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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Lumos: Newlyweds in Social Entrepreneurship

Cara Baker Davis
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“Lumos was an opportunity to design my own experience,” Alum Eric Taft (Social Entrepreneurship, ‘12) said. His wife, Hilary Hambrick-Taft (Business Administration, ‘13) called it a chance to “choose your own adventure.” The Lumos Travel Award offered these two young adults the opportunity to explore a different culture and engage with local communities in a meaningful way–together.  

The couple was newly engaged when they applied to travel on this funded gap year experience with a social entrepreneurship bent. They had been married just two months before departing for their year-long adventure. “The Lumos Travel Award was an opportunity for me to go abroad and live out a dream that I had had for a long time to work with a local organization, contribute as much as I could, and learn from people that knew what they were doing in international development,” Eric said. 

Eric had studied abroad in Guatemala twice during his time at Belmont. He “just absolutely fell in love with the country and the organizations that we met. And so I knew that after graduation I wanted to go back and contribute in some way.”  

The two worked through a family-run rural community development center in Chimaltenango, about 45 minutes outside of Guatemala City called Centro Monte Cristo. They worked with them to start a new business called Queen Bee and later started an English language school. “They came up with the name, they came up with the logo,” Eric said. “Then that grew into us making hundreds of units a month and selling those in 15 stores across the country. That moved them away from some of the industries that were common in Guatemala, like making textiles or carpentry, furniture, catering.” Now, a decade later, those businesses are still running profitably as well as contributing to the education and nutrition and health care of people in that village. 

Eric currently serves as Program Manager for a USAID agriculture development project called Colombia Producers to Markets Alliance (PMA). Hilary works as a Technical Specialist for Youth Issues at USAID, a federal agency that provides millions of dollars of contracts and grants to local organizations. The couple counts their Lumos experience as formative not just in their careers but in their marriage as well. “Spending our first year of marriage abroad doing the Lumos experience really set a strong foundation for our relationship because we were able to see each other in situations that maybe you wouldn’t see if we had just stayed here in Nashville,” Hilary said.  

Belmont College of Law Levels Up Experiential Learning and Community Service with Expungement Clinics  

Jasmine Simmons
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Belmont College of Law Levels Up Experiential Learning and Community Service with Expungement Clinics  

Belmont College of Law will host its final expungement clinic of the year at Loaves and Fishes Soup Kitchen and Food Distribution Center in Clarksville on Saturday, Nov. 19. The Montgomery County clerk’s office will provide help to 50 pre-registered clients who have criminal records in Montgomery County. The Davidson County clerk’s office will also be present to help those who have not registered but have a criminal record in Davidson County. 

The College of Law has led seven expungement clinics this year and partnered with Doors of Hope, Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands, The Next Door, Rutherford County Reentry Initiative, Cold Patrol, TN Supreme Court Access to Justice Initiative and the Tennessee Bar Association Young Lawyers Division. 

“Participating in clinics reminds me of why I wanted to be an attorney in the first place: to help people during times of vulnerability,” law student and president for the Belmont Criminal Law Society Allyson Webb said. “In learning the law, we generally study cases and theory that we will use in practice. Although this provides the knowledge that we need to be successful, it eliminates the personal contact that personally motivates me to do this job. Clinics are beneficial because they allow one to see first-hand the impact you can have as a lawyer.” 

Law students get real time, hands-on experience at the pro bono clinics. They pull criminal records and review expungement eligibility prior to the clinics, fill out court documents and assist clients with signature and filing procedures so that the petitions are ready to go before a judge. 

Through expungement clinics the College of Law has provided another opportunity where experiential learning meets community service. The clinics have bolstered support around law student’s pro bono work and provided life-improving services to the community.  

College of Law alumna Alexandra Rogers ‘18 is the Public Interest Coordinator for the College of Law who works directly to put on a variety of public interest events, including the expungement clinics. 

“Getting expungements is so helpful,” Rogers said. “It touches lots of aspects of someone’s life. If their record is cleaned up, they can get better housing. They have access to more public benefits. They can get a better job. It touches a lot of areas that are important to poverty alleviation.” 

The same-day resolutions produced by hosting expungement clinics help make a difference for people in Nashville who seek these services. The College of Law also provides clinics for legal advice, debt relief and wills. 

Over $12,000 in legal services were donated from the clinic held at the Belmont Ministry Center on Oct. 21. Paperwork to expunge over 140 criminal charges was completed at the Rutherford County Adult Detention Center and Work Center on Nov. 4. Eight women in need were served at The Next Door and 28 expungement petitions were completed.  

The Law Student for Justice Award is a state-wide award from the Tennessee Supreme Court for students who complete 50 or more hours of pro bono service upon graduation. Belmont College of Law also presents the Pro Bono Pledge Award and graduation chord to students who complete this amount of pro bono work during law school. 

Forty-two of the 120 College of Law graduates in the May 2022 class completed the pro bono pledge, which is the highest number of students to receive pro bono work recognition from any graduating class. The entire class of 2022 logged over 7,000 hours of pro bono work during their time in law school. The number is expected to increase for 2023 graduates.  

Belmont Entrepreneurship Program Ranked No. 1 in Tennessee by The Princeton Review 

Jasmine Simmons
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Belmont’s Entrepreneurship program has ranked No 1. in Tennessee, No.5 in the South and 26th overall, in recently released rankings by The Princeton Review for Entrepreneur magazine. Consistently among the top schools for entrepreneurship, Belmont has ranked in this list’s top 30 over the last five years and yielded 105 alumni-started companies in the same amount of time. 

Each year, The Princeton Review and Entrepreneur curate a list “to point students in the right direction of the top-ranked undergraduate and graduate programs for entrepreneurs.” More than 250 colleges and universities in U.S., Canada, Mexico, and Europe are considered. 

Offering 33 entrepreneurship courses, Belmont supports entrepreneurial-minded students by providing mentorship, real-world experience and innovative programming to ensure the entrepreneurial success of students.  

Elizabeth Gortmaker, Director of the Thomas F. Cone Sr. Center for Entrepreneurship said, “Entrepreneurship is woven across campus to engage all students. Whether someone is starting with an idea or actively growing their business, we have the tools to guide them to success. We are equipping students with entrepreneurial skills, data literacy and a redemptive mindset to become a force for positive change.”  

With an expanded Entrepreneurs-in-Residence program, The Hatchery think tank, dedicated student organizations and on campus student-run businesses, the Cone Center for Entrepreneurship at Belmont continues to lead the way for entrepreneurship in Nashville and beyond.  

Physical Therapy Students, Faculty Hike in Support of Garrett’s “Hero” Run for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy

Staff Writer
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Physical Therapy Students, Faculty Hike in Support of Garrett’s “Hero” Run for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy

On Saturday, Oct. 29, Belmont Physical Therapy students and faculty gathered at Marcella Vivrette Smith Park in Brentwood to support Garrett Sapp and his family for Garrett’s “Hero” Run, an annual 5K event to raise money and awareness for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. Garrett—who the event is named for—is the son of Belmont DPT alumna Amber Sapp (‘05) and her husband Randy. Each year the Sapp family organizes this event to raise money for Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy (PPMD), the largest nonprofit organization that is solely devoted to ending Duchenne. 

Throughout the past several years, DPT students have shown their support by heading to Maury County Park in Columbia to participate in Garrett’s Hero Run; however, this year—like the past two years—the run took place as a virtually held event. While Garrett and his family could not be among the participants, Dr. Christi Williams, associate professor with the School of Physical Therapy and fellow 2005 DPT alumna, rallied supporters together for a “hero hike”, inclusive of superhero garments, to keep the support and love for Garrett and the Sapp family high. 

With more than 30 students, faculty, and friends (furry ones alike) that participated in Garrett’s “Hero” Run, the Belmont PT family raised over $1,000.

Interested in supporting Garrett and PPMD? Donations are still being accepted. Together, we can end Duchenne!

Belmont Physical Therapy Students Volunteer at Sara Walker Run

Staff Writer
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Belmont Physical Therapy Students Volunteer at Sara Walker Run

This fall, Belmont Physical Therapy students worked in conjunction with the Sara Walker Foundation to organize the annual Sara Walker Run. The event consists of a 5K, Kids Fun Run, and worship service honoring the work that God has done through the Sara Walker Foundation in memory of Belmont Physical Therapy alumna Sara Pigg Walker (’03).

Sara was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2011, and the first run was organized to assist in fundraising for her medical expenses. Since then, the run has been the primary fundraiser for the Sara Walker Foundation, which supports various missions to bring healthcare aid and the love of Jesus to those in need overseas.

Belmont Physical Therapy students volunteered to create balloon arches, plan obstacle courses, participate with the kids, check in participants and more. Sara’s former classmates met with current Belmont students after the run to highlight the impact the Belmont DPT program has had on their lives and to encourage them to live meaningfully.

Read more about Sara’s story, the Foundation and ways to support at sarawalkerfoundation.org.

Belmont Bruin Vets Work to Bridge Social Gap through Outreach

Jasmine Simmons
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Belmont Bruin Vets Work to Bridge Social Gap through Outreach

Bruin Vets is an organization designed to develop community for student veterans and military-affiliated Belmont students, with a mission of empowering veterans to use their unique military experience to benefit others through proactive student-to-student mentorship, leadership, service and off campus outreach opportunities. 

With an increasing population of military affiliated students and student veterans finding their way to Belmont each year, the Veteran Success Team and Bruin Vets Center provide resources and support including assistance for food insecure students, counseling services and veteran-specific programming. 

The Bruin Vets Center on the third floor of Fidelity, room 301, is a designated place on Belmont’s campus where student veterans and military-affiliated students find camaraderie and friendship amongst fellow veterans. Students get connected to the support they need for a successful transition from military to civilian and campus life in the Veteran Success Team Office in Fidelity 204. 

Senior music business major Jacob Hicks is the president of Bruin Vets. Ater ten years with the United States Air Force, he decided to pursue his passion for music. A music seminar advertised on Facebook led Hicks to Texas where he gained advice from the wife and then-manager of Texas country musician Casey Donahew. 

“I had no idea what there was to do in the music industry besides being in a band because it wasn’t something that I was exposed to,” Hicks said. “She told me, ‘Well, you could always go to Nashville and get an internship.” 

Hicks learned about Belmont’s music business degree and started the program in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic which made connecting as a non-traditional student veteran difficult. 

“Everything was shut down when I moved here,” Hicks said. “Most of the classes were online. My first two semesters I was on campus less than 2-3 hours a week. It was hard meeting people.” 

Hicks eventually acclimated to student life and found community by getting involved in Bruin Vets. He has since helped increase the Bruin Vets community after veteran attendance and involvement lessened during the pandemic.  

 “Once COVID was over, the veteran community that had been here before had all graduated,” Veteran Success Team member Jennifer Kiev said. “Jacob has been phenomenal at building the community and letting other veterans and dependents of military families know about the Bruin Vets Center.” 

Bruin Vets will host a fundraiser open to the public on Thursday, Nov. 10 at Grain & Berry in Hillsboro Village from 5:00 p.m.- 8:00 p.m. It will be a chance for non-military affiliated students at Belmont to connect with veteran members. Staff, faculty and students are encouraged to come spend time with the Bruin Vets and work to bridge a social gap.   

“We’re trying to get anybody and everybody to show up,” Hicks said. “Come learn about a world that you haven’t experienced. The things that we vets are used to aren’t the things that other students are used to. There isn’t much of a middle ground. If you want to find a middle ground, then come to the fundraiser.” 

Patrons will receive a ten percent discount when you say you’re with Bruin Vets and a fifteen percent discount will go to members of Bruin Vets. Online orders will receive a discount by using the code “Officially BruinVet.”  

Requiem for Colour Debuts with Electric Performance

Jasmine Simmons
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On Saturday, Nov. 4 School of Music Professor Dr. Jeffery Ames debuted his masterwork composition, Requiem for Colour, to an audience of more than 1,200 open hearts and minds at Belmont’s Fisher Center for the Performing Arts. 

Culminated from an idea conceived more than a decade ago, Ames’ labor of love pays musical homage to the sufferers and saviors, the casualties and champions of Black American peoples in a requiem or mass for the dead. 

Dr. Jeffery Ames (center) takes a final wave to the audience at the end of Requiem for Colour. See left to right: Jane Warren, Elena Bennett, Jeffery Ames, Rodrick Dixon, Lydia Ames Photo by Jasmine Simmons

Many Belmont students, faculty and staff were in attendance, some of whom invited family and community members to the free performance.  Assistant Professor in the Inman College of Health Sciences and Nursing Olivia Bahemuka invited friends and family from church as well as friends from a book club.  

“The performance spoke to me on various levels: as a lover of theater, I was thoroughly blown away by the talent, the voices, orchestra – my friends were truly surprised it was a ‘free’ event because of the caliber of performance,” Bahemuka said. “As a person of color – I so loved the story being told by the music; music allowing me to experience or imagine the emotions and feelings of the people who lived the story.” 

Ames led more than 450 students of Belmont’s Oratorio and orchestra and invited an impressive ensemble of guests to participate in the evening’s dynamic display of storytelling. Recitalist and opera performer NaGuanda Nobles left the audience stunned by the clarity and emotion carried on the soprano’s exquisite vocals.   

“We were a huge force of musicians who told the story in a unique manner,” Ames said. “I truly believed God and African ancestors were pleased.” 

Speaker Roshaunda Rosa-Orta and tenor Rodrick Dixon perform at the Fisher Center in Requiem for Colour. Photo by Jasmine Simmons

The bold, dynamic tones executed by tenor Rodrick Dixon conveyed great pain as well as great triumph. Audience members rejoiced and clapped along during the closing movement “Celebration Omega: Heaven- The Eternal Motherland” led by Dixon and Nobles. 

Seasoned performer and Director of Student Transitions and Community Engagement at Vanderbilt University Roshaunda Rosa-Orta transported attendees into the narrative through her poignant oration of excerpts from slave biographies, select poems, speeches and scriptures.  

“In a time when history is being erased and rewritten, it is essential to share accurate information about the past,” Rosa-Orta said. “One of the best ways to share that information is through art. Art unites human beings and allows us to understand our experiences in beautiful ways. It is an honor to serve as the griot of this piece, using spoken words to elevate the stunning music.” 

Requiem for Colour breathed new and refreshing life into the storied history of the Black American experience by incorporating Black idiomatic genres within the Western European style of composition.  “Libera me” featured a lyrical rap performed by Ames’ daughter, Lydia, who is a senior at Nolensville High School and plans to study Aerospace Engineering Fall 2023.  

The premiere musical event was an unforgettable experience for all who participated, from listening in theater seats to singing to performing under the theater lights. What was meant to be a one night only performance is starting to grow legs.  

“God has planted another seed,” Ames said. “Conversations are occurring for additional performances, nationally and internationally.” 

The ‘Job Shadow’ of a Lifetime

Julia Couch
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The ‘Job Shadow’ of a Lifetime

From AET to Architecture
Throughout high school, Olivia Hobbs found her passion in two seemingly unrelated fields: architecture and audio engineering. With her sights set on attending Belmont University, she chose to pursue audio engineering technology (AET), unsure if her interest in architecture could ever overlap. It wasn’t until a unique opportunity—and facility—beautifully illustrated collaboration between the two disciplines and allowed her to combine them in a career-launching way.

Her architectural interest was piqued during her freshman year Survey of AET course where she first learned about the important partnership between acoustics and studio design. And she was hooked. Soon after, Olivia was connected to David Minnigan, Principal with ESa and longtime Belmont architect who was working on the University’s new performing arts center. The two talked by phone throughout the year, and he offered guidance as Olivia explored the possibility of changing her major to architecture. Ever interested in audio engineering, she was especially intrigued by space and the sound within a room.

“Great acoustics are part of a room, they aren’t just an add on,” David said. “It’s integrated and collaborative.” The next time the two spoke, Olivia had changed her major and was headed toward architecture. “That was thrilling to hear,” David said.

Bringing the Building to Life
From there, David found opportunities for Olivia to get involved in his team’s efforts at Belmont. “We were just getting into construction for the Fisher Center, so we made Olivia part of the team,” said David. This immersive experience gave her a front row seat as the building came to life.

Because the project began over the summer, Olivia’s mom drove her more than 800 hundred miles round trip multiple times, committed to her ability to chase a great opportunity. She spent the summer joining site inspections, room tuning and following acoustician Russ Todd, architect Randy Nale and others on the design team. “Russ became like a teacher,” Olivia said. “It was a walking lecture through the hall, and I learned so much about acoustics.”

But experience went beyond traditional lessons as Olivia herself became part of the tools used to test and tune acoustics. She was even the first person to sing on the Fisher Center stage. “She had the opportunity to see how the building came up from the ground, almost like an anatomy lab, but for architecture,” said David.

Reflecting on the Experience
Both David and Olivia think back fondly on the experience they had to work together. Olivia was mentored through the job shadow of a lifetime, and David remains excited and energized to work alongside other students as they develop their passions. “This was a tremendous opportunity for her and for us,” recalled David. “We like to hire people like Olivia who have found their spot. College is a time to grow and explore, and it’s phenomenal what Belmont has been able to do–developing students who contribute to their companies immediately. By the end of the project, Olivia was skilled at different parts of acoustics, architecture language and process. It was special to see her grow that way.”

Belmont’s effort to provide unique opportunities for students and leverage connections in the community was an important factor in her college decision. “Because Belmont wanted to build the best performing arts center on a university campus, it created an opportunity for me as an architecture student to learn how the structure was built.”

What’s Next
As she continues her studies, Olivia feels energized and empowered to explore other areas of architecture. “Working on the Fisher Center was extremely beneficial to me and my future, and an experience I wouldn’t get elsewhere,” said Olivia. “Whatever I end up doing with architecture, I know I want to have fun with it. Russ, Randy and David have so much fun with their jobs. Even when it got hard, they still loved it. I want that kind of joy with my work.”

Interested in Belmont’s architecture program? Learn more at belmont.edu/omore.
Ready to make it official? Apply now!

Parnassus Books to Welcome Bonnie Smith Whitehouse for New Book, ‘Seasons of Wonder’

Cara Baker Davis
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Parnassus Books to Welcome Bonnie Smith Whitehouse for New Book, ‘Seasons of Wonder’

On Thursday, Nov. 17, Parnassus Books will be hosting a free event to celebrate Dr. Bonnie Smith Whitehouse’s newest book, Seasons of Wonder. The event will take place in-store at 6:30 p.m. and will feature a conversation between the author and the Reverend Canon Lissa Smith. Registration (by clicking here or calling 615-953-2243) is required due to limited space.

Smith Whitehouse is the director of Belmont Global Honors and a professor of English. She’s a renowned writer and professor specializing in storytelling, creativity, contemplation and wonder, with over 20 years of experience in her field. She has authored several award-winning books, including Afoot and Lighthearted: A Journal for Mindful Walking and Kickstart Creativity: 50 Prompted Cards to Spark Inspiration.

A Look at Seasons of Wonder 

The ordinary can become sacred through projects, prayers, reflections and rituals. In her latest book, Seasons of Wonder, Smith Whitehouse helps readers do just that. Through 52 weeks that follow the liturgical calendar, she provides readers with projects, prayers, reflections and rituals designed to help them see the sacred in the ordinary.

Smith Whitehouse includes reflections on and voices from many different faith cultures and traditions, but the book is also accessible for those who feel disillusioned by institutionalized religion or don’t identify with any particular religion.

Within each section are 52 devotions (one for each week). Each includes an opening quote or meditation; suggestions for a project, ritual or reflection (something to “try,” something to “wonder” and something to “make”). The projects range from making a candle to sourdough bread. The rituals include everything from picking up trash to stargazing. And the reflections range from gratitude practices to prayers.

“Finding the sacred in the ordinary is everything about this book,” Smith Whitehouse said. “It opens up with me walking outside and feeling the blades of grass underneath my feet, thinking about being part of the universe and part of God’s creation. I’m not separate from it. I’m part of it. I talk about yeast, bread and how this simple act of making sourdough starter that bubbles is an incredible way to think about God’s presence through bread–that we can use to feed and nurture ourselves and our families indefinitely. It’s also spiritual food.” 

Here are the themes covered in Seasons of Wonder:

  • January: Transcend Dualities
  • February: Discover Contemplation
  • March: Embrace Mystery
  • April: Welcome Incarnation
  • May: Adore Creation
  • June: Come Alive
  • July: Cultivate Resilience
  • August: Cherish the Holy Pause
  • September: Gather Courage
  • October: Light a Fire
  • November: Point to Love
  • December: Look for the Light

It also includes four special weeks in the lives of loved ones: celebrating a birthday, healing from an injury or sickness, taking a journey together and blessing a home.

“We live in a time of disruption,” Smith Whitehouse said. “It’s been a really hard season for a lot of us. It’s been a hard season for our students who lost families and friends. And, you know, I think a lot of people are experiencing religious disconnection, too. And so I want this book to be a balm, something that helps ease people into a relationship with each other and into a relationship with the divine.” 

Learn more about Interdisciplinary Studies & Global Education (ISGE), Belmont’s hub for interdisciplinary learning and global engagement, here.

Scan this QR code to download a Thanksgiving and Advent guide from Seasons of Wonder:

QR code for seasons of wonder

New Book Shares Stories of the Impact of Title IX on Women’s Athletics

Cara Baker Davis
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New Book Shares Stories of the Impact of Title IX on Women’s Athletics

Belmont faculty member Mary Ellen Pethel’s most recent book, Title IX, Pat Summitt, and Tennessee’s Trailblazers: 50 Years, 50 Stories (UT Press, October 2022), is a vibrant celebration of the lives and careers of 50 female athletes who have shaped the landscape of women’s athletics, both in the state of Tennessee and across the nation. From household names like Pat Summitt and Candace Parker to lesser-known but equally important pioneers such as Ann Furrow and Teresa Phillips, these women have made immense contributions to the world of athletics through their dedication, hard work, and passion. Pethel’s book not only provides readers with a deeper understanding of these impressive individuals, but also gives insights into the history of women’s athletics before and after the passage of Title IX.

One of the most significant aspects of Pethel’s book is its exploration of the impact that Title IX has had on both Tennessee and the nation as a whole. Passed in 1972, Title IX is a federal law that prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in any educational program or activity that receives federal funding. In other words, schools cannot receive federal money unless they are providing equal opportunities for both male and female students.

“Title IX was, more broadly, about education,” Pethel, assistant professor in Global Leadership Studies and Honors, said. “And so it’s working everywhere. It’s why you have higher rates of women who are in STEM or in the legal profession or medical profession or positions of power in government. Those are also results of Title IX. It’s just a little harder to point to. There’s a great stat in Forbes about a survey of Fortune 500 CEOs, 90% of them that were women had played sports. So it’s not just sports, but also what sports adds a life skill, some of those intangible life skills.” 

While this law has had a profound impact on gender equity in education, it has also been instrumental in leveling the playing field for female athletes. Thanks to Title IX, women now have greater opportunities to participate in sports at all levels—from high school and college to professional leagues.

The stories of those interviewed provide valuable insights into how far we’ve come since the passage of Title IX:

In 1968, Betty Wiseman started the first competitive collegiate women’s basketball program in the state of Tennessee (in the modern era). Four years before Title IX and two years before any statewide or nationwide organization existed. For context, the NCAA would not include women’s sports until 1981. Because of her vision and head start Belmont and Tennessee Tech were top teams in the nation in the early 1970s. Belmont remains a nationally ranked team today.

Teresa Lawrence Phillips was the first Black player on the first women’s basketball team at Vanderbilt in 1977. She coached and later became the Athletic Director at Tennessee State University. She blazed a trail for Candice Storey Lee, who was a standout basketball player at Vanderbilt in the 1990s. In 2020, Candice became Vanderbilt’s Vice Chancellor of Athletics making her the first Black female athletic director in the SEC. They both talk about the importance of having women at the table in administrative athletics and representation.

These stories illustrate just how much progress has been made for female athletes thanks to Title IX—progress that would not have been possible without the courage and determination of those who came before us. “I realize that I’m technically what you would call a daughter of Title IX,” Pethel said. “I was the first generation to be born and play sports, from t-ball up through college athletics, under the protections of Title IX. And it’s the 1990s when you see that first generation that’s grown up with those Title IX protections. You can see the results so clearly. In 1996 at the Olympics, women’s soccer, softball, track, gymnastics, basketball—they all won gold. Bob Costas (sports broadcaster) actually called the games the Title IX Olympics. The following year, 1997, the WNBA launched. Then, in 1999–that’s the year that (US footballer) Brandi Chastain rips her shirt off when the US Women’s Team won the World Cup. And so now we’re really in this fourth generation, and I want more people to see how this has all evolved and its history.  I was a beneficiary of Title IX, but we all are. It’s not just young women, it’s young men too.”

The book Title IX, Pat Summitt, and Tennessee’s Trailblazers celebrates the accomplishments of 50 inspiring women who have changed the landscape of athletics forever. Through their stories, we are given a deeper understanding not only of their individual journeys but also of the history behind women’s athletics in both Tennessee and the United States as a whole. As New York Times bestselling author Andrew Maraniss said of Pethel’s book, “This is a valuable collection, an important book and a timely tribute on this 50th anniversary of Title IX.”

Pethel’s other books include Athens of the New South, A Heartfelt Mission and All-Girls Education from Ward Seminary to Harpeth Hall. She is also the project director of NashvilleSites.org as part of the Metro Historical Commission Foundation.

Coming Up:

  • Tuesday, Nov. 8: Pethel moderates a panel with three people from the book at Fisk University.
  • Thursday, Nov. 10: Pethel appears on a panel at UT-Knoxville library event.
  • Tuesday, Nov. 15: Pethel will be recognized at a Tennessee Tech basketball game with a signing afterward.
  • Sunday, Dec. 4: There will be a book event at the Belmont women’s basketball game, featuring women from the book and the trailblazers will be honored at halftime. The game against Georgia Tech will be televised on ESPN, and books will be available for purchase (and autographs).
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