Barbara Ward and Keeley White, Mathematics Department faculty, along several Belmont students recently attended the University of Tennessee Mathematics Department’s Sixth Annual Undergraduate Math Conference on April 21 in Knoxville, Tenn. This conference gave undergraduate students a chance to present their mathematical research and to meet other undergraduates and hear about their research. This conference was sponsored by the University of Tennessee Mathematics Department and the National Science Foundation.
Students in Barbara Ward’s Regression Analysis class attended the conference as part of the class and presented their research. Alina Lepkowski and Angela Gaetano did a presentation together titled, “Exploring Artistic and Creative Interests of Students.” Alice Curtis did a presentation titled, “Colossal Corn.” At the poster session Brad Weaver presented “A Regression Analysis of the American Frown” and Megan McElmurray presented “Predicting an Incoming College Freshman’s Major”.
Dr. Eric Hobson, of the Department of Pharmaceutical, Social & Administrative Sciences, had his poster titled Economics of Reciprocity in Strong NGO-Academic Global Health Partnerships accepted to be presented at the annual meeting Pharmacy Education 2012 of the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy in July.
As the first step in a longitudinal analysis of strong, long-term medical mission partnerships between NGOs and academic institutions, this qualitative project identifies equity-sensitivity profiles, ROI assumptions, and partnership equity assessments from the organizational leadership of two entities engaged in a long-term, mutually-beneficial medical missions project serving the children of Guatemala: The Shalom Foundation and the Belmont University College of Pharmacy.
A recent book by Dr. Steven Guthrie of the School of Religion was named one of the 2011 Top Ten Books for Parish Ministry, by the Academy of Parish Clergy. The book, Resonant Witness: Conversations between Music and Theology, was co-edited by Guthrie and Professor Jeremy Begbie of Duke University, and includes contributions from music historians, music theorists, composers, philosophers and theologians. Click here to read the publisher’s announcement of the award.
On April 14, Dr. Steve Murphree, entomologist and professor of biology at Belmont University, along with more than 20 scientists and local research students, participated in the Adventure Science Center’s Got Science? Program. The scientists were there to share their area of expertise using hands-on demonstrations and interactive activities.
Topics included DNA, nanotechnology, neuroscience, entomology, alternative energy, genetics, astrophysics, forensics, materials science, the human body, microbiology, engineering and pharmacology. Murphree let guests have a close-up encounter with his collection of ticks and educated visitors about the behavior of ticks, how botanical extracts can be used as tick repellents and human diseases carried by ticks.
Visitors also learned to recognize commonly encountered tick species, how to avoid ticks and how to remove ticks once attached. Murphree was joined by Libby Thorndike, one of his undergraduate research students, who provided great assistance in describing her research on tick repellency to the public.
Colin Hemphill, a Belmont senior majoring in Computer Science and Audio Engineering Technology, and Josh Sheehy, a Belmont senior majoring in Computer Science, placed second in the Best Student Paper Competition at the recent Association for Computing Machinery Southeast Conference (ACM/SE). Their paper, “Finding Effective Search Strategies for the TwoBik Puzzle,” was one of a dozen undergraduate and graduate student papers accepted for presentation at the conference. The 50th Annual ACM/SE drew 183 students, faculty and professionals in computer science to Tuscaloosa, Ala. on March 29-31.
Marjorie Halbert, director of musical theatre in the School of Music, recently returned from New York City with 13 musical theatre seniors who presented a Senior Showcase for approximately 50 industry specialists in musical theatre in New York City. Norm Lewis, star of Broadway’s current production of Porgy and Bess, was in attendance, along with other prominent Broadway actors, choreographers, directors, music directors, casting agents and representatives from talent agencies.
There were three performances, with the last being specifically targeted to attract Belmont alumni and former students who reside in New York City. A strong, enthusiastic group of alumni was present to watch the current Belmont students perform along with several students’ families and friends, who traveled to New York for the showcase performance. The musical theatre students were accompanied by Cynthia Curtis, dean of the College of Visual & Performing Arts, as well as musical theatre faculty members Marjorie Halbert, David Shamburger and Jo Lynn Burks. This was the fourth New York City Senior Showcase. The event was held in the Laurie Beechman Theatre at the West Bank Café on Theatre Row, 42nd Street.
Following two ‘sold-out’ Portland events, Storyline expands across the country
Donald Miller
New York Times best-selling author Donald Miller is bringing his Storyline Conference to Belmont University May 6-7. Based on his best-selling book A Million Miles in a Thousand Years, Storyline is an intimate two-day conference that walks registrants through the steps of writing a life-plan using the elements of story.
The conference arrives in Nashville fresh on the heels of the April 13 release of Blue Like Jazz, a movie based in part on Miller’s own life story. Previously held in Portland, Ore., Storyline has sold out both years and has expanded to Nashville in 2012. Belmont faculty, staff and Students are now being offered a $99 registration to the two-day conference. Click here to learn more on how to take advantage of this discount (must use Belmont email address to register). In addition, residential students will also have the opportunity to remain in their on campus housing for the event (contact Residence Life at reslife@belmont.edu for more details).
“We’re excited to bring Storyline to Belmont University and help registrants put their life on a map so they can know where they’re headed,” said Donald Miller, “When you know your story, you’ll better understand your purpose, and you’ll live with greater efficiency and impact.”
Miller will guide the registrants through five sessions and accompanying modules to help them map their life story. In addition to the sessions, registrants will be treated to appearances from a number of special guests, including:
Bob Goff, the founder and CEO of Restore International, a non-profit organization which was established to address the atrocities and injustices committed against children. An attorney who also serves as the Hon. Consul for the Republic of Uganda to the United States, Goff will release his first book, Love Does: Discover a Secretly Incredible Life in an Ordinary World (Thomas Nelson), on May 1.
Amy Grant, Grammy-winning, multi-platinum selling artist. Grant’s career spans over 25 years and stretches from her roots in gospel into an iconic pop star, songwriter, television personality, author and philanthropist. Grant has sold more than 30 million albums and won six Grammys in multiple categories.
Jamie Tworkowski, founder of To Write Love on Her Arms, a non-profit organization dedicated to presenting hope and finding help for people struggling with depression, addiction, self-injury and suicide. TWLOHA was recently awarded a one million dollar grant at the first Chase American Giving Awards, which will help the organization continue to provide treatment and spread its message of hope and help.
Attorney/author Bob Goff will appear as a special guest at Storyline Nashville.
Christy Ridings, the associate university minister for Belmont University, said, “Having participated in the Storyline conference in Portland last year, I recognized its potential for the collegiate generation as they reflect upon their own lives within the context of narrative. Donald Miller is a long-time friend of Belmont, and he actually helped launch our Living a Better Story initiative, which challenges students to think differently about their world and to live to their fullest potential. We are excited to welcome Donald Miller back to Belmont.”
About Donald Miller Donald Miller is best known for his book Blue Like Jazz which spent 43 weeks on the New York Times Best Sellers list and sold over 1.5 million copies and has recently been adapted into a film which had its World Premiere at the 2012 South by Southwest (SXSW) Film Festival. In addition to his writing and conference speaking, Miller is the founder of The Mentoring Project, a national organization that provides mentors for children growing up in fatherless homes. He also served on The Presidential Task Force on Fatherhood and Healthy Families and advised the White House on policy decisions regarding American families.
Belmont President Dr. Bob Fisher presents the Heart of Belmont Award to Margaret Shores.
The annual Scholarship and Awards Day convocation, a year-end celebration of academic achievement, was held Wednesday morning in the Massey Performing Arts Center.
Dr. Jennifer Thomas, recipient of the 2011 Chaney Distinguished Professor Award, gave the Honors Address for the ceremony, noting, “Honored students and professors, as you continue in your academic and life achievements, be kind to yourself… be grateful, embrace mistakes, ask for help and take risks. Most importantly, though, share these gifts and talents that you have and be a good example for others. Your words and actions are so enormously powerful.” To read the entire address, click the link: Awards day address-Thomas-S12.
Students honored in Wednesday’s ceremony included:
The Williams-Murray First Year Writing Awards: Nathan Tinnell and Julienne Irwin The Alfred Leland Crabb Awards: Zach Selby and Jesse Johnson The Stacy Awalt Writing Awards: Kent Toalson and Elli Whiteway The Annette Sisson First Year Writing Award: Stephen Braxton Fralick The Lumos Travel Award: Shirah Foy, Alexandra Haas, Rainu Ittycheriah, Lindsey Ricker, Alyssa Meisterling, Derek Price and Brent Shively The John Williams Heart of Belmont Award: Margaret Lynne Shores The First Year Award, Leadership: Brennon Reid Mobley The Second Year Award, Leadership: Kelsey N. Maguire The Third Year Award, Leadership: Andrew E. Bishop The Fourth Year Award, Leadership: Shirah Eden Foy
Provost Dr. Thomas Burns presents the Chaney Distinguished Faculty Award to Dr. Rich Tiner.
In addition to student award winners, Dr. Rich Tiner, professor of media studies, was named the 2012 Chaney Distinguished Professor. The Chaney Distinguished Professor Award, determined on the basis of superior teaching, is presented each year to a faculty member who best represents the vision of the university to be a “premier teaching institution.”
Tiner said, “What a pleasant—and humbling—surprise! For me, this is a tribute to some terrific students, who make me look good by coming to class well-prepared and ready to engage. They make my work pure joy.”
Dr. Leslie Folds, associate professor of nursing, was awarded the 2012 Presidential Faculty Achievement Award. The Presidential Faculty Achievement Award is presented each year to a faculty member who has made outstanding contributions to student life outside the classroom. The award honors and recognizes excellence in faculty-student relationships, special abilities in meeting student needs – academic, personal and professional – and symbolizes Belmont University’s commitment to being a student-centered institution.
Folds said, “I feel so honored, blessed and humbled to receive the Presidential Faculty Achievement Award and to work at Belmont University where the focus for all of us as administrators, faculty and staff is to use our unique gifts to serve students. Every decision I make, I always ask myself ‘How will this impact my students?’”
CeCe Winans and husband Alvin Love spoke to Belmont students last February at a Christian Faith Development convo.
Tickets still available for Saturday night’s President’s Concert
Belmont University’s School of Music will honor legendary gospel singer CeCe Winans with the Applause Award at Saturday night’s annual President’s Concert. The Applause Award is given each year to a person or organization that has greatly benefited the arts community in Nashville. The President’s Concert honors the leadership of Belmont President Bob Fisher and celebrates the talent and diversity of the School of Music at Belmont. Tickets to the concert, which starts at 8 p.m., will be available for purchase for $15 at the doors of the Massey Performing Arts Center. Seating is general admission.
One of the most recognizable voices in gospel music, CeCe Winans has sold millions of albums during her 25-year music career. The charismatic singer has won numerous awards including eight Grammy Awards and 21 Dove Awards in addition to gold and platinum albums and several number one Gospel and Top Ten R&B hits. Moreover, she has a reputation as one of the friendliest people in the music industry. In addition to singing, Winans has demonstrated her acting skills in TV sitcoms such as “Living Single” and hosted her own TV series, “CeCe’s Place,” for the Odyssey cable channel. She penned an autobiography, On a Positive Note, and co-wrote Throne Room, a worship journal and a devotional book for teenage girls. In 2005, she founded the youth and young adult conference Always Sisters Forever Brothers, an annual event which will be held on the campus of Belmont University this July. Both of Winans’ children graduated from Belmont University, and CeCe Winans is a former Belmont trustee.
The President’s Concert features School of Music student ensembles and groups that highlight the musical diversity of the program. The Applause Award is presented during the concert. All funds raised by the dinner and concert provide scholarships for students in the College of Visual and Performing Arts, which includes the School of Music as well as the Department of Art and the Department of Theatre and Dance.
Previous Applause Award honorees include Earl Swensson (ESa), the Grand Ole Opry, ASCAP, Eddy Arnold, Chet Atkins, The Beaman Family Foundation, BMI, Patricia Taylor Bullard, Cheekwood Botanical Garden and Museum of Art, James Cotham, Frist Center for the Visual Arts, Vince Gill and Amy Grant, Donna Hilley, Ronn Huff, Martha Ingram, Nashville Ballet, Nashville Opera, Nashville Symphony, Barbara Massey Rogers, SESAC, Steinway & Sons, Kenneth Schermerhorn, Tennessee Repertory Theatre, Jerry Warren and Sam Wilson.
Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Leign Ann Bynum was recently selected to have her poster titled Factors Influencing Organizational Citizenship Behaviors Among Pharmacy Faculty presented at the annual Pharmacy Education 2012 meeting of the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy in July.
In her study, Bynum and her team tested the effects of perceived psychological contract breach, equity sensitivity and identity salience on the performance of organizational citizenship behaviors (OCB) directed towards Schools of Pharmacy by Pharmacy faculty. The effects that discipline and pharmacy licensure status have on OCB were also examined.
Barbara Ward and Keeley White, Mathematics Department faculty, along several Belmont students recently attended the University of Tennessee Mathematics Department’s Sixth Annual Undergraduate Math Conference on April 21 in Knoxville, Tenn. This conference gave undergraduate students a chance to present their mathematical research and to meet other undergraduates and hear about their research. This conference was sponsored by the University of Tennessee Mathematics Department and the National Science Foundation.
