On Monday, September 25, Belmont hosted a curb seminar entitled “Artist Development & Music Publishing” in the Johnson Theater featuring Leslie Dipiero, general manager for Tree Vibez Music, manager for Advanced Alternative Media (AAM) and music publisher, creative manager and partner for Tom-Leis Music. Dipiero shared her experience working with country pop band Florida Georgia Line (FGL) through Tree Vibez Music and as a woman in the music industry.
Dipiero shared that when she started working with FGL, one of the first changes she made was signing the label’s first female songwriter. She said the band was very supportive and have continued to give permission to her ideas. For FGL, Tree Vibez is a music platform after-hours, a sub-culture of more music and another branch on their tree.
When asked what her biggest challenge as a woman in the industry has been so far, Dipiero pointed to equal pay. Emphasizing the importance of equal pay, she highlighted her commitment to hiring women throughout her career. She said that the key to success in this industry as a woman is to lead and not lean even though “leading is working twice as hard.”
Dipiero concluded by advising students to finish college as finding the time later in your career can be challenging. She said that if she had prioritized her education that way, she could have progressed more quickly. She also said that no task should ever be beneath anyone, an important tip to remember in the internship environment. Dipiero encouraged students to be noticed and be excellent at what they do, and that nothing is too small for you to show that excellence. This event was co-sponsored by music business professor Dan Keen and the Belmont University Songwriters Association (BUSA).
Audio and Video Production major KC Katalbas spends her free time exploring the night sky as an amateur astronomer with Barnard-Seyfert Astronomical Society, Nashville. With this organization, Katalbas participates in monthly star viewing parties at different local parks to learn about the stars and astronomy.
Katalbas also works in the planetarium at the Adventure Science Center, presenting shows and teaching participants about space. She said, “It’s a real privilege to be able to teach what I love on a regular basis at one of the best planetariums in the country.” In addition to her experience at the planetarium, Katalbas also has her certification from NASA to handle disks of lunar samples collected by Apollo astronauts.
Katalbas hopes that more people will take advantage of astronomical opportunities. She said that she understands how intimidating astronomy can be, because it is rooted in so many different sciences, “but the night sky is open and free and right above our heads every single night for people to explore. You don’t have to have all the answers. You just have to be curious enough to look.”
A junior, Katalbas plans to produce planetarium shows after she graduates, which she’s gotten a headstart on thanks to her youtube channel. Looking forward, she hopes to continue learning about and loving space with NASA.
Belmont University and Vice President & Chief of Staff Dr. Susan West were both recently honored with national diversity and inclusion awards by Minority Access Inc., a national nonprofit organization committed to increasing diversity, decreasing disparities and reducing incidences of environmental injustices. Both awards were presented at the organization’s conference, held this weekend in Washington D.C.
West received a National Role Model award, an honor that recognizes inspiring students, faculty, alumni and innovators who are dedicated to diversity and inclusion. The awards exist to expand the pool of minority scientists, researchers and professionals in fields underrepresented by minorities and works to ensure our nation’s long-term competitive edge in a global society. West was honored in the award’s Administrator category.
Additionally, Belmont University was honored as an institution committed to diversity for 2017, understanding that diversity is essential to providing a meaningful education to its students.
For more information on Minority Access, click here.
Belmont University’s Welcome Home Diversity Council recently launched its campus-wide diversity and inclusion initiative, The Belmont State of Mind. Centered around transparency, authenticity, intentionality and awareness, the Belmont State of Mind is focused on enhancing and embedding a culture of inclusive excellence across campus for all faculty, staff and students. The new initative houses all of campus’s diversity and inclusion efforts.
The Belmont State of Mind is inclusive, it’s celebratory, it’s open-minded and welcoming. It’s transparent and honors differences, it challenges ideals and encourages dialogue. Most importantly, The Belmont State of Mind is comfortable with being uncomfortable. The State of Mind asks all members of the Belmont community to lead with intentionality and awareness, understanding that it’s the differences of its members that make Belmont such a rich environment.
The new initiative was created and implemented by the University’s Welcome Home Diversity Council, an interdisciplinary senior leadership team that meets regularly to support Belmont’s diversity and inclusion efforts. Made up of faculty, staff and students who are engaged in diversity and inclusion work across campus, the Council is chaired by Vice President and Chief of Staff Dr. Susan West.
“We are so excited to launch ‘The Belmont State of Mind’ across campus, as we are committed to ensuring a diverse and inclusive community at Belmont,” West said. “We are eager to provide many opportunities for our faculty, staff and students to engage in important dialogue, experiences and training related to diversity and inclusion. We understand that it’s our differences that make us who we are, and as a community of faith, we have a responsibility to love and respect all people who live and work on our campus. It’s the ‘Belmont State of Mind.’ It’s just who we are.”
For more information on The Belmont State of Mind, click here.
Dr. Jennifer Fowler, Associate Professor or Economics and Music Business and Chair of Economics and Finance, recently shared her tips for making a city fun in an article published on WalletHub. She advised that having fun on a budget can be easy if you take advantage of local spots that have affordable entry fees, such as the Ryman Auditorium. Her advice to cities: maintain well-lit areas and have ample signage to make getting around easier and offer some form of accessible public transportation.
Fowler earned her Ph.D. in economics from Middle Tennessee State University and has earned numerous awards for her work in the field, including the Academy of Economics & Economic Education Distinguished Research Award and the Academy of Entrepreneurship Distinguished Research Award.
Several faculty within the School of Nursing have recently been recognized for their contributions to the field. Below is a list of their accomplishments.
Dr. Angela Lane (Assistant Professor of Nursing) and Dr. Ruby Dunlap (Associate Professor of Nursing) will present a poster entitled “Start with What They Know: Student Perception of Self-efficacy in Community Health Nursing” at the Sigma Theta Tau International Research Conference in Washington, DC in April 2018.
Dr. Mona Ivey Soto (Assistant Professor of Education), Dr. Sabrina Sullenberger (Associate Professor in Social Work) and Dr. Angela Lane will give a podium presentation entitled “Empowering Trauma-Informed Undergraduates: Educating and Equipping the Next Cadre of Leaders from Diverse Helping Professions” at the Southeastern Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) conference in Asheville, NC in October 2017.
Ms. Jennifer Hicks, Dr. Robin Cobb (Assistant Professor of Nursing) and Dr. Betsy Kennedy had a poster entitled “A Narrative Approach to the Delivery of Perinatal Loss Care Course Content in an Undergraduate Obstetric Nursing Course” presented at the International Stillbirth Alliance conference at University College Cork, Cork Ireland in September 2017.
Dr. Erin Shankel (Assistant Professor of Nursing) gave a podium presentation at the 2017 TNA conference entitled Preventing Your own Compassion Fatigue: An Ethical Imperative.
Dr. Ruby Dunlap and Ms. Emily Morse have a newly published chapter in the edited text Culturally engaging service-learning with diverse communities (2017) published by IGI Global. Their chapter is entitled “Refugee Families and Undergraduate Nursing Service-Learning: Thinking Globally, Acting Locally.”
Dr. Ashley Scism and Dr. Robin Cobb have a manuscript entitled “Integrative Review of Factors and Interventions that Influence Early Father-Infant Bonding” in the Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic, and Neonatal Nursing.
Dr. Angela Lane completed Trust Based Relational Intervention Practitioner Training in Fort Worth, Texas last month.
Dr. Donna Copenhaver (Assistant Professor of Nursing) was re-elected as Tennessee Nurses Association (TNA) Secretary and Dr. Loretta Bond (Assistant Professor of Nursing) was elected as TNA Director, Government Affairs.
Assistant Professor of Music Business Dr. Eric Holt was recently quoted in Forbes magazine as an expert in the music industry.
Holt told Forbes that Billboard’s relevance may be on the decline. “Billboard has been an industry measuring tool for a very long time. I think the Billboard is relevant, but here’s the news: maybe not for long,” he said. “Possible stream manipulation aside, when you look at artists like Chance the Rapper achieving top industry success bypassing all traditional road maps and innovations like Jay Z mixing partnership pre-purchases, it only makes sense to me that in order to remain relevant Billboard has to create better-measuring tools to fit the current and future music industry realities rather than running to keep up with them after the fact.”
Holt is CEO of Chiminus Enterprises and Managing Partner of subsidiary concert promotion company The Lovenoise Group. He also offers consulting-based advice for individuals and business leaders. He has served as a board member on Mayor Karl Dean’s’ Music Business Council and on the Nashville NARAS (Grammy’s) Board of Trustees as Advisor and chair of the Diversity Committee.
Ten years after launching one of the nation’s first undergraduate songwriting majors, Belmont University’s Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business celebrated the pioneering program’s phenomenal success last night with a gathering on Music Row at the acclaimed Ocean Way Nashville studios, which the University owns. One of five programs in the Curb College, songwriting is a highly competitive major that requires a portfolio of original songs as part of the application process. Completed applications are reviewed by faculty and music industry partners. Currently, 260 students on Belmont’s campus are majoring in songwriting.
Curb College Dean Doug Howard, the former senior VP of A&R for Lyric Street/Disney, said, “Every segment of the music industry can trace its success back to songwriters and their amazing songs without which we would have nothing. We are proud to celebrate our unique program and faculty that support, encourage, and educate aspiring student songwriters through direct interaction with the world’s finest professional songwriters and music publishers.”
James Isaac Elliott, chair of Belmont’s songwriting department, added, “What makes this program successful are three key elements: the caliber of award-winning songwriters who teach our students, the challenging and innovative curriculum we offer and the industry partners who come alongside us in developing the next generation of great writers. Nashville has always been a songwriters’ town, and I believe Belmont is helping to both foster and bolster that reputation.”
Last night’s Music Row celebration featured comments from Nashville Songwriter Hall of Fame members Pat Alger and Tom Douglas as well as performances from rising talents Devin Dawson, Anna Vaus and Jake Rogers. In addition, Curb College Dean Doug Howard presented Belmont President Dr. Bob Fisher with a custom Martin 000-15M acoustic solid mahogany guitar to commemorate the songwriting program’s first 10 years. The one-of-a-kind Bob Fisher signature model includes the Belmont University logo in the headstock.
Dawson is presented with the scholarship, recently created in his name.
Additionally, the celebration featured a special presentation to Dawson, a recent Belmont songwriting graduate and Warner Music Nashville artist. In honor of his success, Warner Music Nashville Chief Operating Officer Matt Signore and Senior Vice President A&R Cris Lacy presented an endowed $25,000 scholarship in Dawson’s name, and the university matched the contribution, creating a $50,000 endowed scholarship. Dawson said, “The Belmont songwriting program has always been at the center of my heart. I don’t know if I would be in Nashville if I hadn’t heard about and been accepted into the degree program, and I certainly wouldn’t be the same artist had it not been for the informative years I spent honing my identity alongside my peers and the remarkable faculty. I was completely caught off guard when my Warner Music Nashville family teamed up with Dr. Fisher to announce a new scholarship in my name. My father was only able to go to college as a result of his academics and the scholarships he was awarded, so to now have a scholarship endowed in my name is a full circle moment for me. My family and I are beside ourselves. Thank you to Warner Music & Belmont University for creating an opportunity for young songwriters to pursue their musical dreams outside the stress of financial burdens. This is an honor that will live on for a long time.”
Warner Music Nashville Chief Operating Officer Matt Signore said, “We are blessed to have Devin Dawson as an artist in our Warner Music Nashville family. The Belmont songwriting program was not only critical in getting him to this point in his musical career, but also in defining his life purpose and mission. In that spirit, we are thrilled to contribute to the success of future students who have the same kind of talent, drive and passion that Devin has shown.”
In just the first decade, the program has made a significant impact with the support of many in the industry. Belmont Songwriting highlights to date, along with a sampling of alumni accomplishments, include the following:
Faculty members are all award-winning professional songwriters/executives, including Nashville Songwriter Hall of Fame members Pat Alger and Tom Douglas, Dove Award winner James Isaac Elliott, Grammy winner Drew Ramsey, hit songwriter James Thiele (Tealy), Grammy nominee and film soundtrack contributor Cindy Morgan, ASCAP Pop Award winner Justin Weaver, 2017 IBMA Songwriter of the Year nominee Thomm Jutz, Latin Grammy winner Jodi Marr and former SVP Warner Chappell Music Judy Stakee
Business has changed and publishers don’t have the resources to develop writers—this songwriting major is helping to fill that gap
Program’s curriculum is thorough, challenging and requires a minor
Due to its location in Nashville, many assume Belmont Songwriting is merely helpful for aspiring country writers. Instead, the program’s graduates arefinding success in a wide variety of fields and genres. Alumni include:
2017 Grammy Award winner Emily Weisband, staff writer for This Music/Warner Chappell. Songs recorded by Hillary Scott, Keith Urban, Thomas Rhett, Lady Antebellum, and more
Warner Music Nashville artist Devin Dawson (opening act for Maren Morris’ Hero Tour and Tim & Faith’s Soul2Soul World Tour; song placement on “The Shack” movie soundtrack; debut single “All on Me”)
Universal Music Group country artist Clare Dunn (has opened for Florida Georgia Line, Miranda Lambert and Keith Urban, among others; radio singles “Tuxedo,” “Move On,” “Cowboy Side of You”)
Acoustic pop singer/songwriter Megan Davies (nearly 1.2 million YouTube subscribers; Over 2 million listeners a month on Spotify)
Southern rock artist J. Solar, publishing and record deal with Sea Gayle
Worship leader Taylor Agan, Centricity Music Publishing
Channing Moreland, CEO and co-founder of EVAmore, the automated platform for booking live entertainment (Events, Venues, Artists and more)
Current student Anna Vaus, winner of inaugural Miranda Lambert scholarship, publishing deal with Black River
Current student and pop artist/writer Jake Rogers, Sony/ATV Music Publishing
Program also houses Bear House Writer Management, a student-run organization designed to serve up and coming Belmont student singer/songwriters. Their team of managers accepts applications and then chooses artist/writers that they feel they can assist with building a career. They guide and empower their clients by setting up industry meetings, co-writes, demo recordings and songwriter rounds.
NMPA S.O.N.G.S. Foundation recently created a $50,000 endowment to support Belmont songwriting majors with scholarships
In addition to opportunities to study at Belmont East (New York) and Belmont West (Los Angeles), songwriting students can also improve their craft through established study abroad experiences in Ireland, Scotland, London, Uganda and Zimbabwe
Program has partnered with a number of external orgs for student enrichment opportunities including ASCAP, SESAC, BMI, Communion Music Publishing, Make Music Nashville, Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, Sony Records Nashville, Warner Brothers Records Los Angeles, Universal Music Publishing, Sony/ATV Music Publishing, Big Machine Records, Curb Music, Disney Music Publishing, Warner Chappell Music Publishing, TV Show “Nashville,” Capitol Christian Music Group, Word Music Publishing, Centricity Music, Belfast Nashville Songwriters Festival, Operation Song, and more.
Ruta Sepetys was featured as the guest speaker at the Belmont Auxiliary Partners Fall Luncheon on Tuesday, September 26. Sepetys is an internationally acclaimed author of historical fiction whose works have been featured on the New York Times Best Seller List. She joined the Curb College Board of Advisers in 2004, taught within the college for a few semesters and now serves on the Motion Picture Advisory Board.
As the daughter of a Lithuanian refugee, Sepetys comes from a line of interesting pasts–stories she calls “hidden history.” These stories, and more, have influenced the writing career she never expected to launch–but is grateful to have found. As a young girl, Sepetys said she dreamed of being an author, but after being chided when her teacher read her first book in 3rd grade, she turned her attention to other things. Now, she is celebrating the chance to tell the stories she believes the world needs to hear. “I’m a believer that often history isn’t really lost, it’s just hiding,” Sepetys said. “That applies to personal and family history as well. I’m passionate about bringing underrepresented stories out of the dark.”
Her latest novel, Salt to the Sea, revolves around the largest maritime tragedy in history, the sinking of the Wilhelm Gustloff, a story Sepetys said all people should be familiar with, but unfortunately are not. During her research, she had the opportunity to speak with a group of divers who were tasked with exploring the sunken ship’s treasures. One of those treasures included a message in a bottle from a refugee who had lost her daughter and husband in the chaos. She wrote, “I don’t know if anyone will ever know what has happened to us…”
This is the reason for Sepetys’s life’s work. “This woman was so desperate for someone, anyone, to know her story that she wrote it down and threw it into the sea,” she said. “You are that person. As readers, we can give voice to people who think the worlds has forgotten them. These are stories of loss and pain, but also hope and change. By reading hidden history, you are saying to human beings, ‘I know your story. The world has not forgotten you.'”
Known as a “crossover” novelist, Sepetys’s books are read by both students and adults worldwide. Prior to publishing her first novel, she spent twenty years in the music industry helping artists and songwriters distill story through song. Sepetys is the first American crossover novelist to address both European Parliament and Library of Congress. She was awarded The Rockefeller Foundation’s prestigious Bellagio Resident Fellowship for Salt to the Sea. Ruta was recently bestowed the Cross of the Knight of the Order by the President of Lithuania for her contributions to education and memory preservation.
Belmont Auxiliary Partners has provided scholarships for many deserving students who otherwise might not have had an opportunity for a Christian education. Anyone interested in the mission of Belmont University is welcome to be a part of the Belmont Auxiliary Partners, including Board of Trustee members, alumni, faculty and staff (and their spouses/family members) and community members. The Belmont Auxiliary Partners group meets twice annually, in the spring and the fall, with a luncheon meeting featuring a guest speaker.
On Saturday September 23, Belmont’s College of Pharmacy hosted a Psychiatric Pharmacotherapy Update. The purpose of this Continuing Education event was to educate pharmacists on important topics related to psychiatric pharmacy. Dr. Marshall Cates, professor of pharmacy practice at Samford University, spoke on the pharmacists role in suicide prevention. Dr. Wes Geminn from the TN Department of Mental Health spoke on the opioid pandemic currently affecting Tennessee, as well as nearly every corner of the United States. Dr. Katie Liveoak, clinical pharmacy specialist in psychiatry at Centennial Parthenon Pavilion, spoke on “Me-Too” drugs in psychiatry and Dr. Michael McGuire, assistant professor of pharmacy practice at spoke on the effects of marijuana in psychiatric conditions.
The event welcomed 30 attendees including 8 current College of Pharmacy students. Participants came from community pharmacies as well as health systems. The College of Pharmacy Continuing Education program hopes to make this an annual event.
Belmont University College of Pharmacy is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) as a provider of continuing pharmacy education. For more information on upcoming Continuing Education opportunities, visit the Continuing Education website: http://belmont.edu/pharmacy/alumni/ce/index.html
Curb College Dean Doug Howard, the former senior VP of A&R for Lyric Street/Disney, said, “Every segment of the music industry can trace its success back to songwriters and their amazing songs without which we would have nothing. We are proud to celebrate our unique program and faculty that support, encourage, and educate aspiring student songwriters through direct interaction with the world’s finest professional songwriters and music publishers.”
On Saturday September 23, Belmont’s College of Pharmacy hosted a Psychiatric Pharmacotherapy Update. The purpose of this Continuing Education event was to educate pharmacists on important topics related to psychiatric pharmacy. Dr. Marshall Cates, professor of pharmacy practice at Samford University, spoke on the pharmacists role in suicide prevention. Dr. Wes Geminn from the TN Department of Mental Health spoke on the opioid pandemic currently affecting Tennessee, as well as nearly every corner of the United States. Dr. Katie Liveoak, clinical pharmacy specialist in psychiatry at Centennial Parthenon Pavilion, spoke on “Me-Too” drugs in psychiatry and Dr. Michael McGuire, assistant professor of pharmacy practice at spoke on the effects of marijuana in psychiatric conditions.