Jenna Clare, Belmont audio & video production alumna, recently published her first book “Water Runs Red,” a narrative poetry collection. “Water Runs Red” explores ruined friendships, self-exploration and the battle between good and evil.
Clare also manages her own freelance photography business and a YouTube channel where she talks about books, music and her life.
Her book can be purchased on Amazon here.
Belmont University recently hosted Metro Council’s Annual Minority Caucus Reception on campus March 14. The event featured many noted guests, including Nashville Mayor David Briley, Vice-Mayor Jim Shulman and Police Chief Steve Anderson.
The event kicked-off with a welcome from Belmont University President Dr. Bob Fisher and was emceed by council member Sharon Hurt, a graduate of Belmont’s masters program in nonprofit leadership. The keynote speaker for the event was Rodney Strong, chairman and CEO of Griffin and Strong, PC in Atlanta, GA. He currently serves as the principle for projects dealing with public policy consulting. Strong conducted a disparity study for the Metro Nashville government that looked at the status of Metro utilizing female- and minority-owned companies.
Belmont hosts the Metro Council Minority Caucus each year.
InsideHigherEd.com—an online trade publication for higher education—recently released its picks for both men’s and women’s NCAA Basketball Tournament Brackets based solely on academic standards, and the Belmont Bruins of Nashville, Tennessee topped both brackets. The men’s team beat Yale University, as well as Maryland, Temple and Baylor, on their way to securing the NCAA bracket academic championship as published by InsideHigherEd. This marks the third time Belmont has claimed the InsideHigherEd Academic Bracket Championship, previously winning in 2013 and 2015.
Meanwhile for the women, Belmont made it all the way to the Championship game, “defeating” some fellow academic powerhouses, including first round opponent South Carolina, as well as North Carolina, Bucknell, Kentucky and Texas. Belmont’s only loss was in the title game to Stanford University.
Belmont President Dr. Bob Fisher said, “On two consecutive days Belmont student-athletes have appeared at the top of a national bracket based on academic prowess. This is the ultimate victory for me in March Madness, recognizing our teams are giving their all on the court and in the classroom. I am so proud of all our student athletes have accomplished and grateful to see Belmont so well represented on a national stage.”
The Inside Higher Ed website annually completes an NCAA bracket based on each team’s academic performance, with teams in the bracket “competing” based on Academic Progress Rate (APR) scores, the N.C.A.A.’s multiyear measure of a team’s classroom performance. If teams tie on APR, Inside Higher Ed then moves to Graduation Success Rate, which measures the proportion of athletes on track to graduate within six years. Belmont’s men’s basketball currently boasts a perfect 1000-point APR as well as a 100 percent graduation success rate.
The Belmont basketball teams demonstrate amazingly consistent talent on the court as well. The Belmont men secured an at-large NCAA tournament bid and participated in their eighth NCAA Tournament of the past 14 years. The Belmont women recently won their fourth straight OVC tournament championship, leading to their fourth consecutive trip to the Big Dance.
The Inside Higher Ed academic bracket is just the beginning of a phenomenal story in college basketball. Here are a few stats to consider:
In the Classroom and the Community
Women’s Basketball Stats
Men’s Basketball Stats
Men’s Basketball Head Coach Rick Byrd
Mackenna Swann has overcome many obstacles in her life, but none of them have slowed her down or stopped her from pursuing her passions. Originally from California, Swann now studies at Belmont and focuses on learning and growing as an artist.
Growing up, Swann was an active kid and involved in several different sports like track and soccer, but her interests didn’t stop there. Swann says she always had an interest in singing but was too shy to pursue it. But it was because of her involvement in sports specifically that Swann began to realize something was wrong with her knees. “When I was 11, I started to experience pain and swelling in my knees after track meets and soccer games,” she said. “My parents took me to an orthopedist, and I was later diagnosed with a rare bone condition.”
After being diagnosed, Swann went through three different surgeries. These surgeries had long periods of recovery, leaving her non-weight bearing for three years. But Swann did not let that slow her down. She focused on keeping her physical strength up for when she could walk again.
“I wanted to walk more than anything,” she said, “but I knew that it would require a lot of strength, both physically and mentally. While in bed, I did sit-ups and leg raises to strengthen my muscles to the best of my ability. Part of what helped me look on the bright side during my recovery process was my faith in God that was strengthened through putting my trust in Him.”
A middle school student when all of this happened, Swann saw other patients in the hospitals that were also going through struggles, giving her inspiration and a special outlook on life at a young age. “I had a very strong appreciation for life,” Swann commented. “In the hospitals, I saw other patients who didn’t have legs or who had 13 surgeries instead of three. I am honored to meet people like them; they inspire me every day.”
Swann never thought she would be an artist when she got older, but soon she realized she had a passion for the visual and performing arts. At home in her wheelchair, Swann began to fall in love with music and art. Her teachers would come to her house and help her cultivate this new found passion. It was moments like these that led her to be an artist, and thus to Belmont.
It was also during her recovery period after her knee surgeries that Swann began to write songs. She says that she, “wrote many songs during that time that came from a very deep place and are the foundation of the songs I write as an artist today. The pain that I went through during that time has made me want to be an artist of substance, to give inspiration to those who go through pain of their own.”
Possessing a strong passion for singing, songwriting and art, during her senior year of high school Swann began to look for a school that would allow her to explore and grow in these areas. Ultimately, she decided Belmont was the place to pursue her passions even more.
“I chose Belmont University because of its encouraging community, popular music program, religious affiliation and opportunities to pursue visual arts,” Swann said. “This school is paradise for me, and I am having the time of my life growing as an artist and person.”
A freshman commercial music major planning to switch to songwriting, Swann had the honor of performing at the Children’s Hospital of Orange County (CHOC) fundraising gala earlier this year. This opportunity included sharing her story and getting to open for singer Kelly Clarkson. When Swann got the call about the chance to perform at the event, she could not believe it. “I was so in shock,” she said. “I had been in and out of CHOC my whole childhood, and it was humbling to be chosen to represent a community that is so close to home.”
At the gala, which took place on February 2, Swann shared her story of her rare bone disease and performed along side Voices of Hope Children’s Choir from “America’s Got Talent.” The event ended up raising almost $4 million dollars for the hospital.
“The experience of opening for Kelly Clarkson has opened my eyes to an infinite world of possibilities about how I can use my talent to inspire others,” Swann commented. “I am very excited to continue to pursue my passion at Belmont University, and I am looking forward to the adventures to come.”
Assistant Professor of Music Business Eric Holt, J.D., recently spoke to the Dell Visionary Leadership Academy.
The Visionary Leadership Academy is an intensive and expansive course which meets weekly to hear from Dell executives about their leadership stories. The goal of AVL is to empower people to be “everyday leaders.” The course helps participants develop skills to prepare them to lead in challenging times and in different ways.
Holt spoke to the Visionary Leadership Academy as a representative of Belmont University and Lovenoise, a live music and poetry event he co-founded which takes place at BB Kings in Nashville.
Holt spoke to students about the impact people can make on their city, businesses, neighbors and beyond. He shared the value of “pivoting” to use challenges as opportunities.
He emphasized the importance of making sure to have clear and honest goals, of being aware of options in order to be adaptable and of moving forward and not letting obstacles get in the way of success.
Students in the O’More School of Design’s Interior Design program may be used to frequent client meetings and conversations surrounding the most effective layouts of homes, but this semester they have found themselves doing different work, entirely. Thanks to a collaboration with the School of Occupational Therapy, students in both programs have joined efforts to work alongside the Trotters, a local family whose 9-year-old daughter Joy has a number of disabilities that limit her mobility and access throughout the home.
Sydni Claunch, a sophomore in Interior Design, said, “As an interior design student, we usually deal with a lot of hypothetical projects. The opportunity to work with Trotters’ house and OT made our project have a heart behind it. It allowed us to connect with an actual family and with an actual story, and it taught me the importance of interaction. Design constantly interacts with people, so I think it was pivotal for our group to be able to interact with a wonderfully bright little girl and design something to comfort and aid her through the help of OT.”
After a series of combined sessions where both groups had the chance to learn from each other’s disciplines and begin their collaboration, designers traveled to the Trotter house and began their work. They spoke with Donna, Joy’s mother, who serves as a physical therapist at Vanderbilt and learned more about Joy’s specific preferences – standing when watching TV, seeing her reflection on shiny surfaces and playing in her room, uninterrupted by the sounds of guests in the home’s living room.
From there, the design teams began dreaming for Joy and her family. Thinking through every detail from the best flooring to accommodate her love for spending playtime on the ground, to the need to eliminate unnecessary hallways but still keep acoustical treatment surrounding Joy’s bedroom, students began thinking through what elements to add and which ones to remove. From ensuring enough space for wheelchair clearance to evaluating the easiest way to unload groceries from the car, essential elements were key.
That’s the beauty of successful design work, at least according to Interior Design Lecturer and the faculty member over this project’s design students Jayme Jacobson. “Design, as a discipline, is inherently collaborative,” she said. “Professional designers work with clients, architects, engineers and other specialists throughout the design process. Good design is a result of considering all details and responding thoughtfully to challenges, constraints and needs specific to a particular project.”
And at their core, interior designers and occupational therapists share inherent goals, making this collaborative experience a perfect fit. “They both seek to meet the client’s needs as they are,” Jacobson said. “To improve the environment to accommodate the person; as opposed to a person needing to adapt to his or her mismatched environment.”
After reviewing the designs, there were a few key pieces that stuck out to Donna as the most significant. One team’s creation of a living room sensory station provided an opportunity for Joy to play in common areas and an accompanying renovation of Donna’s office gave her a door, while providing sight lines through an additional window. Another group re-did the bathroom layout, providing better accessibility and an intentional focus on Joybug’s needs, as Donna lovingly calls her.
“The entire process was wonderful to be part of,” Donna said. “I truly enjoyed sharing with the students about Joy’s abilities and areas where she needs help to be safe and more independent at home. I love sharing my sweet miracle girl with anyone who is interested, and I am always seeking opportunities to educate others about those with different abilities and how to include everyone, regardless of their ability.
Moving forward, this is not the final opportunity for OT students to partner with O’More designers, or other schools across campus. Associate Professor of Occupational Therapy Dr. Teresa Plummer said the opportunity to work with professionals outside your field is essential to student success. “Teaching interdisciplinary collaboration at a university level is paramount, foundational and essential to help students understand the importance of gathering input from all stakeholders. Asking the right questions comes from opportunities to hear multiple answers from a diverse group of people.”
And for interior design student Claunch, this assignment provided new ways for her to pursue her craft with an interdisciplinary approach. “There is a way to mingle aesthetics and creativity with function,” she said. “This experience, specifically getting to meet Joy, made an impression on how I view the impact of design. Collaboration is so important, and I am very excited it is happening in our earlier studios so we will be able to influence more of our projects with what we learn from other departments.”
Dr. Lakisha Simmons, associate professor of management information systems, has been nominated for an ATHENA Award through the organization Nashville Cable. Cable is a leadership organization focused on women’s professional advancement that gives out two ATHENA Awards every year.
Simmons is nominated in the Young Professional nominees category. This honor highlights women aged 25-40 who show excellence in their profession and contribute to improving the quality of life for people in the community, while also serving as role models for young women both professionally and personally.
An event honoring these women as leaders will be held March 28.
During all of the excitement of the Ohio Valley Conference tournament March 6-9, Belmont Bruins still found time to serve the community. The Bruin Blast Pep Band, busy playing at the men’s and women’s basketball games, had some down time before the championship game at the tournament. Seeing an opportunity to serve the community of Evansville, Indiana, Dr. Barry Kraus, associate professor in the School of Music, reached out to see if student band members were interested.
A group of Belmont students rose early to serve at the Evansville Rescue Mission Saturday before the game. The group was split up with some students serving cereal and pastries and other polishing kitchen appliances and mopping floors. The work the students did was appreciated, and guests were happy to talk with students and thank them for their service.
“This was a perfect opportunity to live the university mission: ’empower men and women of diverse backgrounds to engage and transform the world,'” Kraus said. “I am very proud of those that volunteered. I think they will remember this opportunity, and I hope that it sparks their interest in doing more.”
O’More alumna Van Hoang was recently featured by NFocus Magazine as a “behind the scenes” personality. The fashion designer, who graduated from O’More in 2009, recently received the 2018 Nashville Fashion Forward Fund and continues to be recognized for her work. In the article, Hoang talks about her beginnings in the fashion industry and about how she hopes to change the “fast-fashion” industry.
Hoang decided to pursue fashion design when she was in high school, leading her to O’More. At O’More she learned not only how to sew but also what she ultimately wants her impact on fashion to be. The article talks about how Hoang was inspired by creating her own clothes and gained a new appreciation of knowing where they come from. This is now one of her main focuses with her own fashion business. All of her items are made to order, involving the customer in the process.
Hoang will be showcasing a new collection at Nashville Fashion Week, April 2-6. She will also be featured in this years O’More Fashion Show on April 23.
Belmont University and Lipscomb University Colleges of Pharmacy have recently announced a collaborative partnership with Jovenes en Camino to build and support a locally-run pharmacy in El Zamorano, Honduras. A Nashville-based nonprofit, Jovenes en Camino is a boys home and clinic in Honduras that doesn’t currently have access to the essential services provided by a pharmacy. Students and faculty from Belmont and Lipscomb are teaming up to provide a creative solution to that challenge.
This collaborative partnership will allow students and faculty from both pharmacy programs to travel to Honduras throughout the year to provide services to local residents, beginning as soon as Summer 2019. Teams will be comprised in a variety of ways including interprofessional teams that will include students in pharmacy, nursing, nutrition, PA and other health-related disciplines, and inter-university teams, comprised of faculty and students from both institutions. Beyond pharmaceutical care, this interprofessional partnership will also include additional healthcare providers as nursing, medical and other health-related programs will accompany pharmacists for travel.
Sarah Catherine Teixeira, executive director of Jovenes en Camino, said the opportunity to work with both Belmont and Lipscomb provides an invaluable opportunity for health care access in Honduras. “Partnerships like this one allow areas of extreme poverty, like El Zamorano and beyond, to receive the much-needed care and medicine needed to live a healthy life,” she said. “We are grateful for this opportunity, and we’re looking forward to what we’re able to provide our residents with these essential services.”
As long-time supporters of Jovenes en Camino, both universities were eager to formalize their partnerships, understanding the importance of service-focused education for students.
“At Belmont, we are consistently looking for opportunities to allow our students to learn through service,” said Dr. David Gregory, dean of Belmont’s College of Pharmacy. “We believe that we are better when we are serving others, as the opportunity to move beyond the classroom and serve allows our students to experience life and their intended profession in an entirely new light. We are grateful for the way this collaborative partnership will further expand the meaningful opportunities our students are able to experience as they work towards launching their own careers.”
Dr. Roger Davis, founding dean of Lipscomb’s College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences, said through service students learn how to use skills gained in the classroom to help others.
“It’s all about the learning experience. The earlier we start sending students on service trips we reaffirm that what they are learning in the classroom has an actual benefit to others,” said Davis. “They learn they can immediately apply what they are learning to people who are in great need.
“This collaboration demonstrates that in learning and in serving people there is a common ground that we all fit in. This is a unique expression of that between the two universities and between the two colleges. We are particularly excited about how this new facility will expand the capability of the people in Honduras to serve their patients and to have a lasting impact in that region.”
The facility will also serve as a home-base for mission teams that will be in country multiple times a year that is readily equipped for patient consultation, exams and other services. Beyond the volunteer support that comes with this announcement, both universities have committed to providing financial support, as well. Construction is anticipated to begin in the next two weeks.
