Belmont students in an a cappella group known as Prismatics have been selected to compete in “UpStagedAID: One World, Every Student Voice,” the first-ever virtual international college championship of its kind. Out of more than 160 worldwide applicants, Prismatics was selected as one of 32 U.S. groups to participate in the competition.
These 32 groups will compete in a march madness-style bracket competition hosted virtually on UpstagedU.com. The winning team will receive more than $10,000 in cash prizes and donations to the social justice charity of their choice. Prismatics have chosen the non-profit Mental Health Association of the MidSouth in Nashville, Tennessee as their charity for the competition.
Hear from the Prismatics about their choice of song and social justice charity at the UpstagedAID selection show here.
Organized by industry leaders in performing arts competitions, UpStaged Entertainment Group and National Collegiate Performing Arts, the competition voting will begin on September 21. Winners of each round will be chosen by a combination of fan voting and celebrity judging.
Watch Prismatic’s music video and vote for them in the competition starting September 21 here.
Upstaged is a diversified performing arts platform with a mission to empower the world’s college and high school performers and is hosting this inaugural all-virtual competitive championship as an opportunity for students of the top college a cappella groups to compete.
English professor Dr. Eric Hobson has another published article by the Pan Am Historical Association as an extension to their Summer/Fall 2020 issue of PAA Clipper.
Belmont University sophomore songwriting major and pop artist Allie Rohrer, known as Allie Roar, placed second in the BMI John Lennon Song Competition for her submitted song “Secrets.” With more than 400 applicants, Roar’s song placing second is a huge accomplishment.
The John Lennon Fellowship is an annual competition in which songwriters and composers of contemporary music such as alternative, pop, rock, indie, electronic, R&B and experimental music can participate. Three scholarships totaling $20,000 are awarded each year to the best original songs of all genres. Roar recieved a $5,000 scholarship for her song.
To learn more about Roar and her music, visit allieroar.com.
Andrew Trask, a 2015 Belmont graduate with a B.S. in Applied Discrete Mathematics and B.B.A. in Finance, recently shared co-authorship with researchers from NVIDIA, Intel, the National Institutes of Health, Vanderbilt Univeristy and other institutions on a paper involving data-driven machine learning, published in the Digital Nature Partner Journal (NPJ).”
The article, “The Future of Digital Health with Federated Learning,” explores how federated learning may provide a solution to the shortage of digital medical data available for Machine Learning applications. The paper discusses the potential of federated learning in supporting the future of digital health and highlights the challenges and considerations that need to be addressed. The journal can be found here: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41746-020-00323-1
Trask, currently a Google DeepMind Scholar and Ph.D. student at Oxford University, is the author of “Grokking Deep Learning,” which teaches readers to build deep learning neural networks from scratch. Trask is also the co-author of the Udacity Deep Learning curriculum and founder of the OpenMined project, an open-source framework that will allow developers to gain insight from users’ data without compromising their privacy.
Belmont faculty, staff and students participated in the sixth annual Diversity Week starting Sunday, September 20 through Friday, September 25.
This year’s virtual event lineup celebrated the University’s commitment to furthering diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives and featured opportunities for the Belmont community to engage in important conversations and hear from renowned speakers.
TED Tuesday: How to Deconstruct Racism, One Headline at a Time(Faculty and Staff) on Tuesday, September 22, 2020 at 12 p.m. online: Facilitated by University Ministries, this event featured viewing and discussing this engaging and challenging TED Talk.
WELL Core Chapel with Dr. Drew Hart (co-sponsored by Welcome Home Diversity Council, Office of Multi-Cultural Learning and Engagement, Debate Programming) (Open to the Community)on Tuesday, September 22, 2020 at 5:30 p.m. online: Dr. Drew G.I. Hart, a pastor and professor of theology and a national leader in anti-racism education, discussed with the Belmont community how white supremacy is entangled with western Christianity. In his latest book, Who Will Be a Witness?: Igniting Activism for God’s Justice, Love, and Deliverance (September 2020), his hope is for all of us to “strive for the flourishing of all people by doing justice and the things that make for peace…We identify and stand with those that Jesus did in his own day. We gladly link arms with those that are impoverished, vulnerable, oppressed and marginalized.” He challenged all of us to meaningful engagement across party lines, so that we move from political divisiveness to God-empowered love for all.
Seeing Your Blindspot Webinar (sponsored by the Rev. Charlie Curb Center for Faith Based Leadership) (Faculty and Staff)on Tuesday, September 22, 2020 at 2 p.m. online: With recent violent events across the nation, the subject of racism, privilege and prejudice has once again entered the national spotlight. Issues of race, religion, inequality and vigilantism have surfaced over and over again. Is it possible that many of us carry hidden biases and prejudices around inside our hearts and minds, placed there years ago by cultural influences, family dynamics and life experiences? This workshop explored ways of discovering and naming certain biases, with the goal of learning how to overcome them. Workshop Presenter: Dr. Jon Roebuck, Executive Director the Rev. Curb Charlie Curb Center for Faith Based Leadership.
Student Real Talk led by Gary Hunter (Students) on Tuesday, September 22, 2020 at 5 p.m. online: Real Talk featured an open, frank and honest dialogue focusing on diversity and inclusion at Belmont University as well as nationally and globally. With slogan “If you are bold enough to bring it up, then we are bold enough to talk about it,” it was a confidential, safe and brave space to voice all opinions.
Rock the Vote at Belmont University: Nashville’s Colleges Celebrate Democracy (Community)on Tuesday, September 22, 2020 at 7 p.m. online: To celebrate National Voter Registration Day, Rock The Vote and Belmont University partnered to stream a live concert event to encourage students to register to vote. Performers included student and alumni acts from Belmont University, Fisk University, MTSU, Vanderbilt and Tennessee State University as well as a special performance from Bren Joy and a headlining set from Moon Taxi, both Belmont alumni.
Culture Care with Renowned Painter Makoto Fujimuraon Wednesday, September 23, 2020 at 7 p.m. online: Makoto Fujimura shared with the Belmont community about Culture Care, an alternative to the “culture wars” that have characterized politics in recent decades. It is a philosophy born of Fujimura’s art and Christian faith that offers the creation and conservation of beauty as an antidote to cultural and political brokenness. Fujimura is a Japanese-American painter and artist and was a presidential appointee to the National Council on the Arts from 2003-2009. He is one of the premier living abstract painters and his works have been exhibited on four continents.
Continuing the Conversation: Seeking Racial Justice in the Local Churchon Thursday, September 24, 2020 at 5 p.m. online: This event, hosted in partnership between University Ministries and the Charlie Curb Center for Faith Leadership, featured a conversation on the church’s role in seeking racial reconciliation and justice. Local pastors from a diversity of congregations engaged in exploring in depth how they see racism impacting their communities and what they are doing to respond to racism in the church and society as a whole.
The Welcome Home Diversity Council, Belmont’s interdisciplinary council, is devoted to diversity, equity and inclusion efforts across campus. Learn more about the Belmont State of Mind: Initiative for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion here.
Belmont University appears numerous times in the 2021 rankings of America’s Best Colleges, a new analysis released Monday by U.S. News & World Report. The University was praised as the best in the state and No. 24 in the country for its “unusually strong commitment to undergraduate teaching,” placing Belmont in heady company with the likes of Duke and Gonzaga. Belmont was also recognized for the 13th year in a row for innovation as an institution and ranked twelfth nationally for Learning Communities, among other accolades.
Belmont President Dr. Bob Fisher said, “The U.S. News rankings have recognized Belmont’s use of innovation once again, leading the way in higher education to provide unparalleled experiences in the classroom at a time when it is most needed as we face daunting circumstances surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic. Our faculty continue to make giant strides despite the circumstances to provide our students with the highest quality education, empowering them to use their skills and God-given abilities to live meaningful lives of purpose.”
In the publication released Monday, Belmont is lauded for the 13th year in a row for its commitment to “making the most innovative improvements in terms of curriculum, faculty, students, campus life, technology or facilities,” landing at No. 42 on the “Most Innovative Schools” in the country list.
With its focus on student success, enriched curriculum offerings and strong outcomes, Belmont earned acclaim in the following categories as well:
Senior Capstone: Ranked 23 in the nation and only school in the state to be recognized on the national list
These culminating experiences asks students nearing the end of their college years to create a project that integrates and synthesizes what they’ve learned. The project might be a thesis, a performance or an exhibit of artwork.
Strong Commitment to Undergraduate Teaching: Ranked 24th in the nation
The strong commitment to undergraduate teaching ranking is determined via a survey of peer institutions, who cite their fellow institutions who best reflect that quality.
First Year Experience: Ranked 13th nationally
Belmont was one of only 21 colleges in the country recognized for building into the curriculum programming that helps freshmen connect to their institutions.
Learning Communities: Ranked 12th of only 24 institutions recognized in the nation
In these communities, students typically take two or more linked courses as a group and get to know one another and their professors well.
Best Colleges for Veterans: Belmont was one of only two schools in the state to be recognized on the national list.
Best Value: Belmont remains the second highest ranked school in the state it its category for the quality of education versus the cost of attendance.
Due to a recent reclassification by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education, Belmont is now included in U.S. News’ list of National Universities rather than the Regional South category. Carnegie expanded its criteria for the national category to include universities who confer more than 30 professional practice doctoral degrees across two or more programs. With Belmont’s significant success in pharmacy, law, physical therapy, occupational therapy and nursing doctorate programs, the University was promoted to the larger and more competitive national category last year, landing in its debut year in the top 100 private institutions in the country. U.S. News ranks and reports on more than 1,500 institutions of higher education across the United States in a number of national and regional categories.
Senior design communication major Abraham Mast recently won the Certificate of Typographic Excellence from the New York Type Director’s Club for his animation “My Type of Day.”
This winning entry to the 66th annual TDC Communication Design Competition will also be featured in The World’s Best Typography, Typography 41 to be published December 2020.
Belmont University School of Occupational Therapy student, Morgan Sondergeld, recently won the Scholarship of Excellence Award from The Tennessee Occupational Therapy Foundation. She earned the award and scholarship by maintaining a GPA of 4.0 in the Doctorate of Occupational Therapy program while volunteering with Sprocket Therapy, GiGi’s Playhouse and Room at the Inn.
As the Oct. 22 Presidential Debate at Belmont University approaches, Belmont’s O’More College of Architecture & Design is embracing the event with a four-part educational series focused on “White House Style.” Beginning Sept. 24 and available for free public viewing, the program is being led by Nashville-based creative consultant Libby Callaway and will feature a national slate of historians, designers and cultural critics exploring how First Couples have left their personal mark on the People’s House, through how they eat, dress, decorate and entertain. Featured guests will include White House Historical Association historian Lina Mann, former White House decorator Michael S. Smith (who recently published “Designing History,” a book on the White House), former White House staffer and James Beard Award-winning food journalist Adrian Miller, Washington Post fashion critic Robin Givhan and internationally acclaimed fashion designer Diane von Furstenberg.
“This series promises a unique perspective on American history along with the house—and people—who occupy so much national interest,” said Belmont University President Dr. Bob Fisher. “I’m so impressed and pleased to see the incredible creativity and outstanding guests our faculty are bringing to the table in our ‘Ideas of America’ debate programming series. Clearly, ‘White House Style’ offers the expertise and subject matter to appeal to audiences of all ages and interests.”
Dr. Jhennifer Amundson, dean of Belmont’s O’More College of Architecture & Design, added, “We’re very excited to welcome a distinguished group of professionals representing diverse parts of the world of design to contribute to this important event. We understand how design is part of our national discourse, both political and patriotic, and that understanding more about how the President’s house fits into a broader narrative will present us with great new insights about the power of design and its role in our country’s history and in the present day.”
Libby Callaway (photo by Heidi Ross)
Program organizer and moderator Libby Callaway, who chairs O’More’s Fashion Advisory Committee, is the founder and principal at The Callaway, a Nashville-based communications agency that provides strategic leadership, marketing and PR services, event management and retail curation for creative companies in the areas of fashion, design, retail, hospitality and nonprofit. She is the former media director for the Nashville denim company imogene + willie and marketing director for the Alabama fashion house Billy Reid. Prior to working in PR and marketing, Callaway was a journalist in New York, where she contributed to some of the country’s most widely regarded magazines and newspapers, including the New York Times, Elle, InStyle, Travel + Leisure, Glamour and the New York Post, where she was fashion editor.
Callaway said, “We all know that the vibe of the White House changes with each First Family, but few people understand the rules and rituals that govern these evolutions. Our incredible slate of guests have insider knowledge in this area. The collective experience and deep knowledge that they bring to these conversations will change the way viewers think about the style and culture of the country’s most famous residence.”
The series promises to give viewers an insider’s glimpse into the design of the White House and the style of its occupants over the course of the past 200-plus years, thanks to the nationally acclaimed experts who will join Callaway for the evening conversations. The entire White House Style series can be viewed on Belmont’s Debate Events site, and additional details on specific program dates, times and descriptions can be found below:
Lina Mann
Setting the Scene: Life at the White House Thurs., Sept. 24, 7 p.m. Central Part One: When a President and their family move into the White House, they aren’t given carte blanche. Historian Lina Mann of the White House Historical Association (WHHA) will discuss the guidelines that govern the decoration of and decorum within the country’s most famous residence, drawing from specific events and using historical imagery. Mann started at the WHHA in 2017 as a fellow while pursuing her Master’s degree in Public History. After completing her degree in May 2019, she has continued her work with WHHA, where she helped research and develop the Association’s recent Slavery in the President’s Neighborhood initiative.
Michael S. Smith (Photo by Michael Mundy)
Department of the Interior: Designing the White House Thurs., Oct. 1, 7 p.m. Central Part Two: Redecorating the White House at the start of a presidency is not as easy as ordering a new kitchen table and replacing a few slipcovers. Los Angeles-based interior designer Michael S. Smith will share his experience working with the Obamas to redesign the White House during their eight years in residence. Smith, author of the new book “Designing History: The Extraordinary Art & Style of the Obama White House,” is one of the most sought-after talents in the design industry today. With an international roster of high-profile residential, hospitality and commercial clients, he is known for an effortless blend of all-American modernism and European classicism. Smith has received numerous accolades throughout his career, including being continuously named to the AD100 and Elle Decor’s A-List, and he was honored by the Hispanic Society of America with his partner, James Costos, the former ambassador to Spain and Andorra; they received the organization’s 2016 Sorolla Medal in recognition of their extraordinary support of Spanish art and culture. Smith was also the 2018 recipient of the distinguished Arthur Ross Award for Excellence in the Field of Interior Design from the Institute of Classical Architecture & Art.
Adrian Miller (Photo by Tyrus Ortega Gaines)
Head of Plate: Inside the White House Kitchen Thurs., Oct. 8, 7 p.m. Central Part Three: Presidential style encompasses more than just the visual aspects of the White House: how First Couples eat and entertain says as much about them as their wardrobes or interiors. Former White House staffer andJames Beard Award-winning food journalist Adrian Miller will explore the history of the White House kitchen and presidential cooks. He will be joined by a number of significant Nashville chefs, preparing a multi-course meal inspired by the best-loved presidential recipes. Recipes will be shared in advance on Belmont’s Debate Events website. Miller is a food writer, attorney and certified barbecue judge who lives in Denver. Miller’s first book, “Soul Food: The Surprising Story of an American Cuisine, One Plate at a Time” won the James Beard Foundation Award for Scholarship and Reference in 2014. His second book, “The President’s Kitchen Cabinet: The Story of the African Americans Who Have Fed Our First Families, From the Washingtons to the Obamas,” was published on President’s Day 2017 and was a finalist for a 2018 NAACP Image Award for “Outstanding Literary Work—Non-Fiction.” Participating chefs will include:
Charles Hunter (The Salted Table)
Lisa Donovan (James Beard Award-winning journalist author of Our Lady of Perpetual Hunger)
Rhonda & Shelton Cammon (The Barseat)
Lokelani Alabanza (Saturated ice Cream)
Philip Krajeck (Folk and Rolf & Daughters)
Julia Sullivan (Henrietta Red)
Robin Givhan (Photo by Helayne Seidman)
First Couple Style: Dressing for the White House Wed., Oct. 14, 7 p.m. Central Part Four: For a First Couple, getting dressed is not as easy as picking out a suit or dress. Every piece of clothing worn by the President and First Lady is ripe for public scrutiny, whether it’s an off-the-rack polo shirt or high-dollar couture gown. For this panel, host Libby Callaway will be joined by Washington Post fashion critic Robin Givhanand fashion designer Diane von Furstenberg to explore the parameters — many of them unspoken — that dictate how the First Couple dresson every occasion. The fashion critic for the Washington Post, Givhan’s journalism has also appeared in Harper’s Bazaar, Vogue, Essence, New Yorkmagazine, The Daily Beast and theNew Yorker, among other publications. She is the author of “The Battle of Versailles: The Night American Fashion Stumbled Into The Spotlight And Made History” and has contributed to several books. In 2006, she won the Pulitzer Prize in criticism for her fashion coverage.
Diane Von Furstenberg
Diane von Furstenberg is a fashion designer, philanthropist and Founder and Chairwoman of the company that bears her name. In 1974, she created the iconic wrap dress, which became a symbol of power and independence for women all over the world and grew into a global brand. She acted as President of the CFDA from 2006 to 2015 and served as its Chairwoman from 2015 to 2019. In 2010, she established the DVF Awards to honor extraordinary women. Her memoir, “The Woman I Wanted to Be,” was published in 2014 and has been translated in six languages. In 2015, she was named one of TIME’s 100 Most Influential People and the following year, she received the CFDA Swarovski Award for Positive Change. In September of 2019, Diane von Furstenberg was inducted into the National Women’s Hall of Fame honored for her leadership and achievements which have changed the course of history. She currently serves on the boards of Vital Voices, the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures and the Statue of Liberty–Ellis Island Foundation. A HBO documentary entitled “Liberty: Mother of Exiles” aired in Fall of 2019 and further enlightens the public on the history of the monument and DVF’s dedication in raising funds to bring the institution to life.
For additional information on this and all other programming related to the Oct. 22, 2020 Presidential Debate, visit the Events page on BelmontDebate2020.com.
Music City will welcome the eyes of the nation Sept. 22 with “Rock the Vote at Belmont University: Nashville Colleges Celebrate Democracy,” a 90-minute concert event to promote voter registration prior to Belmont’s Oct. 22 hosting of the third and final presidential debate. Set to broadcast on National Voter Registration Day, performers will include student and alumni acts from Belmont University, Fisk University, Vanderbilt University, Middle Tennessee State University and Tennessee State University, as well as special guest Bren Joy and a headlining set from Moon Taxi, both Belmont alumni.
“Belmont is committed to hosting a presidential debate because our mission as educators doesn’t stop at the classroom doors,” said University President Dr. Bob Fisher. “This debate—and all of the exciting programs we’re offering leading up to it—will serve to provide our students and citizens across the country key insights into important issues impacting our nation. We are so proud to partner with Rock the Vote, fellow Nashville universities and our valued alumni to host this concert to celebrate democracy and promote voting.”
“For 30 years, Rock the Vote has revolutionized the use of culture and technology to reach young people where they are with messages that inspire and empower them to get involved in the political process,” said Carolyn DeWitt, president and executive director of Rock the Vote, “We are thrilled to be teaming up with Belmont University and young Nashville artists to celebrate National Voter Registration Day and mobilize young people to take action by registering to vote.”
Alternative rock band Moon Taxi, whose members met as students at Belmont, will headline the evening. Lead singer Trevor Terndrup, a 2007 Belmont graduate, said, “We are happy to be playing such an important show for our alma mater. College is a place where you learn about truth, justice and equality. The voting booth is where you put those ideals to the test. We all must all do our part in this upcoming election. College students have the ability to change the world and I think it’s important to remind young people how much power they have by casting a ballot.”
Doug Howard, dean of Belmont’s Curb College of Entertainment & Music Business, said, “I cannot think of a better way to celebrate the upcoming Presidential Debate 2020 on Belmont’s campus and to prepare for this year’s national election than to join with Rock the Vote to encourage all students to engage in their civic duty and register to vote!”
The concert, which is being produced live by Nashville-based video production companies TNDV Television and Stereophonic Films with assistance from Curb College Showcase students, is intended to showcase a spirit of collaboration and celebration among local college musicians and artists. The event will take place at Belmont’s Curb Event Center, the arena which will also host the Oct. 22 presidential debate. Participating acts include:
Spoken word artist Sommer Jade (Tennessee State University)
Acapella group The Melodores (Vanderbilt University)
Pop/rock band Shelter Cove (Middle Tennessee State University)
Indie rock/pop artist Annie DiRusso (Belmont University)
Between performances, clips will provide information on both how to register to vote, important deadlines and resources for learning more about the upcoming election. Due to COVID-19 prevention measures, there will not be a live audience, and strict guidelines will be adhered to in terms of health screenings, social distancing and sanitation for those performing and producing the event.
