IMPORTANT NOTE: These are the archived stories for Belmont News & Achievements prior to June 26, 2023. To see current stories, click here.

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Belmont School of Education Holds Virtual Selection Day for Residency Program

Haley Charlton
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Belmont School of Education Holds Virtual Selection Day for Residency Program

On Saturday, March 28, Belmont’s School of Education held a Virtual Selection Day event for applicants to the Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) Residency Program. Candidates heard from Belmont faculty and participated in group interviews with Belmont faculty and Metro Nashville Public Schools (MNPS) school and district administrators.

Belmont’s program is set up like a medical residency model where candidates are able to work with qualified mentor teachers for a full year and receive feedback. After a full year in the classroom with mentor teachers, completion of coursework and support from the University, they are ready to be the teacher of record on Day 1.

“It’s an amazing program that gives people with an undergraduate degree in any subject area a chance to become a teacher and receive a Masters in Education,” explained Program Director Dr. Darcie Finch.

Belmont’s residency program partners with the National Center for Teacher Residencies (NCTR) and a representative of NCTR attended the virtual selection day event. Wayne Lewis, dean and professor in the School of Education, said the representative was so impressed with the event that she asked Belmont to participate in a virtual meeting of residency programs across the country to talk about planning and execution of the event.

Finch shared their story on Friday, April 17. Lewis said when Belmont made the decision to shift courses and programming online this semester, Finch immediately began planning for moving the traditionally on-campus Selection Day to a virtual platform.

“Dr. Finch provides outstanding leadership for our Urban Teacher Residency Program. School of Education faculty and MNPS administrators didn’t miss a beat and flawlessly facilitated online discussions and group interviews with our residency candidates,” he said. “Feedback from our candidates has been very positive.”

Alumnus Butch Eley Appointed as Commissioner for Tennessee Department of Finance and Administration

Katie McAdams
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Alumnus Butch Eley Appointed as Commissioner for Tennessee Department of Finance and Administration

Governor Bill Lee appointed this week Belmont alumnus Butch Eley as Commissioner for the Tennessee Department of Finance and Administration (F&A).

Currently, Eley serves as the chief operating officer in the Governor’s Office and will continue coordinating his efforts between the two departments in the interim. Devoting much of his career to creating positive change through public service, Eley continues his focus on transportation policy, economic development and planning issues. 

Before joining the Lee Administration, Eley was founder and CEO of Infrastructure Corporation of America (ICA). He also served as partner and president at the Ingram Group, a premier public affairs and advisory firm in Nashville, Tennessee. 

Alumnus Luke Putney’s Nonprofit Instrumental Horizons Donates $25,000 to MusicWorks

Haley Charlton
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Alumnus Luke Putney’s Nonprofit Instrumental Horizons Donates $25,000 to MusicWorks

In March 2020, alumnus Luke Putney’s nonprofit organization Instrumental Horizons provided $25,000 for an after school music education program called MusicWorks that serves 640 children in marginalized communities in Cape Town, South Africa.

The children and management of MusicWorks overwhelmed Putney with joy. He began recording his song “Cape Town (I Miss Africa)” a few years ago but never finished it. Instead, Putney worked on recovering from a brain tumor, stroke and seizures. After more than 100 days in the hospital, he started getting better. Despite facing blindness, chronic pain and lost use of his left arm, Putney still lives his life to the fullest. One day he got up from his wheelchair and took a couple of steps. After that, he realized he could walk a mile.

The musician and philanthropist asked people to donate money for every mile he walked, and as a “thank you,” everyone who donated received a copy of his song. Putney walked a marathon, one mile per day for 26 days, to raise money for MusicWorks. “My goal was to raise as much money as I could to provide instruments and music education to some very deserving kids in Cape Town, South Africa,” said Putney.

Children Playing Instruments at MusicWorks

Putney published this video explaining how 100 percent of donations to his “Marathon and Music for Africa” went to support these children – $25,000 U.S. dollars. Delta Airlines donated airfare so he could deliver the check in person, and friends and family provided housing in South Africa.

In the video, Executive Director Sunelle Fouche said the children were excited to welcome Luke. “His story is such an amazing example for the children of resilience and about seeing it through. And that amazing things can happen when you put your mind to it,” she said. “It’s not just the money he is bringing, but he’s bringing this amazing story and this wonderful person that just brings light and energy into every space he enters.”

For the recording of the song, Belmont donated studio time at Ocean Way Studios. Five-time Grammy Award winner Victor Wooten offered to produce the record and other world class musicians joined in such as Bakithi Kumalo, Bob Franceschini, Jeff Coffin, Darren English, Derico Watson and Brad Covington. All sales, royalties and streaming rights for “Cape Town (I Miss Africa)” will continue to support MusicWorks. 

The song can be found on Apple Music, Spotify, iTunes and more, at this link:
https://ditto.fm/cape-town-i-miss-africa.

Alumna Releases New ‘Killer Influence’ Podcast Episode with Former Adjunct

Katie McAdams
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Alumna Releases New ‘Killer Influence’ Podcast Episode with Former Adjunct

Alexa Rae Ryncavage, Belmont alumna from the class of 2014, community manager at Media Whisper and host of podcast “Killer Influence,” recently released a new podcast episode with former adjunct professor Steve Schnur. 

Schnur, worldwide executive and president of music at Electronic Art (EA), previously taught a course on the future of technology in music. 

The new episode of “Killer Influence” sheds light on music for video games and contains helpful tips from Schnur for people wanting to have their music in video games. He touches on composition for video games and discusses internships, jobs and other opportunities to compose for Star Wars games at Abbey Road in Nashville, Tennessee, and more. 

The podcast is available on Apple Podcast and Spotify.

Kleinmann Earns First Place in 2019 Achieve More Contest

Katie McAdams
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Kleinmann Earns First Place in 2019 Achieve More Contest

Dr. Christie Kleinmann, associate professor of public relations, won first place in the faculty category of the Fall 2019 Driven to Achieve More Contest organized by Macmillan Learning. The contest invites participants to share what inspires them to achieve more.

Dr. Kleinmann’s submission focused on her approach to empowering students through her teaching and how their work inspires her to achieve more. “As a teacher I learned that while telling someone’s story is powerful, helping others tell their own story is empowering,” she wrote. “I empower my students because their story is more powerful when they learn to tell it themselves.” 

Participants in the Achieve More contest submitted a short video or written story with an image to be judged on relevancy, authenticity, organization, creativity and positivity. First place winners were awarded a $500 prize.  

Belmont Sport Administration Students Step Up to Support Local Race

Haley Charlton
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Belmont Sport Administration Students Step Up to Support Local Race

When the Moosic City Dairy Dash 5K was canceled due to COVID-19, Belmont University Sport Administration Professors, Drs. Ted Peetz and Adam Pfleegor, still wanted to give the runners the race day feel.

Peetz and Pfleegor wanted to see if they could coordinate the delivery of more than 700 race T-shirts to participants. The two professors sent an email asking for help and their students responded. Within hours, more than a dozen students stepped up and volunteered to hand deliver shirts across middle Tennessee.

“Our Sport Administration students have been partnering with this race for a few years and we wanted to do what we could to help,” explained Peetz. “Because of the current situation, our students are all over the country. I was hoping there would be a few in town who could help execute the plan. I knew our students would come through; it’s the Belmont way.”

Pfleegor added, “Shipping that many T-shirts becomes a huge cost for the charity. In the end, that money doesn’t go to the TN Voices, and the goal has always been to raise as much as we can.

Last week, students traveled through the Nashville Area dropping off shirts and encouraging participants to run the race, even though it is a bit different than in past years. Other students in the program are helping manage the social media portion of the race.

5K shirts

Pfleegor explained, “We hope people will wear their shirts proudly and post their accomplishment. It is for a great cause and we are happy we could do our part to make it a success.”

The Moosic City Dairy Dash has raised more than one million dollars for charity since it began 20 years ago. With the support of its dedicated sponsors and Belmont Sport Administration students, the race is projected to raise more than $125,000 this year, although final tallies are still climbing. The two professors are also asking the Belmont community to show support for the race by doing a “solo run” using the Hashtags #DairyDash2020 and #TNVoicesStrong through the week of April 18-25.

Mental Health Counselor Dave Jaeger Receives Tower Award, Counseling Services Adapts to Pandemic

Katie McAdams
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Mental Health Counselor Dave Jaeger Receives Tower Award, Counseling Services Adapts to Pandemic

Last week, Belmont University implemented its first-ever virtual Belmont Student Leadership Awards, recognizing the exemplary leadership demonstrated by student leaders and staff across campus. Among the recipients of these awards was Dave Jaeger, licensed marriage and family therapist and mental health counselor for Belmont’s Counseling Services, who received the honor of the Tower Award. 

The Tower Award is an award given to a faculty or staff member for outstanding contribution to the campus life experience. The recipient is recognized for being “exceptional at engaging and educating students” through commitment to student development, involvement with student programs and activities and collaboration with the Division of Student Affairs.

“When informed that I would be the recipient of the Tower Award, I immediately thought of myself as someone unworthy of the honor. I work on a wonderful team and often act as a mouthpiece for the incredible work, wisdom and care that this team daily pursues on campus,” shared Jaeger. “I look back at different experiences that I’m sure were reasons for being nominated for this award. I remember those not as leadership opportunities, but simply the daily chances we have to interact with some of the most wonderful, talented and caring college students around. In the words of Johnny Cash to Tom Petty…Each of you at Belmont ‘Are good people to ride the river with.’ I am so thankful to be honored with this award.”

Director of Counseling Services Katherine Cornelius, MSSW, LCSW, said, “We are very excited about Dave receiving the Tower Award. He is so passionate about serving students and goes above and beyond on a regular basis ensuring that each student knows they are worthy of love and acceptance.” 

Dave Jaeger

During the time of the COVID-19 pandemic, Counseling Services continues to operate remotely to care for students. While office hours remain the same, Counseling Services is corresponding with students in Tennessee via phone, email and videoconferencing therapy. Because of state licensing requirements, they are also offering out-of-state students referrals, consultation and virtual support groups.

“We are more proactive than ever in our outreach efforts,” explained Cornelius. “We’re posting resources on social media and collaborating with campus partners to produce wellness programming for the whole Belmont community.” The Wellness While We Wait video series developed by Counseling Services, University Ministries, Fitness & Recreation and Health Services, has been viewed more than 1,500 times. 

To provide support specifically during finals, Counseling Services is partnering with University Ministries and producing a special Wellness While We Wait course on Blackboard focusing on mindfulness and stress management. This course will include daily drop-in sessions of mindfulness from 10 – 10:30 a.m. April 22 – 28. A time to connect and share about stress management will be provided from 3:30 – 4:30 p.m. on April 22, 24 and 27. 

Voight Presents at Nashville Golf Fitness Summit

Haley Charlton
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Voight Presents at Nashville Golf Fitness Summit

Dr. Mike Voight was recently an invited presenter, along with Lance Gill from Titleist, at the second annual Nashville Golf Fitness Summit. The topic was “Modern Day Observations of Golf Injury Etiology and Physical Performance.”

With spring right around the corner, this was a timely talk to help golfers prepare for the upcoming golf season and to avoid injury.

Belmont Faculty, Staff Involved in Virtual Series ‘The New Forward’

Katie McAdams
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Belmont Faculty, Staff Involved in Virtual Series ‘The New Forward’

Belmont University’s Mary Claire Dismukes, director of the Office of Career and Professional Development, and Dr. Jeremy Fyke, assistant professor of communications studies, were featured in The New Forward, a free online news and practical strategies series designed to help college and university career services staff adapt in the midst of the COVID-19 crisis. 

Dismukes was a featured presenter in the virtual episode of The New Forward on April 14 titled “Campus Partnership in a Virtual Era” with other special guests from Bellarmine University and Macalester College. The episode was viewed by career services colleagues across the country. 

Dr. Jeremy Fyke Head Shot
Dr. Jeremy Fyke

Dr. Fyke was featured by the New Forward on LinkedIn, showcasing a video he produced for his consulting business, Jeremy Fyke Leader Development. The video focused on giving tips for developing trust while working remotely. 

Hallmark Hosts National Conversation on Virtual Learning

Nicole Jones
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Hallmark Hosts National Conversation on Virtual Learning

Beth Hallmark, director of simulation for the College of Health Sciences and Nursing and National League for Nursing (NLN) fellow, recently assisted in facilitating a virtual NLN Town Hall.

This online meeting of NLN experts and nurse educators focused on strategies for online teaching and learning with the recent transition to online courses due to the challenges of COVID-19. Through this virtual meeting, nurse educators were able to engage in discussion regarding how to best continue a sufficient learning experience virtually by asking questions, sharing ideas and offering solutions that have seen results thus far.

The conversation centered on various ways to ensure requirements for graduation were met for students nearing graduation, as well as ways to offer secure testing methods virtually. A large emphasis of the meeting was on creative online teaching and learning strategies. Ideas for teaching students in this ever-evolving situation ranged from tactics to enhance critical thinking to teaching in community to solutions for remote simulation.

With the cancellation of clinical rotations for students, Hallmark has dedicated her time to developing innovative simulation events to continue to meet student’s education needs. Like many, Hallmark is adapting to a dynamic situation to continue preparing the next generation of professional nurses.

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