November 06, 2009
University College Celebrates National Adult Student Appreciation Week
On Nov. 1-7, Belmont University’s University College celebrated its second annual Adult Student Appreciation Week. Designed to recognize non-traditional students on campus, as well as highlight efforts that have improved the adult student environment at Belmont, Belmont’s Adult Student Appreciation Week coincided with National Adult Student Appreciation Week, which is coordinated by the Association for Non-Traditional Students in Higher Education.
Highlights of the week included Adult Student Art Show at Belmont@Cool Springs, Late Night Academic Advising, Walk-in tea and treats at several locations on campus prior to evening classes, Second Harvest of Middle Tennessee Food Drive and making thank you cards for those who support Belmont’s adult students. In addition, several convocation events were held including Making an Effective Career Transition as an Adult led by Gary Boling in the Office of Career Services and a Stress Management Workshop Session led by Director of Counseling Services Peg Leonard-Martin.
To cap off the week, University College recognized several adult students in the program based on nominations received from their instructors and University College staff. Individual awards were as follows:
Henri Burton, Liberal Studies program: Certificate of Academic Excellence
Janice Malone, RN-BSN program: Certificate of Academic Excellence
Karen Elizer, Liberal Studies program: Certificate of Remarkable Perseverance
Kim Lewis, Liberal Studies program: Certificate of Personal Achievement
Ronshea Clark, Liberal Studies program: Certificate of Excellence
Robert Blake, Liberal Studies program: Certificate of Dedicated Involvement
Posted November 06, 2009. LINK.
November 04, 2009
Lakota Author Challenges Audience to Broaden Perspective
Lakota author Richard Twiss visited Belmont this morning, bringing with him a personal mantra that he asked the full Neely Dining Hall audience to repeat: “I am ethnocentric, narrow-minded and have limited vision.” (Click here to view the photo gallery from this event.)
Twiss is the co-founder of Wiconi International, a nonprofit Christian organization that seeks to provide assistance to Native Americans, as well as the author of One Church, Many Tribes, a book that examines how studying First Nations Christ followers can teach new ways of living with nature and one another. His “mantra” seeks to challenge individuals to recognize their own cultural biases and to open their minds to seeing God from Native perspectives.
Twiss shared the story of his own transformation from a drug user who hated Christians to a man who “experienced peace that can’t be humanly comprehended.” After overdosing on mushrooms in 1974 while living in Maui, Twiss noted that God was made known to him one day on the beach. “Even though Jesus looked a lot like Captain Jack Sparrow at the time, I’m pretty sure it was still Jesus.”
Inspired by the Sermon on the Mount, Twiss began to realize that God wasn’t represented by the Christians he had formerly encountered or that his family had suffered from on the reservations and in boarding schools. Instead, he began to see God through the eyes of his own cultural background. “The Bible gives him all kinds of Indian names: Bright and Morning Star, Lily of the Valley, Chief Cornerstone… God was speaking to the Lakota, the Cherokee, Shawnee [and other tribes] long before we discovered Christopher Columbus drifting around in the ocean.”
Posted November 04, 2009. LINK.
November 02, 2009
Jeff Kinsler Named Founding Dean for New College of Law
Former Dean, Yale graduate to join Belmont faculty in 2010
Belmont University announced today that Professor Jeffrey Kinsler will serve as the founding dean for the new College of Law. Currently a professor of law and senior scholar with Elon University School of Law in North Carolina, Kinsler previously served as dean of Appalachian School of Law, which he led to full American Bar Association (ABA) approval during his tenure. Kinsler already knows Belmont well, serving as a consultant in the plans for opening the new college. He will begin his tenure at Belmont in early 2010.
Belmont President Dr. Bob Fisher said, “Jeff Kinsler is a perfect fit for Belmont. He is highly respected in the legal community and has previously provided leadership as dean in the creation of another law school. Most importantly, he understands our dreams and aspirations for creating a College of Law that is driven by the mission and core values of Belmont University."
Kinsler graduated first in his class from Valparaiso University School of Law (’89) and obtained a master of laws degree (LL.M., ‘96) from Yale Law School, where he served as senior editor of the Yale Journal of International Law. The winner of nine teaching awards, Kinsler has taught at several law schools in the United States and Australia. He also has served as a Fulbright Scholar at the University of Queensland in Australia. Kinsler was a partner with Katten, Muchin & Zavis in Chicago, “of counsel” at Mayer, Brown & Platt in Chicago and, more recently, “of counsel” at the Kingsport, Tennessee law firm of Hunter, Smith & Davis. A member of the Tennessee, Virginia, Illinois and Wisconsin bars, he has co-authored ten books and has published numerous law review articles in journals at law schools such as the University of North Carolina, Northwestern University, and Vanderbilt University. In 2006, he was named a “Virginia Leader in the Law” by Virginia Lawyers Weekly. In September, Kinsler was elected to the American Law Institute (ALI), the leading independent organization in the United States producing scholarly work to clarify, modernize and otherwise improve the law. Election to the ALI is limited to one third of one percent of lawyers in the country and is considered by many to be the most prestigious legal organization in America.
Kinsler said, “I’m honored to have been chosen as the founding dean and look forward to helping Belmont University build an excellent law school. I joined Belmont because it is determined to create a new kind of law school, one that produces professional, practice-ready attorneys for today’s global legal market. I’m convinced that Belmont University College of Law will be able to attract first-rate faculty and students.”
Leary Davis, founding dean emeritus of Elon University School of Law, said, “Jeff Kinsler is an outstanding lawyer and legal educator. As dean at Appalachian and as a member of the founding faculty at Elon, he is fully aware of what needs to be done to establish an excellent law school while navigating the path to provisional and then full American Bar Association approval. He has played key roles in both processes at two different schools.”
Posted November 02, 2009. LINK.
October 30, 2009
Belmont's Steve Lasley Wins CFO Award
Steve Lasley, Belmont's vice president of finance and operations, was named today as a winner in the Nashville Business Journal's (NBJ) inaugural CFO Awards in the Nonprofit category. The awards banquet was held downtown at the Renaissance Nashville Hotel.
Lasley said, "I am so honored to be selected Nashville Business Journal CFO of the Year. It is particularly humbling to be in the inaugural group. Belmont is such an exciting and dynamic organization. Not only do I direct the finances of a great institution, but I also get the privilege of working with outstanding people across the entire campus."
NBJ's CFO Awards honor financial professionals in Middle Tennessee for outstanding performance in their roles as corporate financial stewards. The nomination letter for Lasley noted, "[Steve's] financial management skills have supported the university’s core functions and resulted in significant achievements in the areas of revenue generation, cost savings, new construction, debt management and endowment growth. "
Lasley was chosen as one of 23 finalists in five categories who set the standard of excellence for Middle Tennessee CFOs. Judges then selected one winner from each group of finalists. Other nominees in the Nonprofit category included Robert K. Stillwell, Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority; Michael Kirby, Nashville Symphony; Mary Jo Wiggins, American Red Cross, Nashville Area Chapter; and Spence Maners, Fisk University.
Posted October 30, 2009. LINK.
October 28, 2009
Belmont Students Join Hanson’s ‘Take the Walk’ Tour to Raise Awareness of Poverty and AIDS in Africa
On Tues., Oct. 27, students from Belmont and Vanderbilt universities joined the band Hanson for its ‘Take the Walk’ tour, a barefoot optional, one-mile walk to raise awareness of poverty and AIDS in Africa. About 300 participants gathered in Belmont’s Beaman Student Life Center where Hanson addressed the crowd and started the walk. Walkers, many of whom chose to go without shoes, started at the Bell Tower and ended at the Vanderbilt University bookstore where Hanson signed their book, Take the Walk, and performed three acoustic songs. Click here to view video of the event on Belmont's official YouTube channel.
The walk raised funds to support one of five causes, with one dollar donated by the ‘Take the Walk’ campaign for each walker. The band educated students on the issues surrounding the walk and also promoted existing efforts on the Belmont and Vanderbilt campuses and in the Nashville community such as United: For Change.
To see a gallery of images from this event, click here.
Posted October 28, 2009. LINK.
IEBA Provides Scholarships for Curb College Students
Belmont University announced today that the International Entertainment Buyers Association (IEBA) is funding new scholarship opportunities for students in the Mike Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business. In addition to the Harry A. “Hap” Peebles/IEBA Scholarship Endowment established in 1998, IEBA has established three new endowed scholarships at Belmont: The J.P. Williams/IEBA Scholarship Endowment, The Don Romeo/IEBA Scholarship Endowment and the George Moffett/IEBA Scholarship Endowment. Collectively totaling more than $200,000, the IEBA scholarships will provide much needed financial support to Curb College students. Picture l-r in the photo are Clyde Rolston (CEMB), Tiffany Davis (IEBA), Barry Jeffrey (IEBA), Gil Cunningham (IEBA) and Harry Chapman (Development).
"IEBA is proud to support the next generation of music industry leaders while paying homage to those that have shaped live entertainment into the force that it is today,” said Tiffany Davis, executive director, IEBA. “We are so happy to partner with Belmont University through the Harry A. Peebles, Don Romeo, J.P. Williams and George Moffett Scholarships. Our goal is to nurture students to become thriving members of the entertainment community, and Belmont is a perfect partner."
In addition to generous financial contributions, IEBA executives Barry Jeffrey of William Morris Endeavor Entertainment and Gil Cunningham of Neste Event Marketing recently shared their expertise on talent buying with Curb College students at a recent “Insider’s View” seminar.
Dr. Wesley Bulla, dean of the College of Entertainment and Music Business, expressed Belmont’s gratitude for the support, “We appreciate IEBA investing in the lives of the aspiring entertainment professionals at Belmont University and are grateful for our ongoing partnership.”
[MORE]Posted October 28, 2009. LINK.
Belmont Launches Extensive ‘Be a Fan’ Campaign to Promote Basketball Season Ticket Sales
With the start of basketball season only weeks away, Belmont University has launched the most extensive marketing campaign in Athletics history to promote men’s and women’s basketball and sell season tickets. Numerous efforts are underway in the “Be a Fan” campaign to raise awareness of Belmont basketball. For the first time, all season ticket buyers will receive the “Bruin Edge,” a coupon book with an estimated $250 value, double the price of the ticket itself. Deals include discounts to numerous local hotels and restaurants as well as to entertainment venues like the Nashville Zoo and TPAC.
“While the ‘Bruin Edge’ certainly adds extraordinary value, it’s only one of a number of reasons fans should consider purchasing a season ticket to Bruin basketball,” said Pamela Johnson, director of university marketing and special initiatives. “Most importantly, the proceeds the university receives from season tickets go toward athletic scholarships, making those tickets an easy, affordable way to support Belmont’s fine student-athletes. Plus, anyone who’s ever attended a Bruins game will tell you that it’s hard to find a better night of competitive sports and family-oriented fun.”
In addition to the “Bruin Edge” coupon book, the “Be a Fan” basketball campaign includes 10 billboards placed around Nashville, all featuring Belmont mascot Bruiser holding a mask of his own face. Similarly themed ads will soon begin running in Nashville’s City Paper and on the Belmont.edu Web site with numerous celebrities appearing with their own Bruiser masks as part of a season-long contest. Individuals will be asked to guess who is behind the mask in each monthly advertisement, Nov.-Feb. They can then turn in the official form with their guess at any Belmont home basketball game for a chance to win a getaway weekend for two to anywhere in the continental United States. The prize will be given away at the Bruins’ last home game on Feb. 27, 2010.
Posted October 28, 2009. LINK.
October 21, 2009
Belmont Tops Out New Health Science Building, Home for Schools of Pharmacy and Physical Therapy
Ceremony celebrates completion of $30 million building’s frame
Nearly one year after breaking ground, Belmont University today celebrated the “topping out” its new $30 million health sciences building, which will serve as the future home for the School of Pharmacy, a Belmont program which welcomed its second class this fall. The building, which has an anticipated completion date of June 2010, will also house the School of Physical Therapy and will include expansion space for the Schools of Nursing and Occupational Therapy as well as the Social Work and Psychology programs. (Click here to view a photo of gallery of today's event.)
Belmont President Dr. Bob Fisher said, “In addition to providing a time to celebrate and thank all the workers behind this immense project, a topping out is also a time to look forward to when this structure is complete. This building will be a model, 21st century academic facility, providing a venue where our students and faculty resources can intersect in service to help meet the medical needs of our community and our world.”
Designed by Earl Swensson Associates with construction by R.C. Mathews, the 90,000-square-foot building will continue the innovation for which Belmont University has become known, containing top-notch laboratories. The facility will emphasize integrated, “hands on” experiential learning components including a licensed, state-of-the-art campus pharmacy which will provide services to students, faculty and staff while also serving as a training site for student pharmacists. Of special note are the simulation labs, where students and community clinicians can practice skills either on actors who simulate patients or on high tech manikins; this simulation suite is interdisciplinary, and programs will be encouraged to work in simulated scenarios that involve several health disciplines. In addition, faculty will have sophisticated research labs set aside for research studies, and students will be able to assist in these studies.
Dr. Jack Williams, dean of Belmont’s College of Health Sciences and Nursing, said, “Together with the Gordon E. Inman Center, this new structure will unite Belmont’s health science studies in one strategic location on campus. By completing and enhancing our health sciences complex, the university is providing inter-professional education opportunities for all of our health science students and preparing them to be both competent and compassionate practitioners.”
[MORE]Posted October 21, 2009. LINK.
October 20, 2009
Alumnus Gorley Takes Home Top Honor at ASCAP Awards
Ashley Gorley, a 1999 Belmont graduate from the College of Entertainment and Music Business, received the Songwriter of the Year award at Monday night's ASCAP Country Music Awards held at Nashville's Ryman Auditorium, an invitation-only gala that salutes the songwriters and publishers of ASCAP's most performed country songs of the past year.
Gorley wrote or co-wrote Trace Adkins’ “You’re Gonna Miss This,” Brad Paisley and Keith Urban’s “Start a Band” and Darius Rucker’s “It Won’t Be Like This for Long.” “You’re Gonna Miss This” was also named one of ASCAP's five most-played songs in the past year and Country Song of the Year. For his wins, Gorley was presented with a special, limited edition Gibson Les Paul guitar. In referencing "You’re Gonna Miss This," Adkins told NewsChannel5, "[Ashley's] had a great year, not just with this song. He still has hits. He's got new hits on the radio right now. I mean he's on a roll."
ASCAP also recognized a distinguished group of songwriters with the Silver Circle honor in recognition of 25 years or more of ASCAP membership. Among those honored were Gregg "Hobie" Hubbard, a graduate of Belmont's Masters of English program and a Writing Center tutor, and Bob Regan, an adjunct in the College of Entertainment and Music Business who teaches "Fundamentals of Songwriting."
[MORE]Posted October 20, 2009. LINK.
October 14, 2009
Professor, Turtles Member Mark Volman Performs at Carnegie Hall
Assistant Professor Mark Volman, member of The Turtles featuring Flo & Eddie and the coordinator of the entertainment industry studies program, performed in an “Evening with Gavin Friday and Friends” Oct. 4 at Carnegie Hall in New York City.
The event featured U2 and many others, including Laurie Anderson, Antony, Elizabeth Ashley, Adam Clayton, Andrea Corr, The Edge, Flo & Eddie, Joel Grey, Bill Frisell, Guggi, Scarlett Johansson, Courtney Love, Lydia Lunch, Patrick McCabe, Maria McKee, Shane MacGowan, Eric Mingus, Larry Mullen, JG Thirlwell, Martha Wainwright, Rufus Wainwright and Chloe Webb.
The event was part of the (RED) NIGHTS concert series sponsored by the (RED) organization, with portions of the proceeds from the concerts going to help buy and distribute AIDS medication to people living with HIV. (RED) was created by Bono and Bobby Shriver in 2002 with the mission to help eliminate AIDS in Africa.
The Turtle’s hit song, “Happy Together” was recorded in 1967 and helped launch Volman’s career as an American pop, psychedelic and folk/rock band member. Characterized by a good-natured sound, the Turtles claimed 10 top ten singles during the sixties, including “She’d Rather Be With Me,” “ You Showed Me”, “She’s My Girl,” “You Baby,” “It Ain’t Me Babe”, “Elenore,” and of course, “Happy Together,” which has been featured in movies, television shows, commercials, and been inducted in to the Grammy Hall of Fame.
Posted October 14, 2009. LINK.
National Wildlife Federation President Speaks on Sustainability
Larry Schweiger, president and CEO of the National Wildlife Federation, spoke in Neely Dining Hall Wednesday as part of Belmont's “Paradise Lost?” speakers series which is focusing on issues of sustainability and environmental stewardship. Schweiger newly released book is titled Last Chance: Preserving Life on Earth. His appearance was co-sponsored by the College of Arts & Sciences and the Office of Spiritual Development.
Schweiger's presentation focused primarily on the impact currently being felt by the environment, noting that the one degree rise in temperature has already led to a 10 percent increase in lightning strikes, among numerous other statistics. He added that if temperatures increase another two-three degrees Fahrenheit then 20-30 percent of all animal and plant species will face the risk of extinction.
"The average person now spends six hours a day looking at a screen," Schweiger said, "which means we are disconnected from nature... Your generation is going to invent the future."
Posted October 14, 2009. LINK.
October 13, 2009
Gov. Bredesen, U.S. Rep. Cooper Lead Keynote Healthcare Conversation at Belmont
Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen and U.S. Representative Jim Cooper provided the keynote addresses today for “Diagnosing Our Future,” the inaugural presentation in Belmont University’s Gordon E. Inman College of Health Science & Nursing Speaker Series. The event was held this morning in the Frist Lecture Hall in the Inman Center on Belmont University’s campus.
The healthcare forum opened with comments from Dr. Wilhelmina Leigh of the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies in Washington, D.C.; Curt Thorne, president and CEO of MedSolutions in Franklin, Tenn.; and Landon Gibbs, executive director and co-founder of SHOUTAmerica. Each of these healthcare industry leaders raised questions and concerns regarding healthcare reform and its impact on various constituencies. Gov. Bredesen and U.S. Representative Cooper then presented keynote addresses regarding current federal efforts to reform healthcare and participated in a follow-up dialogue regarding these efforts. The event was moderated by law firm Trauger and Tuke’s Byron Trauger, an attorney who specializes in health care, complex civil litigation, general business matters, government relations and regulatory agency work.
The theme of the speaker series, “Diagnosing Our Future,” reflects the call to collaboratively advance new ideas to improve healthcare and healthy living for future generations. The purpose of the series is to connect these ideas with the greater community of Nashville and Middle Tennessee and with students in Belmont’s health science programs who are preparing to serve society as physical therapists, pharmacists, registered nurses, nurse practitioners, occupational therapists, and social workers.
Posted October 13, 2009. LINK.
