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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Belmont University Names Dr. Lori Baker to EVP for Aspirational Excellence Role 

Allison Fomby
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Belmont University Names Dr. Lori Baker to EVP for Aspirational Excellence Role 

Dr. Erich Baker, interim dean for Baylor School of Engineering & Computer Science, to also join Belmont as Vice Provost

Dr. Lori Baker

Today, Belmont University announced two new leadership appointments intended to further build upon the institution’s capabilities while advancing the interdisciplinary and cross-functional aims of its Strategic Trajectory to 2030. Dr. Lori Baker—former Vice Provost for Faculty Development & Diversity and Professor of Anthropology at Baylor University—has been named Belmont’s new Executive Vice President for Aspirational Excellence, a position which will take a lead role in connecting daily operational efforts of the University to the strategic visioning work of the Office of the President. She will begin her new position on January 1, 2023, while transitioning to Belmont for the remainder of the fall semester.

In addition, Dr. Erich Baker will join Belmont as Vice Provost for Research and Strategic Initiatives. Currently serving as the Interim Dean for Baylor’s School of Engineering and Computer Science and Professor of Bioinformatics, Erich brings extensive expertise in research, securing and managing grants, administrative experience and collaborative leadership to Belmont’s campus. He will join Belmont in the summer of 2023 after concluding his service at Baylor as Interim Dean.

Dr. Erich Baker

Belmont President Dr. Greg Jones said, “Belmont’s dynamic vision for the future, coupled with the extensive growth the University has experienced, have resulted in an increasingly diverse and complex organization, one capable of pursuing our God-sized dreams with fervor and also one that needs thoughtful and intentional management. I am delighted to welcome leaders of the caliber of Drs. Lori and Erich Baker to the Belmont community. Lori is a tremendous leader, proven collaborator, and excellent communicator who possesses a breadth of experience that will serve Belmont well in the coming years as we seek to achieve our institutional aspirations. In addition, Erich’s leadership gifts, experience, and skills will allow us to significantly deepen our efforts in data and research as well as cross-sector impact.” 

In addition to serving as EVP for Aspirational Excellence, Dr. Lori Baker will hold faculty appointments in biology and social entrepreneurship. She will work closely with the Provost and academic units on identifying and bridging initiatives among colleges, department and Strategic Pathway catalysts. At Baylor, Lori has also served as Chair of the President’s Advisory Council on Diversity, and she will continue that work with an immediate focus on partnering with other University leaders on the development of Belmont’s newly announced Office of Hope, Unity and Belonging (The HUB).

“Belmont is well known as a national leader in innovation, and the bold vision to be the ‘leading Christ-centered university’ is truly inspirational,” she noted. “I am honored to play a role in helping to achieve those aspirations and join the exceptional faculty in their efforts to equip future global leaders.”

Lori Baker is a professor of anthropology in Baylor’s College of Arts and Sciences with a specialization in molecular and forensic analysis of skeletal remains. She holds a B.A. and an M.A. from Baylor and a Ph.D. from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Dr. Baker is past chair of the Faculty Senate (2014-15) and also served as the Faculty Regent on the University’s Board of Regents. 

Dr. Lori Baker is a fellow of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences and is the founder and executive director of Reuniting Families, a program that aids in the recovery, identification and repatriation of deceased migrants who perish in the United States border region. She was a finalist for “Texan of the Year” in 2014 in recognition of her leadership in this humanitarian effort. Lori has also acted as an advisor to numerous government officials and agencies both for the U.S. and abroad as well as contributed work and education for several Latin American Truth Commissions. She has been an invited speaker in many national and international venues such as the Peace Palace in the The Hague, as part of the International Commission on Missing Persons Conference and Amnesty International. Published in national and international journals, her work has been featured by such media as National Geographic, Scientific American, Discover Magazine, the Washington Post, USA Today, the Wall Street Journal, NPR, BBC and MSNBC, among others.

As Vice Provost for Research and Strategic Initiatives, Dr. Erich Baker will serve within the academic units to provide interdisciplinary leadership to Belmont’s efforts related to data and research. He will also hold a faculty appointment in computer science and bring a broad and deep background in in systems biology, data management and bioinformatics. 

“I am excited about joining Belmont’s leadership team to help form a roadmap for integrating initiatives across academic units,” said Dr. Erich Baker. “Belmont’s Strategic Trajectory to 2030 represents a compelling vision for how universities of the future can create global good from combining transdisciplinary expertise with a clear mission of service.”

A graduate of Notre Dame, Erich received a Master’s of Science from Barry University and a Ph.D. from the University of Tennessee. His focus as a PI-, co-PI-, or co-investigator on several large, distributed informatics and data mining projects has been pivotal in establishing best practices in multi-domain data integration and distributed collaborations. He has more than 110 publications in peer-reviewed journals and conference proceedings, and his research has been supported by more than 17 grant awards.

Titan Up! Sport Admin Master’s Student Chesney McClellan Lands Dream Internship with Titans

Haley Charlton
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Titan Up! Sport Admin Master’s Student Chesney McClellan Lands Dream Internship with Titans

The year Chesney McClellan was born, the Titans came to Tennessee. Now in her second year of Belmont’s Master of Sport Administration program, McClellan is working her dream internship as a member of the Titan’s team herself.

The Tennessee native said she and her family have always been huge Titans fans. “I have watched this team for as long as I can remember. I’ve seen the Steve McNair era, the Marcus Mariota era, the Derrick Henry era,” she said. “I’ve grown up with the Titans, and it’s been so cool to see the team grow with the city and see them become so successful. I’m emotionally invested and wouldn’t want to work for any other team.”

Upon graduating from Auburn University in 2021, McClellan was looking for a master’s program that would allow her to capitalize on her love for sports while focusing on gaining experience through internships. She couldn’t have picked a better fit than Belmont, saying “I loved the structure of Belmont’s program, and if you want to work in professional sports, there’s truly no better city to live in or study in.”

“We are incredibly fortunate to live in one of the best sports cities in the nation,” said Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Sport Administration Dr. Ted Peetz. “Students like Chesney are the standard, not the exception, when it comes to students in our program getting amazing experiences.”

McClellan interned with the Titans last fall at the operations level, spent last spring as a team operations graduate assistant with Belmont’s Baseball team and then returned to work with the Titans again this summer as the Amy Adams Women in Sports Intern during training camp. She stayed on for the fall in a scouting and operations capacity, gaining experience scouting for the team, watching film, attending practices and charting statistics on players, scheduling game weekend itineraries and planning other logistics. 

McClellan at Training Camp
Photo Courtesy of Photographer Donald Page

Having been thrown so many scenarios in different areas of the team – from transporting players to the airport or writing a scouting report – McClellan is thankful to have been given a well-rounded experience throughout this opportunity, noting that if someone told her tomorrow she would be starting a full-time job in operations or scouting, she’d feel comfortable and prepared either way. 

When it came time for her internship to conclude, the Titans’ General Manager Jon Robinson took note of her excellent work and asked her to stay through the season.  

“Chesney’s fearless attitude has served her well. She does a great job networking and maximizing the opportunities this program offers,” said Peetz. “Most of our graduate students are doing 4-5 internships while they are in our program. Getting practical experience is so important when wanting to work in a competitive industry like sports.” 

The practical experience has been vital in helping McClellan get closer to her goal of working for a professional football team some day – maybe as an executive vice president or assistant to the general manager.  She said it has been inspiring to be part of such a stable organization where everyone is on the same page and working cohesively to make the team successful. 

“You may see the team once a week on Sundays, playing and winning games, but this is a 24-hour operation where everyone is so supportive of one another. The easiest part of the week is on Sundays when we just get to play,” she said. “It’s motivating to see how each person at every level helps each other out – from people at the bottom of the organization to the professional athletes – everyone works so hard every single day, which makes me want to work harder and always give my best.”

Peetz advises that any student who wants to work in the sport industry look for ways to get involved from the start, whether it is volunteering with Belmont Athletics, getting connected with the Sport Administration club or taking advantage of some of the many opportunities to work with professional, collegiate and community sport organizations in Nashville. He said, “Our program combines the curriculum and practical experience needed to be successful. Don’t just watch from the sidelines, get involved!”

White House Photographer Eric Draper Visits Belmont University 

Allison Fomby
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White House Photographer Eric Draper Visits Belmont University 

Eric Draper, former White House chief photographer for President George W. Bush, presented to Belmont Students on September 20 as a part of the Well Core event series. As Special Assistant to the President, he is the first White House photographer to be named a commissioned officer to a U.S. president. 

Chief White House photographer for President George W. Bush, Eric Draper, speaks to the Law School at Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee, September 19, 2022. Photo by Sam Simpkins

During his time on campus, the “Front Row Seat” author shared his unique perspective of the 43rd president’s day to day interactions and his every move and emotions on 9/11. Draper talked through details from the classroom in Sarasota, Florida to Air Force One, to the bull horn moment on top of the rubble at Ground Zero. He noted that though all were stunned by what they saw through the live pictures of the burning towers on television, the president never stopped. He immediately went into taking action.

Chief White House photographer for President George W. Bush, Eric Draper, speaks to the Law School at Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee, September 19, 2022. Photo by Sam Simpkins

“Every walk of life would come through the Oval Office, from boy scouts to old friends of the president from Texas to a new world leader,” explained Draper as he scrolled through countless historical shots — one being a photo of President Bush with the family of Martin Luther King Jr. “Bernice King asked the president if he would pray. He did, as you can see, and I was there to capture such a beautiful moment.” 

Throughout his eight years spent photographing the Bush family daily at the White House and in their personal lives, Draper took over a million photos with his favorite being a candid shot of the former president touring the family ranch in his pickup truck in 2001. “I took this shot ten days before the 9/11 tragedies took place. To me, it depicts the innocence of the president before the horrific events of that day took place,” said Draper during a Q&A session with the audience. 

Chief White House photographer for President George W. Bush, Eric Draper, speaks to the Law School at Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee, September 19, 2022. Photo by Sam Simpkins

Prior to joining the White House, Draper was the West Regional Enterprise Photographer for the Associated Press. He spent many years as a photojournalist covering assignments including presidential campaigns, natural disasters and civil unrest in third-world countries. He photographed the 1992 Los Angeles riots, the 1998 FIFA World Cup in France and the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia. 

In addition to the Well Core event, Draper presented at the College of Law for Law and Art Students. The event was presented by the College of Art, College of Law, Provost’s Office and Heather and Michael Russell. 

Gov. Bill and Crissy Haslam Named Inaugural Recipients of Rick Byrd Character Award

Cara Baker Davis
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Gov. Bill and Crissy Haslam Named Inaugural Recipients of Rick Byrd Character Award

Former Tennessee Governor and First Lady Bill and Crissy Haslam were today named as the inaugural recipients of Belmont University’s Rick Byrd Character Award. Named in honor of retired legendary Belmont men’s basketball coach Rick Byrd, the award will be presented annually to community members who demonstrate a steadfast commitment to principled performance in their field.

The Rick Byrd Character Award will be presented during a private celebration October 24 as part of The Hope Summit, a multi-day event focused on Belmont’s initiative surrounding data-informed social innovation. The gathering will bring together entrepreneurs, investors, researchers, artists, philanthropists, faith community and nonprofit leaders to discuss making hope real in people’s lives, work and communities.

“I am proud and delighted that Belmont will recognize Bill and Crissy Haslam as the first recipients of the Rick Byrd Character Award,” said President Greg Jones. “From my earliest days of getting to know the Haslams, they have personified strong and thoughtful leadership. They are people of deep faith who bring that faith to life as innovative problem-solvers, whether in business or politics or service to their community. As The Hope Summit seeks to inspire each of us on how to better love our neighbor, the Haslams embody the kind of dedication to improving the lives of others that we want to foster at Belmont University.” 

Gov. Haslam added, “Crissy and I are honored to be the first recipients of the Rick Byrd Character Award. I have been a fan of Rick’s since he played high school basketball in Knoxville. Our dads were friends too, so it has been fun for me to watch his incredible coaching career. Rick showed that you really can win and do things the right way in college athletics.”

The Haslams are known for their work in education reform, job creation and volunteerism. Under Gov. Haslam’s leadership, Tennessee became recognized as a national leader in education, economic development, efficient and effective government, and fiscal strength. Former First Lady Crissy Haslam meanwhile has championed parent engagement in education, reading proficiency and other children’s issues in the public service space. Combined, their contributions to foundations have accumulated about $100 million in assets through donations and investing, which will fund gifts for 50 years or more.

The Rick Byrd Character Award will annually recognize individuals in the community who exemplify the leadership and character of Coach Byrd, who was known for promoting a winning tradition and selfless culture. The creation of the award was announced last fall as part of the Rick Byrd Character Formation and Leadership Program, an initiative around Byrd’s leadership, coaching and character formation that will inform curriculum across the university and beyond. 

“I am humbled to have an award named in my honor, and even more so to see community leaders as accomplished as Gov. and Mrs. Haslam be named as the first recipients,” Byrd noted. “They represent the kind of personal integrity, humility and character that are hallmarks of a Belmont educational experience, and they serve as excellent examples for our students to emulate.”

Belmont University Establishes Office of Hope, Unity and Belonging 

Jasmine Simmons
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Belmont University Establishes Office of Hope, Unity and Belonging 

Belmont University has announced the establishment of the Office of Hope, Unity and Belonging (The HUB). The formation of this new department reflects Belmont’s momentum and commitment to Pathway four of the strategic visioning process for 2030 set by the University’s president Dr. Greg Jones: Embracing Hope and Inclusive Excellence.  

The HUB will serve as a centralized office dedicated to diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging initiatives, carrying out the institution’s desire for all community members to experience a meaningful and authentic sense of connection.  

“This is a significant step forward in our efforts to better serve our community and create a place where all people can thrive,” said Belmont President Dr. Greg Jones. “The HUB will be responsible for managing all efforts related to Title IX compliance and prevention, as well as all non-discrimination and equity work (Titles VI, VII and IX) including prevention, protection and accountability.” 

Led by Executive Vice President and Chief of Staff Susan West, the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging Task Force was given the directive last spring to conduct an examination of Belmont and offer recommendations that would serve in moving the University toward the collective goal of embracing hope and inclusive excellence. 

With University leadership recognizing the need to establish a centralized office staffed by full-time professionals fully dedicated to this most important work, alongside a new Vice President of Hope, Unity and Belonging who will lead and oversee the centralized office the HUB team will include Carly Elliott, Director of Institutional Equity & Title IX Coordinator, as well as a new Equity Compliance Specialist. 

A search for the new VP of Hope, Unity and Belonging will begin immediately. The search committee consists of the following members: Susan West as Chair, Tamika Williams in the position of Vice Chair, Olivia Bahemuka, Dennis Chen, Leslie Lenser, Karen Lewis, Antionedra Maupin, Amber Payne and Renee Schultz. 

Student Engagement Team Kickstarts Fall 2022 Semester with Annual Campus Events

Haley Charlton
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Student Engagement Team Kickstarts Fall 2022 Semester with Annual Campus Events

Belmont’s Division for Student Formation has been busy with several large events that kickstarted the Fall 2022 semester.

To get involved in these events and all the Office of Student Engagement is doing, reach out to studentengagement@belmont.edu.

Bruin Link Fair

The annual BruinLink Fair was held on September 1, involving more than 170 student organizations and campus departments. Hundreds of new and returning students attended the events, meeting organizations from several different categories – Academic/Professional/Honor Societies, Action/Politics/Cause-based Organizations, Community Service Organizations, Faith Development Organizations, Fraternities and Sororities, Interest-based Organizations, Music/Entertainment Organizations and Recreational/Club Sport Organizations. 

In addition, Residence Life (as part of its “Best Week Ever” programming) hosted the first “BruinLink County Fair” in conjunction with the event, allowing students an opportunity to play with baby goats, jump into inflatable games and enjoy fresh lemonade. 

students at fair
Bruin Link Fair. Photo by Sam Simpkins

With almost 190 active student organizations, the BruinLink fair never fails to be a convenient and efficient way for students to get involved with student organizations that align with their interests, passions and hobbies.

Detailed information on Student Organizations is always available for students, faculty and staff on BruinLink. Students who are interested in starting a new student organization can apply by November 15 (to get started in the spring semester) and April 15 (to get started the following fall) each academic year.

It Must be Wednesday

students playing with goats
Bruin Link Fair. Photo by Sam Simpkins.

The Division of Student Formation collaborated with various campus partners to engage more than 200 students through the first It Must Be Wednesday of the 2022-23 academic year on Wednesday, September 7.

The It Must Be Wednesday event aims to introduce students to campus and community partners by providing free coffee and encouraging social wellness and community engagement on a weekly basis throughout the first and last six weeks of the academic year. 

The It Must Be Wednesday model has been enhanced for its second year to host one partner from the following categories each week:

  • Community Service Partners
  • Employer Partners
  • Nonprofit Partners
  • Minority-owned Businesses
  • Alumni-owned Businesses
  • Neighborhood Businesses (those within walking distance of Belmont)
  • Campus Offices and Departments
  • Student Organizations 
It Must be Wednesday
It Must be Wednesday event.

The first event featured popular vendors including Ladybird Taco, TNT Goods, The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and more, all in addition to Frothy Monkey – the source of the weekly cold brew coffee.

Students can expect to find additional It Must Be Wednesday events on Wednesdays from 9:30 – 11 a.m. on Freedom Plaza until Fall Break and after Spring Break this year.

Greek Week

Fraternity and Sorority Life (FSL) students at Belmont worked together to create a week full of events focused on collaboration, community and fellowship this semester the week of September 13-16. Chapters were split into groups and tasked with creating events open to the FSL community. 

Panhellenic Vice President of Programming Lyndsay Sams collaborated with members of every chapter and helped plan all the events. 

“I have loved getting to plan Greek Week for the second time! This year, we grouped up the chapters, so they were able to work together to produce some amazing events! These events are a great way to bring all eight of our Greek chapters on campus together to spend time in fellowship and collaboration with one another,” Sams said. “I have learned a lot about myself and the other chapters on campus through this position and I am so grateful to be a piece in the puzzle of Greek Week!”

The events included: 

  • Kappa Alpha Theta and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. planned a Lawn Hang with lawn games and popsicles on September 13. 
  • Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., Phi Mu and Phi Kappa Tau hosted a cereal bar titled “Lucky Me, I’m Greek” on September 14.
  • Belmont’s NPHC (“Divine Nine”) chapters hosted an informational session, “Meet the Greeks,” for students interested in joining an NPHC organization on September 14. 
  • Alpha Sigma Tau, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and Alpha Gamma Delta decided to host a week-long event called Sock Wars. Students were split into teams and tasked with tagging members of the opposite team to get them out.
  • The week concluded with a FSL Informational session on September 16.

Newly Renamed Barbara Massey Rogers Center Dedicated

Julia Couch
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Newly Renamed Barbara Massey Rogers Center Dedicated

Today, Belmont University celebrated the dedication of the newly renamed Barbara Massey Rogers Center, previously named the Jack C. Massey Business Center, honoring Barbara and the Massey family’s ongoing support of Belmont. The building houses the Jack C. Massey College of Business, which celebrates its 50th anniversary this academic year.

Massey Center Rendering
Rendering of the Jack C. Massey Building, slated to open fall 2023

The name change comes in light of a very generous gift to the University from Barbara Massey Rogers and the Jack C. Massey Foundation, which secured the naming rights to a new, under-construction building on Belmont’s campus. The new structure will be named the Jack C. Massey Center, honoring the legacy of one of the greatest entrepreneurs and businessmen in American history. Located on 15th Avenue South between the Baskin and Johnson Centers, the new Massey Center is slated to open fall 2023 and house the Belmont Data Collaborative, the University’s Admissions Center, a hub for social innovation and several centers for the Massey College of Business.

“Today, we celebrate Barbara and her father Jack C. Massey’s legacy, their commitment to philanthropy and education, and the lasting impact they’ve had on our University,” said Belmont President Dr. Greg Jones. “The Massey family’s generosity has been essential in Belmont’s forward momentum, and we are excited for this next chapter as we dedicate the Barbara Massey Rogers Center, the primary home of the Jack C. Massey College of Business.”

This year, the University celebrates 50 years of the Massey College of Business and the man whose legacy provided a guiding hand and inspirational light to Belmont through both significant financial contributions and an influence that further rooted the college’s focus on ethics and entrepreneurship. Mr. Massey’s leadership and support were pivotal to Belmont’s growth, transformation and impact. Today, Massey College graduates businessmen and women who have entrepreneurial mindsets, philanthropic spirits and who care deeply for their neighbors. Massey College of Business continues to embody the quality and impact Jack C. Massey first envisioned more than 50 years ago.

“He was a wonderful man who loved giving back. I know he would be thrilled on this occasion as we celebrate this momentous anniversary,” said Barbara Massey Rogers, Mr. Massey’s daughter. “Belmont’s business school has become a top-rated business program in the United States, and I am proud to see his legacy continue in that way.”

Belmont President Dr. Greg Jones presented an honorary doctorate degree to Barbara Massey Rogers at the dedication, Belmont’s highest honor. “At our commencement ceremony this past May, we celebrated the recognition of an honorary doctorate of the University to Mrs. Barbara Massey Rogers in recognition of her generous support, faithful involvement and unflagging encouragement to Belmont University and its leaders,” said Dr. Jones. “Barbara was not able to attend that day to accept her degree, so today, it is my distinct honor and privilege to bestow this doctorate degree to her.”

In addition to the College, Massey gifts have endowed Belmont’s Chair in Entrepreneurship, leading that program to be among the best in the nation, as well as the Massey Center for Financial Information, the first financial training lab in Tennessee when it opened in 2005. Massey gifts also established the Doyle Rogers Distinguished Chair of Law and the Massey Performing Arts Center. Beyond housing offices for Belmont’s entrepreneurship and social entrepreneurship programs, the new Jack C. Massey Center is also expected to include dedicated spaces for the Kennedy Center for Business Ethics, the Center for Global Citizenship and the Beasley Institute for Free Enterprise.

Massey College of Business has many events planned throughout the year to celebrate 50 years of excellence. Alumni and friends are invited to an anniversary event on Thursday, September 22 at the Hutton Hotel’s Analog Venue. Purchase tickets and RSVP here.

Additional photos from the dedication ceremony and reception can be found here.

First Year Seminar Ambassador Speaker Series Focuses on Transformative Justice

Haley Charlton
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First Year Seminar Ambassador Speaker Series Focuses on Transformative Justice

Every year, Belmont freshmen spend their first semester working through a common anthology as they take the required First Year Seminar (FYS) course that addresses “ways of knowing,” helping them transition to college life by engaging in challenging readings, ideas and opportunities to practice critical thinking. 

To accompany this year’s FYS classes, an ambassador speaker series is lined up for the fall that will look at the theme of Transformative Justice.

Author of “The Sun Does Shine,” series Keynote Anthony Ray Hinton spent 30 years on death row before the Supreme Court unanimously decided in his favor. Hinton will share his story of hope at Belmont on September 25 at 7 p.m. in the Curb Event Center, open to the public.

Hinton spent 30 years enduring false accusations, a wrongful conviction and an entire community of people who tagged him with a crime he did not commit. The Equal Justice Initiative took on the job of representing Hinton legally, with the goal of reducing his death sentence to a life sentence, but Hinton refused to settle. He wanted the truth to be known. With the help of civil rights attorney and bestselling author of “Just Mercy” Bryan Stevenson, Hinton won his release in 2015.

Associate Professor of Religion and the Arts Dr. David Dark, who is serving as this year’s FYS ambassador, said Hinton appears among us as a pioneer of moral seriousness, taking on the work of lifting his own voice, knowing his own moral power and somehow accessing a human future despite the dire circumstances in front of him.

“Hinton is the perfect example of a Socratic thinker, an activist, an ally to the community he was in. He started a book club and committed himself to being a teacher, a co-learner and a partner in seeking flourishing in a tortuous, impossible situation,” Dark said. “Bringing him in as this year’s keynote speaker places before students, their families and the watching world the call to transformative justice.”

“Hinton, in a very moving way, insisted on trying to love and pray for and prophetically confront the system as well as the people who were behaving villainously toward him. His story invites us to think harder about justice in our own world,” Dark continued. “My hope is that students will recognize Anthony Ray Hinton as a primary living agent of hope and as a figure who both insisted on asking questions about the way the world is ordered and on being an advocate for those who have been crushed, himself included, by a system that does not serve everyone equally.”

Dark’s review of Hinton’s book was recently published in Chapter Sixteen, a Tennessee Book Review. Read his review of “The Sun Does Shine” here.

A full list of speakers and their descriptions can be found below. All events are open to the public, and all events will present an opportunity for students to submit questions for the speakers.

Justin Jones

September 16 at 10 a.m., Fourth Floor Conference Room of the Janet Ayers Academic Building

Justin Jones is author of “The People’s Plaza,” activist and candidate for Tennessee’s House of Representatives. A leader of the Free the Plaza movement, he organizes for the expansion of healthcare in Tennessee, the repeal of restrictive state voter ID laws, the removal of confederate monuments and community accountability in cases of police violence.

Keynote address: Anthony Ray Hinton

September 25 at 7 p.m., Curb Event Center

Hinton was exonerated after spending nearly three decades on death row in Alabama. He will share his story of hope and justice.

Public Conversation with Anthony Ray Hinton

September 26 at 10 a.m., Massey Performing Arts Center

Conversation facilitated by Dr. David Dark and open to all students.

Rahim Buford

October 7 at 10 a.m., Massey Performing Arts Center

Mr. Buford spent 26 years in Tennessee prisons, is the founder of Unheard Voices and facilitates classes and workshops at juvenile detention centers which assist incarcerated Tennesseans in their transition back into the civic, economic and technological communities.

Public lecture by David Dark: “Candor, Courage, and Conscience: The Moral Witness of Reality Winner”

October 19 at 10 a.m., Fourth Floor Conference Room of the Janet Ayers Academic Building

Prior to the event with Reality Winner on Friday, Dr. David Dark will give a public lecture on Winner’s story and the concepts of whistleblowing and conscience.

Reality Winner

October 21 at 10 a.m., Massey Performing Arts Center, Live video conversation

While serving in the Air Force, Winner released classified info on Russian interference in the 2016 elections and received the longest sentence ever given to a civilian for such a leak. She was placed in solitary confinement for four years, losing contact with her family, unallowed to speak to the press, unable to even read her Bible. Having been released now, Winner will share details about her experience.

Larycia Hawkins

October 28 at 10 a.m., Massey Performing Arts Center

Hawkins was fired from her teaching position at Wheaton College for affirming solidarity between Muslims and Christians. She is currently a professor at the University of Virginia where she teaches politics and religious studies.

“Same God” Film

October 28 at 6 p.m., Johnson Center Theater

The film “Same God” explores the story and broader issue of solidarity.

Belmont University Hosts Events for Suicide Prevention and Awareness Week  

Allison Fomby
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Belmont University Hosts Events for Suicide Prevention and Awareness Week  

Belmont University held its first-ever Suicide Prevention & Awareness Week Tuesday, September 6 through Saturday, September 10. Hosted by Belmont University Counseling Services, the week of events was coordinated with the intent to save lives and bring hope to those affected by suicide, including those who have experienced a loss. 

“We realize that so many in our community have been touched by mental health-related struggles, and more specifically suicide,” said Katherine Cornelius, Belmont director of counseling services. “Our hope for this week is that we come together as a community and join forces to break the silence around suicide and change the conversation around mental health.” 

This year’s events included: 

Send Silence Packing – Suicide Prevention and Awareness Week at Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee, September 7, 2022. Photo by Sam Simpkins

Send Silence Packing on Wednesday, September 7 in partnership with Active Minds: This event featured a powerful interactive exhibit of 1,000 backpacks set up on McWhorter Lawn and Freedom Plaza that included personal stories from individuals who have all been personally touched by suicide. The all-day display inspired action for suicide prevention and connected participants with local and national mental health resources. 

Each and Every Day on Thursday, September 8 in partnership with Mike Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business: The Belmont community gathered for a viewing and discussion of a film created in partnership with MTV and The Jed Foundation (JED). The documentary explores youth mental health through the eyes of young people who have attempted suicide or have struggled with suicidal thoughts. 

Sharde Curry’s Story on Friday, September 9 in partnership with University Ministries and Active Minds: Curry navigated the loss of a family member to suicide and shared her journey to help the campus community learn, understand, and deepen the understanding of a topic that has affected so many lives.  

Out of the Darkness Walk on Saturday, September 10 in partnership with Campus Security, Event Services, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention  (AFSP), Metro Police, and Active Minds: This event was designed to raise awareness and much-needed funds for AFSP while strongly sending the message of hope that suicide is preventable, and that no one is alone. 

Belmont Counseling Services is committed to providing free, convenient access to professional mental health assessment, emergent care, short-term treatment, and wellness education to aid students in managing life transitions and serious emotional issues. These collaborative efforts across campus and within the larger mental health community of Nashville ensure that Belmont students directly experience a sense of community that values safety, personal integrity, and care. 

Washington Monthly Ranks Belmont Among Best Colleges for Student Voting for 2022

Jasmine Simmons
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Washington Monthly Ranks Belmont Among Best Colleges for Student Voting for 2022

Belmont University was placed on the Washington Monthly magazine’s list of Best Colleges for Student Voting. This adds to the achievements Belmont has earned as a campus committed to championing student body voting participation. 

The University was designated as a “Voter Friendly Campus” in the spring of 2021 as a result of its strategic efforts to motivate and mobilize the student body to vote amidst a challenging voting season that was impacted by restrictions from the COVID-19 pandemic. The campus was announced the winner of the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge Award later the same year in November.   

“Part of the credit goes to the work of student voting organizers, who mobilized young Americans to register and cast ballots despite the pandemic and restrictive voting laws,” Washington Monthly stated in its rankings release. “This includes small, student-led groups that work to get their peers to the polls, as well as national organizations like the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge, which helps colleges develop registration and turnout plans.”

The young adult population has historically been criticized for its lack of voter turnout, but trends are improving as concerted efforts like the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge and Rock the Vote events aim to keep the 18-to-29-year-old population active at the polls.  

The Washington Monthly added a student voting measure to its annual college rankings in 2018 to incentivize support from college administration toward student voting efforts. Since 2019, the monthly has published an honor roll of colleges based on self-reported voting data. Belmont’s voter registration rate is above 85 percent and made the honor roll this year. 

With Constitution Day on Sept. 17 and National Voter Registration Day on Sept. 20, the month of September marks a significant opportunity to employ continued voting efforts. Belmont’s Student Government Association plans to roll out new voter registration and education initiatives during the month of September with a strong desire to maintain its “Voter Friendly Campus” status.  

“Civic engagement and voter education will be a top priority for our Student Government this fall,” senior psychology major and SGA parliamentarian Jada Ralston said. “With important civic holidays, such as National Voter Registration Day just around the corner, we plan to host a number of events to promote the significance of voting. Specifically, we will be focusing on voter registration and turnout. Our committee will act as a catalyst for the student body’s civic engagement.”

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