Dan Keen, instructor of music business, recently signed a sub-publishing deal with Warner/Chappell Brazil in Rio de Janeiro.
A sub-publishing deal allows a local publisher to publish and collect dues on behalf of their international client. Warner/Chappell Music is a global music publishing company of Warner Music Group. They currently publish and administer music from artists including Beyonce, Green Day, Kendrick Lamar, Madonna, Stephen Sondheim and Twenty One Pilots.
Dan Keen has served as a vice president of the American Society of Authors, Composers and Publishers (ASCAP) signing artists like award-winning rock band Paramore, RCA country superstar Chris Young and ASCAP Country Songwriter of the Year Ashley Gorley.
Keen joined the faculty of the College of Entertainment and Music Business in 2010 and describes his job in the classroom as his “dream gig.”
Lecturer of Audio Engineering Technology Joe Baldridge recently recorded a No. 1 single, “Craving You,” featuring Maren Morris for Thomas Rhett’s new album. Baldridge was also nominated for the 2017 ACM Studio Awards Engineer of the Year with fellow Belmont faculty and alumnus Jeff Balding.
Additionally, Baldridge recorded “Southern Gothic” for artist Dan Tyminski with former Belmont student Jesse Frasure producing. The single is scheduled to be released this fall.
Admissions Coordinator for the Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business Ileia Hook participated in a number of projects that were released this summer. Hook’s projects include:
Sister Sadie, which features Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business staff member Tina Adair, has been nominated for “Emerging Artist of the Year” at the International Bluegrass Music Awards (IBMA) which will be held on Oct. 5, 2017 in Raleigh, North Carolina. Following the awards that week, the band will perform at the Red Hat Amphitheater Stage at the World of Bluegrass fan fest in Raleigh.
Former owners Win, Patti Myint to continue operations of International Market & Restaurant on site
After recently announcing a new enrollment record of 8,080 students, Belmont University closed today on the purchase of four lots from Win and Prapasri (Patti) Myint. The property is located on the corner of Belmont Boulevard and Bernard Avenue and includes the Myints’ International Market & Restaurant, which will continue its operation on the site. This acquisition allows Belmont to begin planning for future opportunities to expand academic spaces to support its growing student body.
Belmont President Dr. Bob Fisher said, “While we don’t have any immediate plans for that area, I’m excited to see how we can use that corner of the campus in the coming years to serve our students. I’m especially grateful to the Myints for embracing education as the future product of this site; a property that has allowed them to live their dream will now enable future generations to do the same.”
The Myint family said, “We are proud of Belmont University’s growth and optimistic for Nashville’s evolution. The time is right for our family, and we would like to extend our deepest gratitude for everyone’s support over the last 40-plus years.”
Over the past three years, Belmont’s Department of Biology and School of Physical Therapy have worked together to allow undergraduate anatomy students the opportunity to experience a cadaver-based learning environment. Through this collaborative effort, hundreds of undergraduate students have had the opportunity to participate in this interactive experience.
Additionally, undergraduate anatomy faculty have embraced the opportunity to engage with graduate faculty to improve their teaching skills in a gross anatomy laboratory. This collaborative initiative began to generate learning opportunities for undergraduate anatomy students in the cadaver-based gross anatomy lab. By the end, however, this interdisciplinary work ended with meaningful experiences for all participants.
Assistant Professor of Biology Dr. Chris Barton and Assistant Professor of Physical Therapy Dr. Christi Williams documented the interdisciplinary nature of their collaboration, as well as the increased learning outcomes reported by the undergraduate anatomy students, so other institutions can replicate the process.
Their article, “Graduate and Undergraduate Faculty Collaboration Utilizing Peer Observation to Enhance Educational Opportunities for Students and Faculty: A Case Example,” was recently accepted for publication in The Journal of Scholarship of Teaching and Learning, where Barton and Williams are co-first authors on the study. Dr. John Halle, professor of physical therapy and Dr. Lori McGrew, professor of biology, are additional authors on the accepted manuscript.
Associate Professor William Akers is returning as Chair of Belmont University’s Motion Pictures program. As the founding chair in 2013, Akers created the curriculum for the program and was instrumental in the design and construction of the Milton and Denice Johnson Center, where the department is housed. Since its inception, the program has grown from 12 students to 210. In this position, Akers mentors students and assists the department’s faculty while writing sequels to his two books, “Your Screenplay Sucks: 100 Ways to Make it Great” and “Mrs. Ravenbach’s Way.”
In addition to his position at Belmont, Akers also works as a script consultant for clients all over the world. He is a founding board member of eiACE, the Entertainment Industry Association of Consultants and Educators and sits on the boards of the Nashville Composers Association and the University Film & Video Association.
Akers received a B.S. in Visual & Written Creative Expression from Vanderbilt University and an M.F.A. in Cinema Production from the University of Southern California. He has been writing features and television for 25 years and is a Lifetime Member of the Writers Guild of America.
Vocal performance major Nicole Boulris has been chosen as one of 11 finalists to become the 2017-2018 season national anthem singer for the Nashville Predators. Each of the finalists will perform tonight at the Predators Open House before a panel of celebrity judges and fans who will then choose this season’s one singer.
Hearing about the opportunity from the Belmont School of Music, Boulris said she never expected to go as far as she has. “I heard about the audition on the School of Music’s Facebook page and thought, ‘hey that looks fun,’ so I submitted a video. I really did not have any expectations of making it to the top 11. Low and behold, I did!”
Currently in her second year at Belmont, Boulris said it was music that brought her to campus. She has been singing her whole life and first got serious about performing solo a few years ago. She hopes to continue performing and making music after graduation, but would love the opportunity to teach, too.
Still trying to find her “unique style,” Boulris said she draws her inspiration from a few sources including her faith, family, friends and other artists including worldwide sensation Adele.
As part of a grant recently provided by Tennessee and administered through the Department of Children’s Services Building Strong Brains Initiative, Belmont’s College of Health Sciences and Nursing has developed a resource library to promote the understanding of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) for health care professionals. The library is part of Belmont’s Educating Trauma Information Professionals project.
Principal investigators Dean of the College of Health Sciences and Nursing Dr. Cathy Taylor and Associate Professor of Social Work Dr. Sabrina Sullenberger collaborated with Bunch Library faculty to develop the ACE Resource Guide. The guide provides access to the valuable library of materials collected to support professions that work alongside children and families during sensitive periods of development and beyond. The ACE Resource Guide is available to all Belmont students and faculty and can be accessed here.
Belmont’s newest Bruins spent the day before classes began for the fall semester serving their new hometown as part of SERVE, the University’s annual orientation service event. More than 2,000 freshmen and transfer students loaded buses across campus and spent the afternoon serving at Nashville public schools and a number of nonprofit organizations across the city including The Red Cross, Project C.U.R.E. and Cottage Cove Ministries, among others.
Before being dismissed to their sites, students were welcomed by Belmont President Dr. Bob Fisher in the University’s Curb Event Center. “As I told you during the recruitment process and throughout orientation, we don’t know what your purpose is in life, but we know it’s not about you,” he said. After speaking to the group, Dr. Fisher introduced Mayor Megan Barry who received a standing ovation from students as she took the stage–she received another as she left.
Mayor Barry addresses SERVE participants.
Mayor Barry addressed the group, highlighting their ability to influence the community in the coming years. “When you see the eclipse, you are reminded just how little you are in the cosmos. But you need to think about what you can do with what you have here at Belmont. I have five words for you: Don’t be small. Be big. You have a chance to really impact this place over the next four years,” she said. Further emphasizing Fisher’s challenge to always consider others, she went on. “I have a quote in my office that says, ‘Power is about waking up every day and having a chance to make a difference in someone’s life.’”
After telling the group about the recent loss of her son, Barry continued in her remarks, mentioning the power each student has in the lives of those around them. “If you see someone struggling, reach out. Don’t wait. If you see somebody who needs a hand, extend yours. You have that power,” she said. “I am so grateful you’re going to embark on your freshman year by going out to serve our city. Thank you. And welcome to Nashville!”
Belmont Director of Service Learning and event co-organizer Tim Stewart said the opportunity for students to serve in their new city is an intentional piece of the orientation experience at Belmont. “SERVE is essential because it heightens student connections to each other and the University, while connecting the students to their new community, too,” he said. “It helps each student realize that they are a part of something bigger than they may have realized at first.”
As an institution committed to service, students at Belmont are challenged to engage and transform the world throughout their time on campus and beyond. “The opportunity to serve within their first few days on campus is so important,” Stewart said, “because it sets the tone for each student’s time on campus. We believe that service is an integral part of who we are — it’s the Belmont way. Students are introduced to all aspects of student life during the first few days on campus, and service is an essential piece of being a member of the Belmont community.”
Freshman public relations major and SERVE participant Calista Ginn said the opportunity to serve alongside her fellow new students was an exciting way to learn more about her new home while doing good. “Serving is a great way to assimilate to the community and Nashville, especially for those of us who aren’t from around here,” she said. While serving at Cottage Cove, Ginn and her team completed many projects including cleaning the organization’s facility and bus, sorting donated items, painting and finishing landscaping work.
SERVE has partnered with Cottage Cove for many years and the organization’s Executive Director Brent MacDonald said Belmont students provide significant support for his team throughout the school year. “We’ve loved our partnership with Belmont for years,” he said. “We only have four staff members across two locations, so all our Belmont volunteers and work study students are a big help.”
Dan Keen, instructor of music business, recently signed a sub-publishing deal with Warner/Chappell Brazil in Rio de Janeiro.
Lecturer of Audio Engineering Technology Joe Baldridge recently recorded a No. 1 single, “
Admissions Coordinator for the Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business Ileia Hook participated in a number of projects that were released this summer. Hook’s projects include:
Sister Sadie
As an institution committed to service, students at Belmont are challenged to engage and transform the world throughout their time on campus and beyond. “The opportunity to serve within their first few days on campus is so important,” Stewart said, “because it sets the tone for each student’s time on campus. We believe that service is an integral part of who we are — it’s the Belmont way. Students are introduced to all aspects of student life during the first few days on campus, and service is an essential piece of being a member of the Belmont community.”