Assistant Professor of Music Business Cheryl Slay has published an article in the Tennessee Jazz and Blues Society news concerning a study she has undertaken about the prevalence of live jazz performance venues in Nashville called “Where’s the Jazz in Music City?” The article informs readers that the study is underway and invites their participation in her research. It has generated a very positive response from Nashville jazz venue owners, media and artists who have all expressed interest in contributing to the dialogue, and who will be interviewed by Slay. The study is part of a paper she will present at the Jazz Education Network conference in January. Click here to read the full article.
Education, Interns Attend State Educational Technology Conference
English faculty Sally Barton-Arwood, Lauren Lunsford, & Kate McGowan and interns attended a variety of sessions at the Tennessee Educational Technology Conference where they learned about Web 2.0 applications for the classroom, ways to integrate technology in teaching and collaboration, and even how to develop an application. All who attended said they brought back an enormous amount of information and a number of tools for improving teaching and student learning.
Dream Horse Press Publishes McDowell’s Work
English Assistant Professor Gary McDowell has had a second full-length book of poems accepted for publishing. This book, Weeping at a Stranger’s Funeral, will be published by Dream Horse Press in 2013.
Trowbridge Elected PRSA Southeast District Chairman-Elect
The presidents of Public Relations Society of America chapters across the southeast unanimously elected public relations Assistant Professor Kevin Trowbridge to serve as the chairman-elect of the PRSA Southeast District in 2013. He will assume the role of District Chairman in 2014.
PRSA is the world’s largest and foremost organization of public relations professionals with more than 21,000 members, divided into 10 districts and more than 100 chapters. The Southeast District includes 11 chapters in Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee, representing about 2,000 PRSA members.
The Southeast District provides a vital link between local chapters and the national organization. The District Council, comprised of a chair, chair-elect, secretary, treasurer, directors-at-large and chapter presidents, is responsible for offering professional and leadership development at the regional and local levels that complement national programming and cultivating outstanding representatives at the district level who can contribute to the broader community of PRSA. In his role as chairman-elect, Trowbridge will support the work of the District Council and, specifically, will oversee the District’s 2013 Leadership Rally, which is held annually.
Trowbridge has been actively involved in local and district leadership roles with PRSA since 2005. Most recently, he served as chair of the programming committee for the district’s 2012 professional development conference held in September. Previously, he served in various board positions with the PRSA Lookout Chapter in Chattanooga, including president, vice president and liaison to the Public Relations Student Society of America chapters.
Arts & Business Council Announces New Partnership with Belmont University
The Arts & Business Council of Greater Nashville announces a partnership with Belmont University beginning January 2013. The partnership will advance the educational and charitable purposes of both organizations by leveraging and uniting their unique resources along with the arts and business communities to create a thriving, sustainable creative culture in Nashville.
“The partnership with Belmont University will be a springboard for organizational growth and innovation in our work to make Nashville a place where the creative culture thrives,” said Casey Summar, executive director of the Arts & Business Council. “We are thrilled to find alignment with Belmont’s priorities and become a nonprofit in residence on campus.”
Belmont President Dr. Bob Fisher said, “Partnering with the Arts & Business Council makes perfect sense in light of Belmont’s vision for increased engagement with and service to the Nashville community. In addition, this partnership allows our students more opportunities for experiential education in a number of areas that represent popular fields of study, including music business, the performing arts, business and law.”
Philosophy Department Celebrates New Journal of Philosophy
The philosophy department celebrated the release of their new philosophy journal, Philologoi, on Nov. 13. The name, meaning “love of reason,” is the name of the philosophy discussion group that meets each week.
Many of the students and faculty who were involved in the creation of the journal spoke during the release event and reflected on how the journal was brought to fruition. The process, from formulating the initial idea to the final publication, has been driven by students. The idea was first mentioned over a year ago, and the students and faculty of the philosophy department have worked to finally make the journal a reality. Submissions for the journal were received from a number of schools across the country, but few were accepted for admission into the final journal.
Those involved look forward to increasing the prestige and prominence of Philologoi in the future. Though a large number of applicants from a variety of schools did apply, the journal hopes that even more schools will be represented next year by a greater number of applicants, with even better quality of submissions.
To become involved or receive a copy of our first edition, contact Managing Editor Melanie Walton at melanie.walton@belmont.edu.
Science Symposium Puts Students Research on Display Dec. 3
The School of Sciences will hold the Science Undergraduate Research Symposium (SURS) on Dec. 3 in Beaman A&B. The symposium will open with keynote speaker Kate Ratfliff, a Belmont alumna now an assistant professor of psychology at the University of Florida. Ratliff will be give a talk titled “Guilt-by-Association: Understanding Stereotype Formation.”
The student poster session will take place from 5:15-6 p.m. in the Maddox Grand Atrium following Ratliff’s keynote. Oral presentations will begin at 5:30 p.m. in Hitch Science Building rooms 109, 207, 408 and 420. Though all oral presentations will begin at 5:30 p.m., ending times will vary from room to room. A total of 35 oral presentations will be given, and the latest will last until 8:30 p.m. Convocation credit will be given for this event.
Model United Nations Students Attend Conference
Belmont University Model United Nations students Rezzan Hekmat, Mary Yang, Melinda Price, Joseph Minga, Anna Jones, John Palmer Rea, Emily Cox, Charlie Dankert, Holly Morgan, Stefanie Faull, Shante Piche, Deya Malda and Philip Morris, accompanied by Political Science Assistant Professor Susan Jellissen, were delegates to the American Model United Nations conference held in Chicago from Nov. 17 through 20.
As delegates representing China, the students tackled pressing issues, such as global disarmament, protecting human rights in the context of countering terrorism and human trafficking. After researching their respective topics for several months, the students spent an intensive three days caucusing and deliberating with 1,500 students from over 150 other schools, thus gaining an experiential insight into the workings of the actual United Nations.
Belmont’s Model UN club will represent Denmark at the 2013 AMUN conference in Chicago.
Belmont Faculty Present at Lily International Conference
Eight Belmont faculty traveled to Miami University in Oxford, Ohio for the 32nd Lilly International Conference on College Teaching Nov. 15 through 18 .
Professor of Psychological Science Pete Giordano presented “Relational Virtuosity in the College Classroom: What Teachers Can Learn From Classical Confucianism.” He also presented with colleagues Professor of Computer Science Joyce Crowell , Professor of Religion Steve Simpler and Professor of Art David Ribar “Valuing the Hidden Curriculum: Stimulating Teaching Vitality in Mid- and Late-Career Faculty.” Assistant Professor of English Sue Trout and Professor Emeritus of Philosophy Mike Awalt contributed to the presentation but could not attend the conference.
Professor of English Annette Sisson, Assistant Professor of Honors Kristine LaLonde and Professor of Religion Steve Simpler presented “Learning By Doing: Assessing the Relationship Between Liberal Learning and Experiential Education.” Colleagues Jason Lovvorn and Linda Holt of the Department of English attended the conference as well.
Lilly Conferences are retreats that combine workshops, discussion sessions, and major addresses, with opportunities for informal discussion about excellence in college and university teaching and learning. Internationally-known scholars join new and experienced faculty members and administrators from all over the world to discuss topics such as gender differences in learning, incorporating technology into teaching, encouraging critical thinking, using teaching and student portfolios, implementing group learning and evaluating teaching. Click here for more information about the conference.
Biles, Ward Advise Student Projects
Mathematics and Computer Science Professor Danny Biles and Assistant Professor Barbara Ward advised several projects from their Predictive Analytics course for the Tennessee Academy of Science Centennial Meeting on Nov. 16 at Vanderbilt University. Belmont students Alice Curtis, Andrew Trask and Mary Yang gave oral presentations, while Annie Brunelle, Angela Gaetano, Ayesha Ghaffar, Dan Huenecke and Whit Whitson presented posters.
The Tennessee Academy of Science seeks to promote scientific research and the diffusion of knowledge concerning science; to secure communication between persons engaged in scientific work, especially in Tennessee; to assist by investigation and discussion in developing and making known the material, educational and other resource and riches of the state; to arrange and prepare for publication such reports of investigations and discussions as they further the aims and objectives of the Academy.
