Dr. Danny Biles, professor of mathematics, gave a presentation at the Fall Southeastern Sectional Meeting of the American Mathematical Society (AMS) held the at the University of Louisville on Oct. 5 and 6. Biles talk was titled “Existence of Positive Solutions for a Fourth Order Differential Inclusion” and was part of a special session on “Fixed Point Theorems and Applications to Integral, Difference and Differential Equations.” The AMS holds eight sectional meetings annually and this was the 1,092nd Meeting of the AMS Southeastern Sectional. The AMS was founded in 1888 to further the interests of mathematical research and scholarship, and to serve the national and international community through its publications, meetings, advocacy and other programs.
Biles Presents at Math Conference
Hatch Invited to Lecture at Tennessee Tech
Dr. Duane Hatch, assistant professor of chemistry, was invited to give a research talk to the Department of Chemistry at Tennessee Tech University, Cookeville, Tenn. on Sept. 20. The research talk was titled “Tyrosine Oxidation-Derived Electrophiles.”
Mathematics Students, Faculty Attend Actuaries Meeting
Dr. Danny Biles, professor of mathematics, and eight Belmont students attended the annual fall meeting of the Casualty Actuaries of the Southeast (CASE) at PricewaterhouseCoopers in Atlanta, Ga. on Sept. 25. The Belmont students are mathematics majors completing the Actuarial Track, which includes a business minor, and are members of the Belmont Actuarial Student Society. The meeting gave the students an opportunity to gain knowledge of current issues in the actuarial profession and to make contacts with several practicing actuaries. Those attending were Whit Whitson, Mallory White, Alice Curtis, Stephen Sells, Lesya Zhukovska, Annie Brunelle, Mary Yang and Savannah Halliday.
Political Science Alumnus Receives White House Scholarship
Belmont political science and English alumnus Kristopher Hill, now breaking news reporter for The Spokane Spokesman Review, received a White House Correspondents Association Scholarship while completing his master’s degree in journalism at the University of Missouri. In celebration of this honor, he attended the 2013 White House Correspondents Dinner. Those who know Hill say they hope he will one day return to host the event, as he describes himself as an amateur comedian. While at Belmont, Hill also ran cross country and track for the Bruins.
Mass Communication Student Blogs for Huffington Post
Mass communications student Libby Oellerich has become a blogger for The Huffington Post. Oellerich’s blog, called The Local Lady, supports small businesses and local artisans in Nashville by sharing their stories. The idea for the blog originated from a class project Oellerich completed for Dr. Sybril Bennett, professor of journalism, where students had to design a mobile app that also involved developing a blog. The blog’s slogan is “Embracing Authenticity and One-of-a-kind Legacies,” and Oellerich’s goal is to develop strong relationships with the businesses she highlights so that the blog’s followers are in the know about local homegrown products. With the encouragement of Bennett, Oellerich contacted Arianna Huffington about her blog, from which Huffington put Oellerich in touch with her blog editor. The Local Lady blog appears in the Huffington College and Huffington Small Business sections. Click here to read Oellerich’s most recent article.
University-Wide Box Drive to Bring Hope to Orphans
A small shoe box gave a Russian orphan hope and desire for more than the life she was living, and now Belmont has begun an initiative to bring that great joy to hundreds more children.
Forsaken by her prostitute mother and alcoholic father, Oksana Nelson became an orphan at age seven. Although she no longer had to steal food or spend nights on the street, she recalled the orphanage as a “difficult and challenging place.” There she shared one toilet, one sink, one bar of soap and one toothbrush with more than two dozen other children.
“Many other orphans who aged out of the system at 16 turned to drugs and prostitution to survive,” said Nelson, a spokeswoman for Operation Christmas Child, who shared her story during chapel in early October to kick off a University-wide service project. “We saw that and thought it was the path for our lives. You see, we were taught that we were the bottom of society and that we would never amount to anything. You were an orphan because you were an inconvenience, a nuisance; you were just in the way and not supposed to happen.”
At age nine, missionaries came to her orphanage, played games with the children and shared the Gospel.
Paisley to Receive Harmony Award from Symphony
Country artist and Belmont alumnus Brad Paisley will receive the 2013 Harmony Award at the 29th annual Symphony Ball. The award will be presented on Sat., Dec. 14, at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center, where Paisley will join the orchestra to perform one of his hits.
Each December, at its annual Symphony Ball fundraiser, the Nashville Symphony presents the Harmony Award to an individual who exemplifies the harmonious spirit of Nashville’s thriving musical community. “As one of country music’s biggest stars, Brad has made a huge impact by staying true to his artistic and personal vision,” says Alan Valentine, CEO and president of the Nashville Symphony. “We can’t think of anyone today more deserving of this award, which over the years has honored the many artists who’ve helped make Nashville the thriving creative capital that it is today. Without a doubt, Brad’s talents and contribution to the music of Nashville have been outstanding.”
A 1995 graduate with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree, Paisley majored in music business at what was then the Mike Curb School of Music Business. Last year he established the Brad Paisley Endowed Scholarship at Belmont to provide financial assistance for a deserving student with demonstrated need who is studying in the Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business.
Belmont Production Voted Best by Nashville Scene
This year’s “Best of Nashville” issue from the Nashville Scene released on Thursday, and Belmont’s musical theatre students, faculty and staff received special recognition for their work on last spring’s production of Les Miserables. Writer Martin Brady noted, “University faculty joined with some imported professional talent to mount the project, and a gifted ensemble of performers from the school’s excellent music and theater programs infused the staging with presence and wonderful voices.”
Dr. Jeffery Burgin Appointed Associate Provost and Dean of Students
Current Alabama A&M vice president to lead student affairs division
Following an extensive nationwide search, Belmont University announced today that Dr. Jeffery Burgin, current vice president for student affairs at Alabama A&M University, is being named associate provost and dean of students, effective Dec 1.
In his new position at Belmont, Burgin will serve as the chief student affairs officer for the University, exercising broad oversight of the University’s student affairs programs and operations. He will be responsible for fostering the building of community among students and between student groups while empowering the staff and students in the Division of Student Affairs to be effective educators and leaders for student success.
Belmont Provost Dr. Thomas Burns said, “Dr. Burgin is a student-centered leader with a history of fostering a positive, engaging, supportive student environment on the campuses he has served. We are extremely excited to welcome such a successful leader to the Belmont community.”
Burgin noted, “I am deeply indebted to Alabama A & M University for the opportunities provided to me and my family. I am ecstatic about new opportunities at Belmont University and working with Dr. Burns. The warmth from students, faculty, staff and administration I felt during my visit was a selling point for me. I look forward to many collaborative efforts as we assist in the academic and social development of our students. I would also like to commend Dr. Becky Spurlock and the student affairs staff for the excellent work they have done during this transitional period. I know there will be many future successes.”
Missionaries Share Stories ‘Through the Eyes of Others’
Christian missionaries Keren Madora and Kristene Diggins spoke to students about their lives of service working among the Piraha tribe in the Amazon on Thursday night in the Curb Event Center at the 2013-2014 First Year Seminar convocation. Sponsored by the Office of General Education and Student Government Association, this event addressed the university theme of “Through the Eyes of Others.”
Diggins is the daughter of Madora and Dan Everett, the author of FYS common book, “Don’t Sleep, There Are Snakes.” They lived the experiences written about in the book. Madora has worked with the Piraha for more than three decades. Diggins, who grew up as a child with the Piraha, is now a nurse who provides a clinic for the Piraha and other indigenous tribes in the Amazon.
Madora spoke about her experience learning the language of the Piraha. She related her studies to those of the students at Belmont. “[God] is the author of all truth. Whatever we are called to do, we should seek his face. Make prayer a major component of your learning,” Madora said.
Diggins shared with students her experience growing up alongside the Piraha. She spoke of the importance of discovering one’s purpose in life, quoting from John 10:10, “I have come that you may have life.” She explained that God guides us to discover our purpose.
The event concluded with a Q&A with students moderated by Belmont sophomore Jeanette Morelan.
The General Education program at Belmont University fosters the skills, knowledge, perspectives, values and dispositions that will enable students to apply their understandings and abilities beyond the classroom, encouraging them to become responsibly engaged in their community and in the world.
