Cheryl Carr, associate dean of the Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business, recently presented “Innovating Leadership & Entrepreneurship in The Entertainment Industry” for the Association for Popular Music Education. She also presented “Women in Entertainment: Outsider Influence, Career Strategies, and the Power of Narrative” for the Association of Arts Administration Educators.
Garrett Hosts Science Workshops for Middle, High School Teachers
Thanks for being very informative, approachable & giving practical cheap ways to do science!
I really enjoyed the day! Thanks for putting it together and thanks for making me feel comfortable to ask questions.
Another WONDERFUL experience w/ Dr. Garrett and Belmont! Love visiting here with all the outreach and substantial professional development. THANK YOU!
I enjoyed seeing a higher level of questioning. I can see how ideas begin to merge.
These are just a few of the comments from attendees at the fifth annual installment of the It’s Easy Being Green: Budget-Friendly Safety-Conscious Chemistry Labs for the Secondary Science Classroom of Today workshop series, hosted by the Department of Chemistry and Physics.
Throughout the month of June, event organizer Dr. Danielle Garrett, assistant professor of chemistry education, hosted three day-long workshops for middle and high school science teachers. In the workshop this year “Go Green with G3: Garden Indicators, Gases and Galvanic Cells, participants engaged in lab work focusing on anthocyanin acid-base indicators from the garden, the ideal gas law and stoichiometry, and reduction potentials and galvanic cells.
This year, 42 attendees from 13 counties participated in the workshop series at Belmont, with a few teachers coming from as far as Knoxville to attend. More than 40 percent of the participants reported having attended at least one previous workshop since the program’s launch in 2015.
“I love the fact that each year I get a mix of both returning teachers and new attendees. It makes the experience so much richer, as these events not only provide teachers with hands-on professional development in chemistry, but they also serve as a way for teachers to make new professional connections – building a network of support and camaraderie,” Garrett said.
At the end of each workshop, participants are given a short questionnaire to complete. “The questionnaire helps me collect information about which labs the teachers found most useful and what topics they would like to see for future It’s Easy Being Green workshops,” Garrett said. “It’s great to see how many of the returning teachers are incorporating the labs and ideas they get at my workshop into their classrooms. Their continued positive feedback and enthusiasm for the content fuel my commitment to try to make each new workshop better than the last.”
Former Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano Visits Belmont
Janet Napolitano, president of the University of California and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) secretary from 2009-2013, visited Belmont’s campus on June 24 while in Nashville to talk about her new book, “How Safe Are We: Homeland Security Since 9/11.”
Napolitano was invited to speak with the “Global Tennessee” podcast by Belmont campus partner Tennessee World Affairs Council. According to Council President Patrick Ryan, Napolitano spoke about the work of DHS in the aftermath of the attacks of 9/11 and specifically about the challenges she faced during the first term of the President Obama Administration.
“She described the scope of the Homeland Security secretary’s responsibilities – running the third largest U.S. government organization behind the Pentagon and the VA,” said Ryan.
Napolitano talked about aviation security measures that were needed, natural disasters that struck, pandemic outbreaks like H1N1, terrorist attacks like the Times Square and Boston Marathon bombers and the challenge of cyber threats to U.S. infrastructure.
“Secretary Napolitano went into detail about immigration, refugees and the situation at the southern border – something she’s very familiar with as former two-term Governor of Arizona,” said Ryan.
The Global Tennessee Podcast concluded with Napolitano providing insights and perspective on the foreign cyber threat to U.S. elections, existential threats posed by nuclear weapons and climate change and “Black Swans” – the low probability, high impact phenomena that DHS must be ready to address.
The podcast is available on the Tennessee World Affairs Council website.
The Tennessee World Affairs Council, a nonpartisan educational nonprofit, and Belmont University have partnered on global affairs awareness programs since 2009, including numerous speaking programs with ambassadors, business leaders and other specialists. The Council, with offices in Fidelity Hall, offers town halls and other programs on campus and free membership to Belmont students and faculty. It welcomes Belmont students to become involved through internships and volunteer support.
Dr. Jhennifer Amundson Named Inaugural Dean of O’More College of Architecture, Art & Design
Belmont University announced today the appointment of Dr. Jhennifer Amundson, associate provost of faculty at Judson University (Elgin, Illinois), to the position of dean for the new O’More College of Architecture, Art and Design and chair of the Department of Architecture, effective August 1.
Earlier this year Belmont revealed plans to launch the first Bachelor of Architecture program in Middle Tennessee and only the second in the state. The five-year degree, which will begin classes in Fall 2020, intends to provide graduates with the fastest direct path to pursue licensure in their field while also filling a significant gap for architectural education in Nashville and the surrounding area.
With the addition of the O’More School of Design to campus last fall and the launch of the B.Arch. program, the University is restructuring its existing college organization to provide increased focus on art and design programs. The College of Visual and Performing Arts will separate into two distinct colleges: the College of Music and Performing Arts and the O’More College of Architecture, Art and Design. Amundson will be the founding dean of the O’More College of Architecture, Art and Design, which includes majors in art history, studio art, fashion design, fashion merchandising, interior design, experiential design and design communications in addition to the new B.Arch. program.
Belmont Provost Dr. Thomas Burns said, “Architecture education fills a much-needed gap in the economically thriving Middle Tennessee market, and the addition of O’More’s design programs to Belmont’s creative community makes this University the perfect spot for what we intend to be a national leader in architecture and design education. Dr. Amundson’s strong credentials and impressive background ensure she is the right person to help us accomplish that goal. Moreover, her integrative and mission-focused approach represents a perfect fit for Belmont as a student-centered campus.”
With more than 25 years of architectural education in her portfolio, Amundson previously served as dean of Judson’s School of Art, Design & Architecture before taking her current position as associate provost of faculty. During her tenure as dean, she organized symposiums for female design students to address workplace challenges and helped launch Judson’s interior design program. She has contributed greatly to architecture scholarship through more than 20 books, articles and presentations and has been honored as a Dibner Library Resident Scholar by the Smithsonian Institution. She also received three United States Capitol Historical Society Fellowships as well as a Judson University Excellence in Teaching Award.
Amundson said, “It’s a profound honor to be named the founding dean of the O’More College of Architecture, Art and Design. I am thrilled to join the Belmont community at a time of such exciting developments for art and design education. In particular, I look forward to collaborating with faculty and administration to build on the developments from last year’s merger of the O’More programs with the University’s established curricula in art and design to further nurture a community of creativity and innovation that, joined to Belmont’s faith-based, liberal-arts ethos, will be a unique and powerful setting for a new program in architecture.”
Dr. Amundson earned a bachelor’s of science in architecture studies and a master’s of architecture from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign followed by a Ph.D. in art and architectural history from the University of Delaware. The unique combination of her credentials—a Ph.D. paired with an M.Arch. plus licensure—make her an ideal candidate for a University that values both the liberal arts and professional education paths.
Searcy and Allen Attend Leadership Workshop at Harvard
Director of Community Relations Joyce Searcy and Belmont Trustee and Studio Bank Chief Relationship Officer Harry Allen are among 10 government, business and nonprofit leaders from Middle Tennessee chosen by Global Action Platform to attend a Harvard Business School leadership program June 24-28.
Ten leaders from 14 cities across the U.S. are selected by senior community leaders in those cities to go to Harvard each June for an intensive case study workshop on urban and rural regional collaborations and strategies for economic resilience. The program was launched to develop leaders who understand cross-sector collaborations for shared prosperity and can implement them more effectively and spread them more rapidly than in the past.
Global Action Platform is the local partner and coordinator of the Young American Leaders Program for Nashville and the regional affiliate of the Institute for Strategy and Competitiveness at Harvard Business School.
The Young American Leaders Program grows out of a deep concern and a great hope shared by Global Action Platform and the Harvard Business School’s ongoing project on U.S. competitiveness. The concern is that the local, shared resources which drive American prosperity are not keeping pace with global standards. U.S. workforce skills, schools and infrastructure, for instance, are not improving fast enough or, in too many cases, are deteriorating.
As a result, an unsustainable divergence has gripped the U.S. economy: working- and middle-class Americans are struggling, even as firms and individuals who can tap global opportunities are thriving. Prosperity is being generated but not shared.
Along with Searcy and Allen, other Nashville leaders selected to participate in the leadership program at Harvard are:
Nathan Green, Vice Chancellor for Government and Community Relations, Vanderbilt University
Beth Seigenthaler Courtney, Managing Partner, Southeast, Finn Partners
Malika Anderson, Chief of Organizational Development, Instruction Partners
Joe Flynn, AVP, Community Engagement, HCA; President, HCA Hope Foundation
Andrew Goldner, Founding Partner, GrowthX
Tony Niknejad, Policy Director, Office of the Governor, State of Tennessee
Lisa Purcell, Vice President of Development, Education, and Community Outreach, Country Music Hall of Fame ®and Museum
Martha Silva, Senior Director of Economic Integration, Conexion Americas
Other participating cities include Boston, Columbus, Detroit, Miami, Minneapolis-Saint Paul, Salt Lake City and Seattle, among others.
Cates Elected Board Chair for Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame
Sarah Cates, director of Development and industry Relations for Belmont’s Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business and a 2003 Belmont alumna, was recently elected board chair for the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame Foundation (NaSHOF). She is the first female to serve with that title, joining Hall of Fame songwriter Wayland Holyfield (vice-chair), Rich Hallworth (secretary) and Mike Vaden (treasurer) as officers for 2019. Cates has served on the Foundation’s board since 2015.
“Serving an organization that celebrates world-renowned creators in one of Music City’s most iconic professions is a deep honor to me,” says Cates. “The Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame exists to honor this city’s history of songwriting excellence. I will do my best to serve this mission, as we honor the legacy of our members and celebrate Nashville as home to the finest songwriters from all genres of music.”
Belmont Hosts First Televised 2019 Nashville Mayoral Debate
Belmont University hosted the first live, televised 2019 mayoral debate last night with Nashville’s leading mayoral candidates participating.
Co-sponsored by The Tennessean and NewsChannel 5, the debate provided voters an up close perspective on the positions of current Mayor David Briley, State Representative John Ray Clemmons, Metro Councilman John Cooper and retired Vanderbilt professor Carol Swain. Moderators David Plazas (opinion and engagement editor of The Tennessean) and Rhori Johnston (NewsChannel 5 anchor) questioned the candidates on a variety of issues impacting Nashville, including infrastructure, transit, education, affordable housing and even scooters.
“Belmont always seeks to be an engaged member of this community, bringing people together to talk about issues, whether it’s a mayoral, gubernatorial or even a presidential debate,” Belmont President Dr. Bob Fisher said. “This city’s course directly impacts our alumni and campus community, and we want to do our part to help educate voters in a race that determines Nashville’s future while also modeling active citizenship for our students.”
Belmont and the two news organizations have a long track record of hosting successful debates, forums and public policy discussions. Early voting in the mayoral race begins July 12 with election day on Aug. 1.
The debate was broadcast live from Belmont’s McAfee Concert Hall on NewsChannel 5 and streamed on NewsChannel5.com and Tennessean.com. All tickets for the free event, which was open to the public to attend, were reserved prior to last night’s debate. Belmont political science students Matthew Nicholson, Mark Wardlaw and Jace Wilder, along with University staff, served as volunteer hosts for the candidates.
Belmont will be hosting a second mayoral debated in McAfee Concert Hall with news partner WKRN on Tuesday, July 9. A limited number of tickets remain available for this debate and can be reserved for free here.
Incoming Freshman Guest Conducts Nashville Symphony Orchestra
Grace Usleman, incoming music student from Austin, Texas, had a slightly different experience surrounding her freshman orientation than most. After coming to Nashville for Towering Traditions and class registration, Usleman had the opportunity to guest conduct the Nashville Symphony Orchestra.
Brent Havens, composer and conductor of “The Music of Queen,” went to high school and played music in Cincinnati, Ohio with Grace’s father, Kevin Usleman. Havens heard about Grace committing to Belmont’s School of Music and offered to have her shadow him for the “Music of Queen” concert at Ascend Amphitheater on June 22. The family scheduled her freshman orientation session for the corresponding week of the show.
Usleman had the opportunity to meet the leaders and performers of the Nashville Symphony, understand the logistics of executing an impressive event, explore the details of sound checks and more. She was also asked to be the guest conductor with the Symphony Orchestra on the song “Crazy Little Thing Called Love” and then joined Havens and the band to get the audience of over 5,000 people energized while singing along with “We Will Rock You.”
Sandra Usleman, Grace’s mother, said, “This experience was an incredible way to wrap up her Belmont University orientation experience and an impressive way to be welcomed to her new ‘home’ in Nashville. Grace was very involved with the music department at her high school, St. Michael’s Catholic Academy, as student president of the music department. This experience took that to a VERY different level!”
Former Bruins Get Their Shot in Professional Sports
What a week for Belmont Athletics! Dylan Windler, a May 2018 accounting alumnus, was selected No. 26 in Thursday night’s NBA draft by the Cleveland Cavaliers, marking the first NBA draft pick from Belmont since 1972. The Cavaliers held a press conference Friday to introduce Windler and the team’s other first round pick, Darius Garland.
As a senior, Windler averaged 21.3 points, 10.9 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game. He became just the fourth Ohio Valley Conference player since 1971 to post at least 1,600 career points and 1,000 career rebounds
A mere two days later, another former Bruins men’s basketball player signed a contract with an NBA team. This time it was senior Kevin McClain who agreed to terms with the Golden State Warriors. McClain, who emerged as one of the top two-way players in college basketball this past season, will join the six-time World Champions for NBA Summer League play, which opens July 1.
McClain hopes to follow in the footsteps of Belmont alumnus Ian Clark , who signed an NBA contract after performing well in the 2013 Summer League. Clark ultimately won an NBA Championship during his tenure with the Golden State Warriors and recently completed his second season with the New Orleans Pelicans.
But basketball isn’t the only sport being impacted by Belmont this summer. In May former Belmont baseball player Matt Beaty was promoted by the Los Angeles Dodgers to their major league roster, marking only the third player in Belmont history to play in baseball’s highest level. Beaty was part of a recent historic run for the Dodgers when he was the first of three rookies to hit walk-off home runs in back-to-back-to-back games this past weekend versus the Colorado Rockies.
Sisson Publishes Poetry Book
English Professor Dr. Annette Sisson’s poetry chapbook, “A Casting Off,” was published by Finishing Line Press in June 2019. It is available through the publisher, Amazon, Parnassus Books and Black Dog Books across from Lipscomb University.
Sisson was also accepted for a one-week writers residency at Rockvale Writers Colony in July.
