Eric McLaughlin, M.D. graduated from Belmont with his Bachelor’s of Science in Biology in 2002 and is now a medical missionary in Burundi. McLaughlin and his wife Rachel serve together at Kibuye Hope Hospital. In addition to caring for patients, the couple trains national doctors to become professors at Hope Africa University, a Christian university in Burundi.
McLaughlin knows how walking closely with those who suffer and bearing others’ burdens can easily lead to burnout or cynicism—unless one finds the path to perseverance that the Lord provides.
McLaughlin’s new book explores how to find both calling and hope, living in the tension between a difficult present and God’s promises of renewal, how to cope with despair and futility, the importance of the suffering God for those who suffer, and how the manifestations of God bring life into a dying world.
Associate Professor of English Dr. Gary L. McDowell received the twenty-fifth annual White Pine Press Poetry Award for his new poetry manuscript, “Aflame.”
White Pine Press was founded in 1973, and the organization has published a number of the world’s leading poets. Selected by final judge Sean Thomas Dougherty, McDowell’s book will be published in the fall of 2020, and he will receive a cash prize of $1,000.
Doughtery shared, “Gary McDowell writes ‘light can travel so fast / but observation happens immediately’ which is probably insight into his great gift as a poet: McDowell’s ability to see into the world of things and work with them or against them. ‘Aflame’ takes this level of observation and puts it to work in both sinuous and staccato’d lines about the body and breath of his wife; his children; suburbia; a state park; aging; our political rights; and the city of Nashville where he lives.”
Sony/ATV Music Publishing executives Josh Van Valkenburg and Katie Kerkhover visited Belmont’s campus in the Johnson Theater last week to announce the 6th annual All Access program.
The program allows any student in Curb College to submit two songs to the Sony/ATV Creative Team to review. Before the end of the semester, the creative team will select a small group of students from the submissions to meet with.
Since the program was launched in 2014, Sony/ATV Music Publishing has signed two Belmont students to worldwide music publishing deals, including alumnus Jake Wesley Rogers who came back to Belmont as a guest performer in April’s Best of the Best showcase.
The Kennedy Center for Business Ethics and the Executive Learning Network hosted Phil Gwoke, an international speaker with Bridgeworks HQ, on September 6 for his presentation, “When Generations Connect: Converting Diversity From an Obstacle Into An Opportunity Across Generational Divides.”
Guests included the Belmont Diversity Council, Alliance Bernstein, Rogers Group and Capstar, among others. Gwoke also presented a shortened, but similar version of his talk for Belmont students later that morning.
Gwoke demonstrates not only why it’s important to understand
what shaped the various generations, but why they behave the way they do. Four
distinct generations are working together shoulder to shoulder, each with a
unique set of attitudes, values and work styles.
The outmoded model was that older employees were bosses and
younger ones took orders; now, professional roles are changing and the rules
are being rewritten. Organizations are feeling the growing pains of multiple
generations as they struggle to manage productivity and morale while
maintaining high standards of quality and service in a challenging economy.
Gwoke is a firm believer that with the proper motivation,
training and support system, members of any generation can become capable of
remarkable accomplishments. His goal in speaking is to bring awareness to what
formed and influenced each generation, explore the resulting traits, values and
motivations, give actionable tips and concrete takeaways for companies to successfully
work with employees from every generation, and to engage the audience using
humor, nostalgia and generational anecdotes.
Gwoke said there are a hierarchy of things that influence
humans: personality, family, culture and when they grew up. When humans grow up plays a large role
in the way they see the world, how they relate to certain institutions, what
they value or even the paradigms they use (“roll” the window down is not as
literal as it used to be). The ideas, thoughts or beliefs that humans adapt in
their formative teenage years typically stick with them for life.
There are: 75 million Traditionalists (those born before
1946), 80 million Baby Boomers (those born between 1946-1964), 60 million Gen X
(those born between 1965-1979), 75 million Millennials (those born between 1980-1995)
and 65 million of the newest, yet-to-be-named generation (those born between
1996-2010).
So, when differences between these generations are presented
in the workplace, how can humans turn the obstacles into opportunities for
growth?
Gwoke presented a cycle that occurs approximately every 80
years: tough times create strong people which create good times which create
comfortable people which create tough times.
“We as leaders have obligations to break the cycle,” he
said. “The historical pattern would suggest tough times coming in 2023. So,
what can we do with this information to improve the future?”
Gwoke broke down how each of the generations think, what
they value and what the resulting ethic of that value becomes. Millennials tend
to value speed, convenience, safety and entertainment. Older generations may be
tempted to see these conflicting value systems as obstacles, but Gwoke said it’s
just a matter of redefining the millennial generation and learning how to
capitalize on their values.
Statistics prove that Millennials are using their value systems to their advantage: they earned $200 billion annually in 2017; they are the largest group of homebuyers; more than 40% are parents; they outpaced earnings in 2018 of Baby Boomers; and there are 5 million millennial millionaires.
While using speed and convenience to advance their careers
and home lives, Millennials are hardwired to always look for an upgrade. In the
work place, this means that young people want to see clearly how their
leadership skills are being developed and a plan for how they will be promoted
in the company. With that information, they will work hard.
The number one thing Millennials are shown to care about in the workplace are company culture and values. There has been a shift in thinking across generations from maintaining a separate work and home life to a complete home and work life integration. Millennials are always connected online, and “work” is no longer a destination, nor is it confined to traditional business hours. Therefore, they want to ensure that they are enjoying their work and doing something meaningful, that they are friends with their coworkers and that they are happy overall. With that in mind, business leaders need to think about fostering a culture that adheres to that mindset.
The Gen Z group values safety more than any other aforementioned generation, as they grew up post-recession. This group looks for ways to avoid risk at all costs. They are more interested in working as a small group cohort than individually, and they highly value being given specific instructions and guidelines.
The takeaway from the talk is that leaders should not necessarily lead the way that they wanted to be led. They should take time to learn about the generational divides in their company, what makes their employees tick and what kinds of things their employees value. With this mentality, retention and employee satisfaction will increase, and leaders can break the cycles that have stunted growth in the past.
To learn more about the work Bridgeworks is doing to help impact recruiting, retention and engagement issues for a multigenerational workforce and to receive the Generations 101 report, text “Generations” to 337-77.
Dominique DeFilippis, a senior music business major from Chicago, Illinois, had the opportunity to intern with the Ryan Seacrest Foundation studio at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt in the spring of 2019.
The organization is a nonprofit dedicated to inspiring young people through entertainment and education focused initiatives. During her internship, DeFilippis created her own makeup radio show. She hosted interviews with many diverse professionals on air with the goal of brightening children’s days.
DeFilippis is graduating this December with hopes of pursuing a career in radio. This internship opportunity has made a significant impact on her not only in a professional way, but personally, as well.
DeFilippis shared, “Knowing that I was able to make a child’s day just a little bit brighter while they go through the toughest time truly warms my heart. I was able to meet such inspiring, strong-willed individuals that showed me how to view life from a different perspective.”
Students filled the Massey Performing Arts Center for chapel on Wednesday, eager to hear Grammy and CMA-nominee Dave Barnes share about his Christian faith and songwriting.
Guitar in hand, Barnes performed a beautiful piece before imparting his wisdom on the members of the Belmont community who gathered to join him. Barnes then shared that his faith has everything to do with his songwriting. “Madeleine L’Engle has a book called ‘Walking on Water’ that has really been instrumental in the beginning of my career,” he said.
Todd Lake, vice president for spiritual development, said, “We are so thankful that every year Dave is willing to come and share with us.”
When asked by Lake what led him to make the decision to stay out of the contemporary Christian music realm, Barnes shared that writing Christian music was simply not what he was programmed to do. Barnes explained, “It’s been a really beautiful grace to me that I didn’t have to write Christian songs. If I just wrote songs that were true to my world views, then they would be Christian innately.”
His hit single, “God Gave Me You,” impacted the hearts of millions during the course of its many lives. Barnes wrote it at the beginning of his career during a time that he was feeling discouraged. He longed to feel affirmed in what he was doing and began to pray for encouragement. In that season, one of the thoughts that Barnes felt he continuously received from the Lord was, “You can’t pray for encouragement and then qualify the encouragement I give you.”
Dave Barnes with Dr. Todd Lake in Chapel at Belmont, September 11, 2019
Soon enough, a contemporary Christian music radio promoter reached out and felt that “God Gave Me You” would be a great Christian single. Barnes felt that the Lord was giving him the encouragement that he had fervently prayed for.
The song had a beautiful life as a Christian single that Barnes is still incredibly thankful for. Later on, Blake Shelton heard the song and wanted it to be played at his wedding to Miranda Lambert. His love for the song ultimately led to him wanting to record it, and “God Gave Me You” went on to be a huge hit for Shelton.
In closing, Lake asked Barnes to share the best advice he had for students. Barnes replied, “As you pray for these things, whatever they are, pray simply and be open to whatever God’s answer may look like. Be brave and be vulnerable. It will create these moments and relationships that are really life-giving. The whole point of Christianity to me is that we are never alone. God wants us to be together.”
To celebrate Belmont University’s diversity and inclusion initiatives campus-wide, the Belmont community is invited to the fifth annual Diversity Week celebration. Events for Diversity Week are scheduled to take place September 23 – 27.
This year’s events provide opportunities for members of the Belmont community to be a part of important discussions regarding diversity and inclusion, hear from nationally recognized authors and speakers, and view the uplifting film, “The Farewell,” among other events.
Diversity
in Christ: Dr. Christina Edmondsonon Monday, September 23, 2019 at 10 a.m. in
the Janet Ayers Academic Center Chapel: Christina Edmondson is
Dean for Intercultural Student Development at Calvin College who works with
universities to expand intentional intercultural connections.
Breaking
Old Rhythms: Amena Brown on Wednesday, September 25, 2019 at 10 a.m. in the Janet Ayer Academic
Center Chapel: Amena Brown is a faith-inspired force in the world of spoken
word poetry who has released five albums, two books and been featured at the
National Poetry Slam and the Creativity World Forum.
Real
Talk (Faculty & Staff) on Thursday, September 26, 2019 at 11:30 a.m. in the Massy Board Room: This event will provide an opportunity for faculty and staff
participants to engage in a ‘real talk’ regarding diversity and inclusion
efforts on Belmont’s campus, and offers the chance to discuss important issues
honestly and authentically.
Movie
Night with Q&A “The Farewell” on Thursday, September 26, 2019 at 7 p.m. in the Johnson Center Theatre: Members of the Belmont community will view “The Farewell” with a
Q&A session following the film.
Finding Beauty in All:L’Arche Mobile on Friday, September 27, 2019 at 10 a.m. in the Janet Ayers Academic Center Chapel. L’Arche Mobile is one of the many L’Arche Communities Worldwide. L’Arche is an international federation of communities in which people with an intellectual disability and those who help them can live, work, and share their lives together.
The Welcome Home Diversity Council is devoted to diversity and inclusion efforts across campus and focus on enhancing an embedding a culture of inclusive excellence. Belmont State of Mind houses all of these initiatives including the University’s annual Diversity Week.
Out of hundreds vying for the title, the Missouri Native won in a stiff competition that was built around the theme of “Transforming Artistry.”
While a freshman at Belmont, Puckett earned the principal position of the Wind Ensemble and a eventually the same for Belmont’s Symphony Orchestra.
Puckett moved to Chandler, Arizona in 2016 to get her masters in music degree from Arizona State University. She was recently profiled for her win in the compeition and her success as a music teacher in the SanTan Sun News.
Currently, Puckett teaches private lessons in flute, piccolo and piano and offers audition preparation at Music Maker Workshops in Chandler. She plays with the Symphony of the Southwest Orchestra and also is a substitute player in the Phoenix Symphony.
Quantitative reasoning. American history. Lyrical analysis. Early 1900s
culture. Those are just a few of the topics that middle and high school
students can be challenged to learn from Belmont University faculty in
conjunction with the release of the new Ken Burns’s “Country Music”
documentary, which premieres Sunday evening on PBS.
As with all Burns’s films, PBS Learning Media works with partners to
create lessons that teachers and other educators can use to share unique
perspectives on history with students. In this case, “Country Music” is the
lens, and nine different Belmont faculty, representing a variety of subjects,
are participating in providing lessons. A small selection of materials will be available
starting Monday, following Sunday night’s premiere of the documentary on PBS, with
more materials being published in the fall.
Burns said, “The history of country music provides an engaging,
thoughtful and often soulful way to help students understand unique parts of
the American story.”
Belmont President Dr. Bob Fisher added, “Belmont’s lengthy history
as a magnet for young people interested in studying music, songwriting,
performance, motion pictures and the entertainment industry made our
sponsorship of ‘Country Music’ a perfect pairing. We are excited to now demonstrate
the talents of our faculty to high school and middle school students across the
country. These men and women are experts in their fields and can lend great
insights to country music’s role within, and impact on, American history.”
The materials, including video and lesson plans drawn from the
research that went into the 16-hour film, will explore American history
through country music, illustrating the extent to which this distinctly
American art form reflects the times in which it evolved. Materials will cover
the musical style, the genre’s history, and the workings of the music industry.
Students and teachers will be able to access the collection for free
on PBS Learning Media which reaches one million users each month
throughout the school year.
Belmont
faculty participating in the project include:
Associate Professor of English Dr. Sarah Blomeley, who teaches a Belmont class on the “Rhetoric of Country Music,” designed lesson plans for language arts classrooms, focusing mostly on lyrical analysis and writing activities: “Country lyrics are incredibly rich, and they run the stylistic gamut from plain to ornate. As a teacher who focuses heavily on close reading and textual analysis—on getting students to pay attention to a writer’s arguments, word choice, syntax, figurative language—I love that students can listen to a three-minute song in class and then engage with any number of literary and rhetorical concepts. Despite the lyrical richness, however, these songs are also very accessible; a students doesn’t need a lot of advance reading or preparation to analyze a song like ‘I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry’ or ‘Coal Miner’s Daughter.’ That accessibility is a strength, because students can practice some really essential skills without feeling like they’re slogging through some esoteric text.“
Professor of Music Business Dr. Don Cusic is one of the premier historians of country music and served as a consultant to Florentine Films on “Country Music.” Through his role, he was able to provide script notes and film time codes to the other faculty to assist them in drafting their subject matter lesson plans: “The story of country music is, essentially, the story of a fight for respect. It is the story of day-to-day Americans who want dignity in their lives—who connect with a music that tells their stories.”
Associate Professor of Mathematics Education Dr. Ryan Fox, who began his career as high school math teacher, took on the challenge of incorporating math into the documentary lessons he created: “I feel math has to answer, maybe even more than any other academic subject, the question ‘When I am ever going to use this in the real world?” In the documentary, numbers are used throughout each episode. I wanted to use those numbers as a teachable moment for a math lesson! However, the context of early 20th century country music performers/entertainers may not necessarily be accessible to middle and high school students. The lesson I worked on the most so far deals with money in different eras. Throughout the documentary, viewers encounter these amounts of money for the time they are mentioned. If students compare dollar amount to dollar amount, the comparison may seem a little strange. By talking about fractions and proportions, I can have middle school students compare an amount of money from a bygone era to a corresponding amount in today’s dollars. After that mathematical work, then we can see that entertainers today make much better money than singers from the Depression Era, even when considering inflation.”
Director of the School of Music Dr. Jeremy Lane tackled the topic of Music as Vocation, how individuals pursue a career as a music artist, including the path they chose, the hardships they encountered and how they overcame: “The stories behind the artists can really help students make better sense of the music and help them engage with the material more deeply. When the connection is made, for example, between Sarah Carter’s domestic life and the song ‘Single Girl, Married Girl,’ it can really help these historical figures come to life in new ways.”
Professor of Education Dr. Lauren Lunsford contributed lessons tied to culture in 1890-1920 era and women in country music: “There are some time periods in history that students are less familiar with and have less connection to – like the early 1900s. Therefore, developing lessons and finding ways that help students get an idea of what life and culture was like during such a time period like is really important. It helps them understand the context for the important events that happened then and connects them to this period in a stronger way. The other lesson, women in country music, is especially important in the context of women’s role in leadership. This lesson focused mainly on the early leaders of country music (Sara Carter and Maybelle Carter, again more obscure to the average student) and the important role that they played in the development of country music and how they impacted the country music industry and our country in many ways. These two women embody important elements of female leadership and are a critical part of the evolution of female leaders.”
Lecturer in Music Dr. Nancy Riley focused her lesson plans on the musical style of country music throughout its history, including instrumentation, ensembles, performance practice, etc.: “I created a lesson plan that examines multiple versions/covers of ‘Muleskinner Blues’ beginning with Jimmie Rodgers original version and covers by Bill Monroe, the Maddox Brothers and Rose, and Dolly Parton. I also worked on a lesson that explores African and African-American contributions and influences, dating all the way to the genre’s origins with the use of the African banjo – along with a more modern discussion of the hit ‘Old Town Road’ by Lil Nas X.As a musicologist, I believe it’s always worth considering the music itself and how it changes over time as a way of understanding culture. These lesson plans will help younger students listen to music in a critical and analytical way that will help them understand country music as a genre, but also (hopefully) contribute to a greater understanding of their own music and listening practices, too.”
Assistant Professor of Music Business Amy Smith, an attorney, is currently working on three lesson plans titled Radio Changed Everything, Music City USA and Grand Ole Opry: “With the storytelling of Ken Burns’, we are reminded that country music is our music – melted together just like our country. The birth of country music was magical, and it would not have been so without the radio…the radio changed everything for our country and for country music, and with it, grew Music City and the Grand Ole Opry. I believe these three topics, which I chose to build into the curriculum, are important to America’s history and to the history of country music. Current high school and middle school students often have a different perspective about country music as they may not recognize the connection to our country’s foundation – the melting pot! It is my hope that these three pieces highlight some of the important parts of this great documentary.”
Other faculty involved with the project included Professor of Education Dr. Mark Hogan and Assistant Professor of Music Business Eric Holt.
Dr. Colin Cannonier, associate professor of economics and GLO fellow, will be the featured speaker at the Prime Minister’s Independence Lecture Series in his native island of St. Kitts. The series will take place in the Sir Cecil Jacobs Auditorium at the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank on September 12.
The lecture series is an annual highlight for the Independence celebrations and features prominent speakers from various spheres of influence from the Caribbean and abroad. The theme for this year’s Independence celebration is “Unify, Transform, Enrich: Uplifting Communities for Independence 36.”
Shawn Richards, the deputy prime minister of St. Kitts and Nevis and the chairperson of the 2019 Independence Committee, said, “We are looking forward to hearing from Cannonier, and we invite as many persons as possible to come to the lecture.”
