Each year, CASE recognizes best practices in advancement and outstanding people who contribute to the growth and understanding of the advancement profession. Belmont is categorized in District III, celebrating the best in advancement across the Southeast.
The CASE District III awards honor distinguished service, annual reports, websites and new professionals, among other things. This year, the district had 58 award categories, in addition to eight CASE Platinum Categories.
Belmont University recieved two awards this year. In a category competing with eight other states in the region, Belmont brought home the Gold Award for the 2018 Different by Design Annual Report, which was also named the best among all entries. In the Magazine II category, Belmont’s Circle Magazine was awarded a Bronze Award, following Wake Forest University and Vanderbilt University.
The College of Theology and Christian Ministry is pleased to announce the 7th Annual Faith and Culture Symposium on February 3-7, 2020. The goal of the Symposium is to create a space for conversation around key issues at the intersection of faith and culture. The theme of this year’s Symposium foregrounds a concern that affects the campus community at large—Mental Health and Faith: Human Wholeness, Mind, Body and Soul. All of the events address this topic from a variety of academic, social, theological, cultural and artistic perspectives.
Chapel on Monday, February 3 features guest speaker Dr. Monica A. Coleman, professor of Africana Studies at the University of Delaware, a respected womanist process theologian and an ordained minister in the African Methodist Episcopal Church. Dr. Coleman writes and speaks about her own experiences with mental health and the challenge it poses for teaching and ministry. She is the author of six books, including Bipolar Faith: A Black Woman’s Journey with Depression and Faith (Fortress Press, 2016). The book is a powerful exploration of the legacies of violence, poverty, war, slavery and alcoholism that collectively contribute to the mental health crisis and uniquely affect minority communities of color. She leads workshops for clergy all over the world, enabling them to be better equipped to address challenges in their congregations.
Dr. Monica A. Coleman, professor of Africana Studies at the University of Delaware, a respected womanist process theologian and an ordained minister in the African Methodist Episcopal Church, speaks in Chapel at Belmont on February 3.
An interfaith panel of Christian, Muslim and Jewish faith leaders on Tuesday, February 4 from 4:30-5:30 p.m. in Massey Boardroom will address how various communities of faith creatively deal with the problem. “The mental health crisis we are facing these days requires an all-hands-on-deck approach, and our faith communities are an important source of help,” urges Dr. Beth Ritter-Conn, lecturer in Religion and member of the faculty committee organizing this year’s Symposium. She notes, “Our guests on the panel will share about the wisdom they find in their Christian, Muslim and Jewish traditions, as well as practical strategies they use when dealing with mental health challenges within their communities.” The panel welcomes Rabbi Laurie Rice, co-rabbi at Congregation Micah; Sabina Mohyuddin, executive director of the American Muslim Advisory Council; and Rev. Amy Mears, co-pastor of Glendale Baptist Church. This WELL Core event is free and open to all Belmont students, staff, faculty and the wider community. It will be followed by a dinner in Massey Boardroom at 6 p.m. for invited clergy.
Chapel on Wednesday, February 4 features a panel geared toward Belmont students to raise better awareness of the many resources available on campus. Dr. Mary Mayorga, associate professor of mental health counseling and committee member who will moderate the panel, is acutely aware of the challenges on college campuses. She said, “We are simply doing our part in creating awareness of the importance of helping educate Belmont’s faculty and students on the crucial intersection of spirituality and mental health. We are fortunate to play a small part in making this happen.” The panel features Heather Daugherty (University Ministries), Dave Jaeger (Counseling Services), and Jamie Zeller (Be Well BU).
The Faith and Culture Symposium with feature the Rabbit Room Writers Round with special musical guests, Drew Miller, Taylor Leonhardt, Eric Peters and Becca Jordan
Thursday, February 6 provides a different lens to the topic of mental health through the arts. The afternoon event will feature the Rabbit Room Writers Round with special musical guests, Drew Miller, Taylor Leonhardt, Eric Peters and Becca Jordan. The Rabbit Room is collective of local Nashville-based musicians, theologians, pastors and artists whose mission is to foster “Christ-centered community and spiritual formation through music, story and art.” The event is sponsored by the CTCM Student Advisory Board and will take place in the Janet Ayers Academic Center conference room from 4:30 – 6 p.m. with a cookie reception to follow. This WELL Core event is free and open to all Belmont students, staff, faculty and the wider community.
The Faith and Culture Symposium concludes with chapel on Friday, February 7 with guest speaker Natasha Walker on the role of music therapy and mental health, titled “Be Anxious for Nothing: Integrating Music, Mindfulness and Faith.” Professor Walker, MM, MT-BC, Instructor of Music Therapy, joined the Belmont University faculty as adjunct professor and clinical practicum supervisor in January 2016. She is the owner and founder of ReSOUNDing Peace, a faith-based, wellness music therapy private practice in Nashville. The event will take place in The Herbert C. Gabhart Chapel in the Janet Ayers Academic Center.
This year’s Symposium is supported by the Mental Health Counseling program at Belmont University. It is unique among contemporary counseling programs in that it embodies Christian and pastoral theological understandings of the care of human beings in addressing the depth and complexity of human suffering. The program offers three tracks to professional state licensure: clinical mental health counseling, marriage, couples and family counseling and pastoral counseling. The program seeks to guide the forming of professionals who will act with integrity in the world as agents of the ministries of healing and transformation serving individuals, couples, families or larger groups. The program seeks to accomplish this goal through the integration of the wisdom, insight and values of the Church’s care of souls tradition with the knowledge, skills and resources of contemporary scientific counseling. The CACREP accreditation site team visited Belmont in October of 2019 and reported the program met all standards. The program anticipates notification of accreditation status at any time. For more information, please visit the website here.
Other members of the faculty committee include Assistant Professor of Mental Health Counseling Dr. Layla Bonner and Assistant Professor of Religion Dr. Gideon Park.
The full schedule is below:
Mental Health and Faith: Human Wholeness, Mind, Body, and Soul
Faith and Culture Symposium, College of Theology and Christian Ministry
February 3-7, 2020
Monday, February 3
10 a.m. Chapel featuring Dr. Monica Coleman in The Herbert C. Gabhart Chapel in the Janet Ayers Academic Center.
11:30 a.m. Lunch with Dr. Monica Coleman in the private dining room of Harrington Place. Open to local clergy. 40 seats available for Belmont faculty.
Guest speaker: Monica A. Coleman is professor of Africana Studies at the University of Delaware. She is a respected womanist process theologian and an ordained minister in the African Methodist Episcopal Church. She writes and speaks about her own experiences with mental health challenges in teaching and ministry. Additionally, she leads workshops for clergy all over the world, helping them be better equipped to address the mental health challenges of their congregations. For more information please visit her website.
Tuesday, February 4
4:30 – 5:30 p.m. Interfaith Panel on Mental Health featuring Sabina Mohyuddin, Rabbi Laurie Rice and Amy Mears in Massey Boardroom. Well Core event open to all Belmont students, staff, faculty and community.
6 p.m. Dinner for Interfaith Clergy in Massey Boardroom. Open to clergy, spouses and invited guests.
Guest speakers: Rabbi Laurie Rice (co-rabbi at Congregation Micah), Sabina Mohyuddin (executive director of the American Muslim Advisory Council), and Rev. Amy Mears (co-pastor of Glendale Baptist Church)
Wednesday, February 5
10 a.m. Panel on Mental Health Resources on Campus featuring Heather Daugherty (University Ministries), Dave Jaeger (Counseling Services), Jamie Zeller (Be Well BU) with Dr. Mary Mayorga moderating. The Herbert C. Gabhart Chapel in the Janet Ayers Academic Center. Open to all Belmont students, staff, faculty and community.
Thursday, February 6
4:30 – 6 p.m. Rabbit Room Writers Round featuring Drew Miller, Taylor Leonhardt, Eric Peters, and Becca Jordan. Janet Ayers Academic Center conference room. Reception to follow. WELL Core event open to all Belmont students, staff, faculty and community. Sponsored by the CTCM Student Advisory Board.
The Rabbit Room was conceived as an experiment in creative community. After author/singer/songwriter Andrew Peterson’s first visit to the Oxford home of C.S. Lewis, he returned to Nashville with a conviction that community nourishes good and lasting work. The Rabbit Room, the name of the back room of the pub where the Oxford Inklings (including Lewis, Tolkien and Charles Williams) shared their stories, began as a simple blog of contributing authors, songwriters, artists and pastors. The Rabbit Room fosters Christ-centered community and spiritual formation through music, story and art. For more information, visit: http://rabbitroom.com/
Friday, February 7
10 a.m. Chapel featuring Natasha Walker in The Herbert C. Gabhart Chapel in Janet Ayers Academic Center. Open to all Belmont students, staff, faculty and community.
Guest speaker: Natasha Walker, MM, MT-BC, Instructor for Music Therapy, joined the Belmont University faculty as Adjunct Professor and Clinical Practicum Supervisor in January 2016. She is the owner and founder of ReSOUNDing Peace, a faith-based, wellness music therapy private practice in Nashville, TN.
Belmont University was well represented at last night’s 62nd Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles with several alumni winning awards for their work, as well as songwriting instructor Drew Ramsey (BMG/BMI).
Jordan Reynolds, a 2011 commercial music alumnus, won a Grammy for a song he co-wrote with Josh Kerr, Joel Smallbone, Luke Smallbone and Tedd Tjornhom titled “God Only Knows,” recorded by King and Country and Dolly Parton.
Alumnae Natalie Hemby and Hillary Lindsey both won the Grammy for Best Song Written for Visual Media for their work writing with Lady Gaga and Aaron Raitiere on “I’ll Never Love Again (Film Version)” for the movie “A Star is Born,” performed by Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper.
Gloria Gaynor’s album “Testimony” won the award for Best Roots Gospel Album and includes the songs “He Won’t Let Go” and “Joy Comes In The Morning,” co-written by Gaynor, Ramsey and Shannon Sanders.
Belmont junior Emily Hunt spent the fall semester studying abroad at Oxford University in Oxford, England. During her time at Oxford, Hunt took courses in English and philosophy, as well as doing research in philosophy.
“All of us in philosophy were really happy when Emily was accepted into the Oxford program,” said Ronnie Littlejohn, professor of philosophy. “She chose to focus her research seminar on poetry as meditation through the lens of Daoism and Buddhism, exploring the question ‘How is poetry as meditation existentially therapeutic?’ Hunt enjoyed the freedom and challenge of formulating her own research question and investigating how poetry functions as meditation utilizing both Oxford’s Bodleian Library System and Buddhist centers.”
Oxford University is set up using a tutorial-based system, meaning students meet one-on-one with their professor once a week to discuss the reading and writing the student has done independently throughout the week.
Hunt recalled, “The work load at Oxford was very different from what I am used to at Belmont, as it was predominantly independent and high intensity. I was writing papers similar in length to my midterm and final papers, but on a weekly basis. However, Belmont had prepared me for both the workload and personal engagement with my professors so I not only felt comfortable in the new setting, but also a part of the academic conversation because I finally realized that I do have a unique voice to contribute to the dialogue.”
In addition to her studies, Hunt was an active member of the Oxford University Surfing and Mountaineering Clubs. Through her involvement with these student-led societies, she was able to engage more deeply with the Oxford community.
Hunt said, “Due to Oxford’s independent study style, it is easy to become wrapped up in one’s studies and isolated without realizing it. I enjoyed attending weekly training sessions with the Mountaineering Club as well as taking a weekend to go surfing in Cornwall. These experiences provided a unique community for me, as well as a greater understanding and appreciation of English landscapes.”
Belmont University and Watkins College of Art announced today their intent to merge, with Watkins College of Art beginning a transition to Belmont’s campus following the completion of this academic year. The governing boards for both Belmont and Watkins unanimously approved the plan. Pending approval of SACS COC, the accrediting body for both institutions, the transition for Watkins’ programs and students to their new home at Belmont University will occur with the Fall 2020 semester.
Belmont President Dr. Bob Fisher said, “For well over a century, Watkins has fostered the talents and honed the crafts of thousands of phenomenal artists. Partnering this legacy with Belmont’s thriving creative community in the arts, music, film and design represents a natural fit and brings incredible synergy to benefit all students. This merger will enable us to accelerate and elevate art education in the Southeast and beyond.”
The agreement formally joins two institutions that already share a strong academic partnership as Watkins and Belmont students have previously been able to take select courses at both institutions. Moreover, the addition of the Watkins College of Art follows on the heels of Belmont’s 2018 merger with the then Franklin-based O’More College of Design, which strengthened Belmont’s fine arts portfolio while adding new programs in fashion and interior design. The addition of Watkins further fortifies Belmont as the center for art and design in the region.
“This is a historic day for Watkins as we join Belmont University,” said J. Kline, president of Watkins College of Art. “This agreement secures the legacy and mission of Watkins for generations to come. Our two universities share many of the same ideals, including a strong commitment to our students to prepare and inspire them to become meaningful change agents in our culture and across the globe. Belmont’s reputation as a growing world class institution is extraordinary, and we are delighted to be able to add Watkins’s renowned arts programs to significantly broaden academic and career opportunities for our shared student bodies.”
With the agreement, Belmont will house all of Watkins’s current undergraduate academic programs. Students currently majoring in fine arts, graphic design, illustration, photography and art will join Belmont’s fine arts programs in the newly created Watkins College of Art, while Watkins interior design students will join peers in the O’More College of Architecture and Design. Watkins’s film major will merge with Belmont’s renowned motion pictures program in the Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business.
The property where Watkins College of Art currently sits will be sold with proceeds being used to create an endowment to support scholarships for Watkins students.
The creative climates fostered at both schools, along with shared missions focused on transformative and service-minded education, create a formidable union. In addition to the financial stability, resources and expanded reach Belmont offers, the partnership provides Watkins students with an array of opportunities not currently available, such as study abroad possibilities, dedicated career development staff and increased options for general education courses.
Belmont’s Department of Foreign Languages is always looking for ways to offer students professional development and demonstrate the importance of the skills they are developing for the work world. On January 24, Dr. Viktorija Bilić, assistant professor of translation and interpreting studies at the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee, held a subtitling and translation workshop on campus.
Bilić covered the differences in dubbing and subtitling, as well as the various types of subtitling work, such as intralingual for the hearing-impaired, live subtitling for news broadcasts and interlingual for foreign films. The group also discussed challenges in subtitling work, such as character and line restrictions, time constraints, colloquialisms, how to convey accents and more.
Associate Professor of German Dr. Regine Schwarzmeier said opportunities like this open students’ eyes to the possibilities they have in studying foreign languages. “It’s about making it relevant. Especially since we have a film major now, this workshop shows the importance of subtitling and shows students a way they could use their skills in the film industry,” she said. “I think they are surprised by how much goes into it.”
The workshop allowed participants to practice their skills with the subtitling software Aegisub. Students had to keep in mind the golden rules of lines, fonts, positions, etc and that the goal is not to be the most creative, but the most effective as they translated scenes in German, Spanish, French and Italian into English.
Belmont University presented its 24th annual MLK Commemorative Program to celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. through inviting the Belmont and Nashville communities to a series of events during the week. This year’s celebration theme was “A Call for Unity: Preserving the Dream.”
Dr. Mary Clark, assistant dean of students and director of Bridges to Belmont, said, “The MLK Commemorative Week is a time when the campus community comes together to reflect and be inspired by the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. This year the committee sought to provide activities that would not engage the entire campus but also unite the community. The theme hopefully indicated this and reminded everyone that we all are a part MLK’s dream and legacy.”
The week’s programming kicked off with a celebration breakfast with keynote speaker Dr. Kevin Rome, president of Fisk University, on Friday, January 17. Pastor John Faison of Watson Grove Baptist Church later delivered a chapel service called, “What should Dr. King’s dream look like today?” in the Janet Ayers Academic Center Chapel.
Local children admire the work of thier peers in the new essay exhibit featured at Belmont as part of MLK week.
MLK Jr. Day of Service took place Saturday, January 18, with more than 700 volunteers from Belmont, Lipscomb, Meharry, Fisk, Nashville State, Tennessee State University, Trevecca and Vanderbilt, as well as other area colleges and universities, joining to honor Dr. King in a day of service. This year marks the 10th annual day of service, which included projects at local sites such as Project Transformation, The Nashville Food Project and Sexual Assault Center. Volunteers spent the day addressing community needs including food security and community beautification.
One of Belmont’s new initiatives added to the program this year provided a child’s perspective of MLK. Local school-age children provided artwork and essays that were shown in an exhibit on Monday, January 20, demonstrating their perceptions of Dr. King. Later that evening, the annual Candlelight Vigil, sponsored by the Black Student Association, took place to provide a thoughtful space for reflection on the significance of this day of observance.
Later in the week, community members had the opportunity to connect with each other in conversations about unity throughout designated locations across Belmont’s campus. On Wednesday, January 22, a chapel service was held called, “Who is MLK?” led by the Black Student Association Choir. That night, the Black Student Association held a worship service to continue honoring and celebrating Dr. King.
Thursday, January 23, provided a panel discussion with faculty and staff surrounding the continued call for unity as well as a showing in the Johnson Center Theater of “Amazing Grace” with a discussion following.
A worship service for MLK sponsored by BSA at Belmont University.
The week’s concluding event was a final chapel called, “Legal Aid and Civil Rights” in which members of the community heard from DarKenya Waller, executive director of the Legal Aid Society of Middle TN, and Reverend Andrae Crismon, Volunteer Lawyers Program director. Both speakers are attorneys motivated by their faith to serve those in the greatest need and work to help people with employment, domestic violence, healthcare, housing and financial issues.
Media Studies Professor Dr. Sybril Brown was recently named a co-chair with Cherri Gregg, Esq. for the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) 2020 Convention & Career Fair. The convention will be held jointly with the National Association of Hispanic Journalists (NAHJ) in Washington, D.C.
“It is always an honor to serve NABJ in any capacity,” said Dr. Brown. “To be appointed as a 2020 NABJ Convention co-chair and to work with NAHJ at such a historical time is beyond amazing. This is a great opportunity to put journalism on the front page as we continue to fight for press freedom. We also need to prepare members the ever-changing media landscape, and I look forward to working with all participants. As I think about 2020, it is the year of vision, victory and values. Thank you, President Tucker, for giving me the chance to lead in this capacity.”
Dr. Brown has been a member of NABJ since 1989 and served as the program chair for the 2011 National Convention. She also served NABJ’s Region III as a program chair beginning in 2017 and additionally as a member of the planning committee since 2009. For her many contributions, Dr. Brown was awarded both Region III’s “Achiever Award” and NABJ Educator of the Year in 2015. She is a founding member of NABJ’s Digital Journalism Task Force, a longtime digital media presenter and panelist at national and regional levels, and has served as coordinator of the NABJ Nashville Digital Media Institute.
NABJ Dorothy Tucker shared, “These two women have made profound impacts not only at all levels of NABJ but throughout their respective careers. I am thrilled to have them as our chairs. Their commitment and passion for our organization along with their diverse experiences across the media industry and beyond will help to make the 2020 convention one for the record books.”
Professor Lucian Dervan filed a Supreme Court brief as amicus curiae in support of the petitioner in the case of Taylor v. Pima County, Arizona et al. The United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit ruled in the case, and it is now on appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Dervan’s brief was in support of the Petitioner and encouraged the Court to accept the case for review. Belmont Law Professor Dr. Charlie Trost served as counsel.
“Writing the Brief was a great experience, and I hope the Supreme Court takes action in this important area of law that has gone unchecked for so long,” wrote Dervan on his blog. “Thank you to Belmont University College of Law for supporting me in my research regarding false pleas and in the filing of this Brief.”
English Professor Dr. Eric Hobson’s article “Pan American Airway’s Mission to China Part 1” was recently published by the Pan Am Historical Foundation (PAHF), for which he is contributing editor.
The first installment of a four-part feature, this article focuses on the role Harold M. Bixby played in establishing Pan Am’s transpacific Clipper service between 1933 and 1938. To read the article, click here.
In addition to her studies, Hunt was an active member of the Oxford University Surfing and Mountaineering Clubs. Through her involvement with these student-led societies, she was able to engage more deeply with the Oxford community.
The property where Watkins College of Art currently sits will be sold with proceeds being used to create an endowment to support scholarships for Watkins students.
The workshop allowed participants to practice their skills with the subtitling software Aegisub. Students had to keep in mind the golden rules of lines, fonts, positions, etc and that the goal is not to be the most creative, but the most effective as they translated scenes in German, Spanish, French and Italian into English.
One of Belmont’s new initiatives added to the program this year provided a child’s perspective of MLK. Local school-age children provided artwork and essays that were shown in an exhibit on Monday, January 20, demonstrating their perceptions of Dr. King. Later that evening, the annual Candlelight Vigil, sponsored by the Black Student Association, took place to provide a thoughtful space for reflection on the significance of this day of observance.
