave Clark: Pulling Each Other Along Award. The award honors the notable contributions of people who have helped individuals achieve their dreams under exceptional circumstances. Stevens, who has cerebral palsy, wrested Justin Kievit last fall and a video of their wrestling match received national recognition.

Click here to read about the event on the Sounds’ blog. Click here to view more photos.

Clayton McWhorter (left) and Dr. Richard Treadway (right) presented the first McWhorter Society Distinguished Service Award to Barbara Massey Rogers (center) at the close of the May 2 luncheon.

Clayton McWhorter’s leadership and role in the development of healthcare industry giants HealthTrust, Inc. and HCA have made a strong impression in the field of healthcare. In 1996, Clayton, his son Stuart, and a close business friend created the venture capital firm Clayton Associates, which quickly evolved into a hub of strategic business development activities related to new firms in healthcare, technology and diversified services.

His relationship with the University began in the late ’80s through an invitation from Jack Massey “to get involved with Belmont,” and 25 years later, Clayton McWhorter continues his generous response to Massey’s challenge through his support of a variety of programs and initiatives.

Belmont Vice President for University Advancement Dr. Bo Thomas said, “While Clayton’s many achievements are based on sound business principles and bone-deep ethical standards, in the end it is his commitment to making a difference in the lives of others and giving back to the community that has sealed his enduring success and legacy. Belmont University counts itself fortunate to be among the many who have benefited from Clayton’s generous spirit and friendship. Through the McWhorter Society, Clayton is now challenging others to ‘to get involved with Belmont’ just as Jack Massey encouraged him to do years ago.”

Dr. Richard Treadway, founder of Psychiatric Solutions and long-time friend of Clayton’s and of Belmont, is the first chair of the McWhorter Society Board of Directors, which includes a number of leading healthcare professionals along with Belmont healthcare leaders. At the luncheon, Barbara Massey Rogers received the first McWhorter Society Distinguished Service Award for her tireless support of Belmont University, including her service on the Belmont Board of Trustees and the Massey Advisory Board.

In addition to an invitation to the annual McWhorter Society luncheon, Society membership includes inclusion in special business and healthcare forums, panel discussions and events as well as an opportunity to network with Nashville’s top healthcare professionals. For more information about becoming a member of The McWhorter Society or the programs outlined within, please contact Willie Young  at (615) 460-6179 or Bo Thomas at (615) 460-6434.

As a participant in the “Bridges to Belmont” program, all of the students’ expenses—tuition, room, board, required fees and books—that are not covered by state or federal grant resources will be provided via scholarships from Belmont for four consecutive academic years beginning with 2013-14.

Enrollment eligibility will then follow the standard satisfactory academic progress expectations of all students. The Bridges to Belmont program is designed to enroll high potential students from Metro Nashville Public Schools who may not have previously been able to consider Belmont as an option.

Belmont University President Bob Fisher applauded the Bridge Scholars for their hard work so far and their acceptance to college and thanked them in advance for what they will contribute to the University throughout the next four years. “Our biggest focus is to help you figure out your purpose in life. I can’t tell you what it is, but I can tell you we’re going to figure that out in this journey together.” (Click here to view the Signing Ceremony on Belmont’s YouTube channel.)

The 2013-14 pilot program consists of 13 students each from Maplewood and Stratford High Schools. In addition to the full scholarships, the Bridges to Belmont program will focus on creating a learning and service environment to empower students’ personal passion to meet the needs of the world. Bridge students will live and work on campus the summer prior to enrollment while attending an intensive institute that will allow them to take full advantage of the opportunities the college environment will offer. Programming will focus on quantitative reasoning, writing, public speaking skills and research methods as well as on creating a community of learners. The summer immersion program, which is anticipated to begin in July, also will include community service and social activities for participants.

Bridges to Belmont is the result of a deliberate effort on the part of Belmont’s administration to engage inner-city students with the University. Belmont senior leaders along with University enrollment and academic officers have met with MNPS principals and admission counselors during the past several months to establish the foundations for the program. Bridges to Belmont also reflects a continuing effort to provide higher education to students in Davidson County as Belmont strives to be Nashville’s University. In 2007, Belmont established the E.S. Rose Park and Community Outreach Scholarships, and there are 11 current Belmont students—all from Davidson County—who are benefitting from those efforts.

“Imagine what is possible with all the intelligence that sits in your organization. The role of the leader is shifting from knowing, telling and directing to one where the leader observes, harnesses and unleashes the capabilities of others,” Wiseman said.

The Center for Executive Education at Belmont University hosted Liz Wiseman as the keynote speaker during its Spring Leadership Breakfast on May 1 in the Curb Event Center arena. Presented in partnership with the Nashville Chamber of Commerce, the event explored how executives can become leaders who inspire employees to stretch themselves to deliver results that surpass expectations.

Her talk over breakfast focused on her leadership books Multipliers: How the Best Leaders Make Everyone Smarter and The Multiplier Effect: Tapping the Genius Inside Our Schools, which promote “the multiplier effect” or the influence leaders have on the intelligence of people around them.

“Some leaders tend to grow intelligence and others tend to suck it right out of organizations like wet blankets,” Wiseman said. “As a multiplier, you use your intelligence to amplify and grow the people around you. The people get smarter and more capable when they work with you.”

She highlighted management from Windows Live, General Electric, Better Place, Bloom Energy and Sanford University to illustrate the qualities of “multipliers.”

On the other hand, people in management positions she called “diminishers” waste talent and intellect by being tyrants, know-it-alls and micro managers.

Using a workshop approach, Wiseman’s talk included audience interaction, worksheets, small group discussions and even reenactment of the legend of William Tell shooting the apple on his son’s head to illustrate the difference between pressure and stress.

After the breakfast, she autographed copies of Multipliers and continued her interaction with guests during a Talk Back Session in the Vince Gill Room.

Wiseman, a former executive at Oracle Corp., is president of The Wiseman Group, a California=based leadership research and development center for executives. Among her recent clients are Apple, Dubai Bank, Genentech, Nike, PayPal, Salesforce.com and Twitter. She has a Bachelor in Science in business management and a master’s degree in organizational behavior from Brigham Young University.

About the Center for Executive Education
The Center for Executive Education at Belmont University has been a premier provider of leadership education for more than 25 years, existing to provide world-class learning to meet the needs of the Nashville community and beyond. The Center provides a full range of executive learning opportunities including its Executive Learning Networks, Executive Leadership Experience, certificate programs and customized solutions. ELN membership consists of senior leaders from over 50 Middle Tennessee companies who seek to learn from one another and national leaders through ongoing networking, speakers’ series and small group discussions.

About the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce
The Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce is Middle Tennessee’s largest business federation, representing more than 2,000 member companies. “Business Is Good” embodies the Chamber’s focus on facilitating community leadership to create economic prosperity for Middle Tennessee. The work of the Nashville Area Chamber is supported by membership and sponsors; the Chamber’s Pivotal Partners (a partnership at the highest level for all Chamber programs and events) are BlueCross/BlueShield of Tennessee, Community Health Systems and Delek US Holdings. Together with its affiliates, the Nashville Chamber works to strengthen the region’s business climate and enhance Nashville’s position as a desirable place to live, work and visit. For more information, visit www.nashvillechamber.com.

Degrees conferred during two ceremonies Saturday

Belmont University will hold its spring 2013 commencement ceremonies for graduate and undergraduate students on Saturday, May 4 in the Curb Event Center.

For the third consecutive year, the University will have two ceremonies on the same day. At 9:30 a.m. candidates from the College of Business Administration, Mike Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business and College of Visual and Performing Arts will have their degrees conferred. At 2:30 p.m. candidates from the College of Arts and Sciences, Gordon E. Inman College of Health Sciences and Nursing, College of Pharmacy, University College and Interdisciplinary Programs and School of Religion will have their degrees conferred.

Belmont celebrates the graduation of a total of 955 students. During the graduation ceremonies, 765 undergraduate, 105 master’s and 85 doctoral degrees will be conferred.

Tickets, which have been distributed to the graduating students, will be required for guests wishing to attend either event.

Dr. Robert C. Fisher, president of the University, will preside over the events and present the commencement address at both ceremonies. In addition, the Office of Alumni Relations will sponsor receptions–one at 7:30 a.m. prior to the morning commencement and another immediately following the 2:30 p.m. ceremony–for all graduates and their families in the Beaman Student Life Center.

Baccalaureate will take place at 2:30 p.m. Friday, May 3 in the Curb Event Center.

 **Updated May 6, 2013: Online video streams of the May4 graduation ceremonies are now available for viewing here.

ESa repurposed the aging church sanctuary into a contemporary music hall that serves both the campus and the surrounding community. Unique details were preserved, while nearly doubling the volume by utilizing previously unused attic and floor space. “I imagine this is a great place to see a concert,” commented a Learning By Design judge.

In addition, Belmont’s Randall and Sadie Baskin Center, which was also designed by ESa, received an Honorable Mention Award. ESa is one of only three firms in the country to receive this award.

Learning By Design is published twice annually by Stratton Publishing & Marketing Inc., with support from the American Institute of Architects (AIA), APPA—Leadership in Educational Facilities, Council of Educational Facility Planners International (CEFPI), National School Boards Association (NCBA), and others.

ESa is a 52-year-old architectural firm based in Nashville providing services in architecture, interior architecture, master planning and space planning to clients across the country and globally.

Stevens is the Chaplain at St. Augustine at Vanderbilt University and founder of Magdalene/Thistle Farms. She shared her fears and hopes for a sanctuary to help women recovering from trafficking, prostitution, addiction and life on the streets.  Thistle Farms employs over 40 residents who manufacture, market and sell all natural bath and beauty products.

“If you’re on a journey led by your heart, the fears will come again to sit vigil with you at night. But, remember, you are not alone,” she said. “You have to keep going and lay the fears aside.”

Stevens asked students about their vision and encouraged them to walk with their hearts and continue the journey.

She said, “you have a really clear sense of what has happened, assess the present and be wide open when love is coming around the bend.”

She ended her inspirational talk by introducing her son Levi Hummon, Belmont student, who performed a song he wrote, “Leaving the Best Things.

On-site truck provides safe, secure disposal of confidential information

Belmont University is hosting a Shred Event on Wednesday, May 8 from 7:30-11:30 a.m. on campus in the parking lot behind the Troutt Theater/McAfee Concert Hall (2100 Belmont Blvd.). This event is free and open to the public. A number of community organizations and local companies have already signed on to show their support for and participation in the event, including the Edgehill Family Resource Center, Belmont Heights Baptist Church, the Edgehill Village Neighborhood Association, R.C. Mathews Contractor, Enterprise Electric, Bloom Electric Supply, Neal’s Electric Supply, Consolidated Electrical Distributors, Councilwoman Sandra Moore (17^th District), Councilwoman Megan Barry (At-Large), Councilwoman Burkley Allen (18^th District), Councilwoman Erica Gilmore (19^th District)and the Belmont-Hillsboro Neighborhood Association.

Through a partnership with Cintas Document Management, documents will be securely destroyed on-site with a mobile shredding vehicle, ensuring secure, confidential disposal of sensitive information. Cintas helps customers comply with the law and fight identity theft by destroying all of the following:

* Staples, rubber bands, folders, paper clips, etc. do not need to be removed before shredding occurs.