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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Cannonier Presents Paper at the London School of Economics

Hope Buckner
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Cannonier at the London School of EconomicsDr. Colin Cannonier, assistant professor of economics in Belmont’s Jack C. Massey College of Business, recently presented a paper at the inaugural International Health Policy Conference (IHPC) held at the London School of Economics (LSE) and Political Science in London.

The co-authored paper titled “Smoking, Health and Academic Outcomes – Evidence from a Limited Smoking Campus Policy” uses a rich representative data set to analyze the impact of a smoking policy on smoking behavior, health and academic outcomes of students at a mid-sized public university in the southern United States.

Ordinary least squares estimates show a significant reduction in the propensity to smoke cigarettes and cigars following the introduction of the policy. The authors also employ propensity score matching methods to control for endogeneity that may be associated with unmeasurable factors correlated with the policy and the outcomes of interest. Their most conservative estimates show a 22 percent decline in smoking participation attributable to the use of cigarettes as well as declines in smoking demand.  Although self-assessed health remains unaffected, the policy increases academic outcomes among students. Taken together, these findings have important policy implications for schools which are considering moving forward in instituting comprehensive smoking bans on college campuses.

The LSE IHPC seeks to bring together academic and policy-makers from a wide range of disciplines to take a multi-disciplinary approach to key health and social issues.

 

Mayor Barry Speaks on Role of Ethics in Government

Staff Writer
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Mayor Barry Speaks on Role of Ethics in Government

On March 22, Belmont’s Student Center for the Public Trust hosted Nashville Mayor Megan Barry to discuss the importance of social responsibility and ethics in both government and business. With a professional background as an ethics and compliance officer for several companies and membership on the Ethics Advisory Board, Barry spoke about the role ethics plays in various situations.

She began her discussion by stating that “people have to have faith that their government is ethical.” Without this faith rooted in the community, everything else can easily fall apart. She explained the relevance of the topic by stating that Tennessee is the state with the third highest number of corruptions in government in the U.S. and that the state also has more sheriffs in prison than any other state in the country.

After establishing our government’s need for ethical politicians, Barry said that while people usually have a pretty accurate sense of what is right and wrong, they often struggle with situations that involve two conflicting “rights.”

“We teach our kids to tell the truth. We also teach our kids to be loyal,” Barry said as an example. “The issue comes when they have to make a decision of both truth and loyalty.”

She continued on by providing several opportunities for students, faculty and staff to answer how they would handle situations involving conflicting values. Audience answers determined their “philosophical bent” which aims to explain whether one makes ethical decisions based on following rules, thinking through potential consequences or basing choices off relationships he or she has with those involved. Barry explained that it is important for leaders to know which decision-making style they fall under because each has its strengths and weaknesses.

Towards the end of her discussion, Barry worked through some of the potential barriers that employees or politicians might face when making ethical decisions. Studies have shown that many employees feel a high level of pressure in their workplaces, which can lead to making unethical choices or a fear of speaking up. If employees feel that they may be labeled as a “tattle-tale” or that they are putting their own job at risk by raising their hand when something seems off, they are much less likely to oppose unethical behavior. Barry said that employers have a responsibility to alleviate workplace pressures and create a space where employees feel safe enough to open a dialogue.

Barry concluded her lecture before opening the floor up to questions by stating that “trying to quantify and qualify what an ethical situation looks like has always been the biggest challenge” of setting up ethical expectations within an organization. Because ethics involves personal perspective, it remains a difficult task to measure how ethical a company or government acts over time.

Mathematics Students Give Presentations at MAA Meeting

Hope Buckner
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Mathematics Students Give Presentations at MAA Meeting

Belmont faculty and students attended the Mathematical Association of America (MAA) Southeastern Section meeting at Mercer University in Macon, Georgia on March 9-11.  Belmont mathematics majors Tucker Dowell, Allison Hardee, Emily Cottingham and Kailee Gerzema composed Belmont’s Math Jeopardy Team and competed in the tournament with 36 other teams.  The Belmont team successfully won their preliminary round and moved on to the semi-finals where they lost to Georgia College & State University.

Dowell gave a presentation on “Creating a Topological Adventure with Dungeons and Dragons.”  Hardee and Dowell gave a talk titled “Super-SET” together.  Gerzema and Dowell gave a presentation on “Plugging into the 3n+1Problem.”  Kruzan’s talk was on “Optimizing Checkout Times.” Students Savannah Halliday and Callie Deas also attended the conference.

Mathematics faculty who attended the conference included Drs. Andy Miller, Sarah Ann Fleming, Michelle Guinn and Ryan Fox. Miller and Fleming judged undergraduate presentations. Guinn was accepted into the MAA Southeastern section’s Project NExT (New Experiences in Teaching) and participated in talks and activities connected to the organization.

Murphree Introduces Insect Film at The Belcourt Theatre

Hope Buckner
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Murphree Introduces Insect Film at The Belcourt Theatre

Dr. Steve Murphree Head ShotDr. Steve Murphree, professor of biology and entomologist, gave an introduction to the film “An Introduction to Microcosmos” as part of the Belcourt Cinema’s Science on Screen series on Saturday, March 18. Insect specimens were on display in the lobby before and after the screening.

The Belcourt’s summary states “French filmmakers Claude Nuridsany and Marie Perennou bring us this gorgeous, detailed documentation of the day-to-day lives of a variety of insects inhabiting a meadow on a pleasant summer’s day. Reveling in the miniature dramas of its subjects, this triumphant celebration of the limitless wonders of nature uses cutting-edge time-lapse, slow-motion and macro photography to capture a world we rarely envision.”

During March, the Belcourt features Science on Screen® for the fourth year, a national initiative made possible through a grant by the Coolidge Corner Theatre, with support from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation and tied directly to the Belcourt’s ongoing education and engagement programs. The Belcourt is one of a select group of theatres nationwide to receive this grant. Science on Screen® is a series of film screenings accompanied by discussions with leading scientists, engineers, biologists and other experts.

Dr. Tracey Carter Selected as a 2017 Nashville Bar Foundation Fellow

Hope Buckner
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Dr. Tracey Carter Selected as a 2017 Nashville Bar Foundation Fellow

Tracey Carter Head ShotDr. Tracey Carter, assistant professor of law and director of academic success within Belmont University’s College of Law, is a new Fellow of the Nashville Bar Foundation (NBF). She and the other Class of 2017 NBF Fellows were recently honored at a black tie dinner on Saturday, March 11 at the Loews Vanderbilt Hotel.

The NBF Fellows Program allows the Bar to honor its colleagues who have contributed significantly to the community. Devotion to client service and to public interest is one of the hallmarks of the program. Fellows are selected by their colleagues within the legal community. Each class of Fellows is limited to approximately 2 percent of the Nashville Bar. Carter and other Fellows will be featured in an upcoming issue of the Nashville Bar Journal in celebration of this special honor.

Art Students Wow at ADDY Awards

Hope Buckner
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Art Students Wow at ADDY Awards

Belmont University’s Department of Art recently had two students, Erqing Xu and Destiny Keller, compete in the American Advertising “ADDY” Awards, sanctioned by the American Advertising Federation. Both students are junior design communications majors, and their entry fees were covered by generous Friends of the Arts at Belmont Art Committee members.

The awards honor the most outstanding creative work of both students and professionals from across the country. After the state level competition, award-winning entries are juried at the district level before going on to the national competition. Tennessee is a part of District 7, which includes Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi and Louisiana.

At the state level, Erqing won a Student Gold Award in the Book Design/Publication category for her illustrations for children’s book sleeves. She also won a Student Silver Award in the Packaging category for her designs for an integrated pot/plant carrier and related seed packets. That package design also won in the Gold Category at the District 7 level, which means her entry now goes on to the National American Advertising Award competition. The national competition occurs in early April. She worked in watercolor and ink, as well as the Adobe Creative Suite, for both designs.

Keller won a Student Silver Award in the Web or Mobile category at the state level for her branding and app designs for the Nashville MTA “EO” transit app, which provides users with the means to track locations, routes, maps and schedules for the Nashville MTA system via any Bluetooth connection. She also used the Adobe Creative Suite for her work.

Alumna Turns Heads – Literally – On New Season of ‘The Voice’

Staff Writer
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Alumna Turns Heads – Literally – On New Season of ‘The Voice’

Thomas' headshotNashville-based music artist, songwriter and alumna of Belmont’s Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business Andrea Thomas recently competed in the blind audition rounds of the newest season of NBC’s “The Voice.” Thomas’ cover of Allison Krauss’ hit “Baby, Now That I’ve Found You,” which aired on March 13, had audition judge and country singer Blake Shelton hitting his buzzer and turning his chair to claim her as part of his team for the rest of the season.

Thomas’s music career began at the young age of four when she sang with her parents’ ministry for the homeless on the streets of downtown Fort Worth, Texas. By age nine, Andrea was singing weekly on her grandfather’s TV music show, “Texas Country Gospel,” as well as in her local church choir. After moving to Nashville with her family later down the road, Thomas studied music business at Belmont and graduated in 2009.

Since her graduation, Thomas has been most recognized for her work as a back-up singer for Carrie Underwood. To view Thomas’s blind audition and read more about her experience, check out this article in The Tennessean.

Rock’n’Roll Hall of Fame Member Duane Eddy Visits Campus

Staff Writer
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On March 17, well-known Rock’n’Roll artist and guitar-soloing extraordinaire Duane Eddy visited Belmont University to share the stories and the successes behind his music career. Eddy, also known as “The Guitar Man,” shared with students what it was like to have a career in the 1950s.

While he was signed with Capital Records, Eddy had the chance to work with other musicians, including Paul McCartney of “The Beatles” and Jeff Lynne, before the major peaks in their careers. He discussed the reactions he would get from the audiences at his shows in England and how no one had ever heard music with a style similar to his.

Eddy concluded his talk by thanking students for coming to hear “their grandparents’ music” and listening to him tell his story. He was interviewed by Music Business Professor Dr. Donald Cusic.

Beggs Presents Nationwide Webinar on Addressing Needs of Patients Experiencing Homelessness

Hope Buckner
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Beggs Presents Nationwide Webinar on Addressing Needs of Patients Experiencing Homelessness

Ashton Beggs Head ShotCollege of Pharmacy Assistant Professor Dr. Ashton Beggs prepared and presented a nationwide webinar titled “Addressing the Health Needs of Patients Experiencing Homelessness and Other Underserved Populations” on March 9.

This webinar, hosted by the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy, was a collaborative effort with Lakesha Butler (SIU Edwardsville), Sharon Connor (University of Pittsburgh) and Cheryl Abel (MCPHS University). The program focused on describing common health concerns of patients experiencing homelessness and other underserved populations, providing examples of available community resources and partnerships to address health concerns of these populations and the role of the pharmacist in improving patient outcomes for these populations.

In addition to teaching in the classroom at Belmont, Beggs also teaches experientially as a clinical pharmacist at Neighborhood Health Mission Clinic, where she precepts fourth-year student pharmacists in providing patient care to adults experiencing homelessness in Nashville.

Belmont Law Student Dale Evans Selected for Prestigious Steiger Fellowship for Summer 2017

April Hefner
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Belmont Law Student Dale Evans Selected for Prestigious Steiger Fellowship for Summer 2017

Dale Evans HeadshotDale Evans, current second year student in Belmont University’s College of Law, was recently named as the only student selected for a Janet D. Steiger Fellowship in the Tennessee Attorney General’s office for Summer 2017. The 8-10 week fellowships were initiated in 2004 by the ABA Section of Antitrust Law to introduce law students to the rewards of legal careers in consumer protection, and Evans will serve in the office of the Tennessee Attorney General.

“The Steiger Fellowship Program provides an extraordinary opportunity that our Office is proud to support,” said Tennessee Attorney General Herbert H. Slatery III. “Accomplished law students experience firsthand the merits of working for a great state like Tennessee, while at the same time providing our Office with meaningful assistance on consumer protection cases. We appreciate our partnership with Belmont University and the high quality of students representing its College of Law.”

The Janet D. Steiger Fellowship Project provides law students the extraordinary opportunity to work in the consumer protection departments of state and territorial Offices of Attorneys General throughout the United States. Evans is currently working in the Consumer Advocate and Protection Division of the Tennessee Attorney General’s office.

A native of Gloucester, United Kingdom, Evans graduated from Lipscomb University in 2014 with a major in Law, Justice and Society. In addition to his spring field placement in the Tennessee Attorney General’s office, Evans also serves as the Mock Trial Division Captain for the Belmont Law Board of Advocates and as the Scoutmaster for Boy Scout Association Troop 131.

Evans said, “I see consumer protection law as a way to fight injustice in a lesser known but equally important field. While assistant district attorneys prosecuting criminals often take center stage, those lawyers who bring cases against companies who defraud their customers help to keep the marketplace safe and dependable for the general public. Courses at Belmont have given me the tools necessary to confidently engage this technical and complex field of law.  Knowledge of the Rules of Evidence and Civil Procedure is essential, and through rigorous instruction, Belmont’s professors have prepared me to use these rules to help protect the citizens of Tennessee.”

Belmont Law Dean Judge Alberto Gonzales added, “I was pleased to learn that Dale Evans, one of our second year law students, has been recently recognized as a Steiger Fellow with the Tennessee Attorney General’s office. This selection brings honor to Dale and to the Belmont University College of Law. “

Each of the highly motivated Steiger Fellows provides tangible, meaningful assistance to states and territories that are in substantial need of additional resources to fulfill their consumer protection mission. Offices that have hosted Steiger Fellows in the past have characterized the Fellows’ work as exemplary and have often described the students as some of the most talented interns the offices have ever attracted.

The Council of the Section approved funding for states to participate in the 2017 Steiger Fellowship Project. Each selected student will receive a $6,000 stipend (subject to certain federal taxes and administered through the offices of the state). This Project continues to be a tribute to the memory of the late Janet D. Steiger, one of America’s great public servants who, during her remarkable tenure as FTC Chairman, dramatically improved cooperation, communication and coordination between state and federal consumer protection and antitrust enforcement agencies.

About the College of Law

Belmont University’s College of Law provides a natural extension of the university’s mission and vision that emphasizes challenging academics, a service-minded approach, real-world experience and community leadership. The College is integrated into Belmont’s main campus and offers specialties in areas that complement the university’s nationally-known undergraduate programs including healthcare and entertainment and music business. Belmont law graduates will be practice-ready attorneys, empowered by their education and co-curricular experiences to provide legal counsel in a variety of settings with commitment to high standards of expertise and ethics.

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