Dr. Cathy Ficzere of the Department of Pharmaceutical, Social and Administrative Sciences had her manuscript Curriculum and Instructional Methods for Drug Information, Literature Evaluation, and Biostatistics: Survey of Pharmacy Schools accepted for publication in the journal Annals of Pharmacotherapy. An electronic survey was developed and administered to assess pharmacy school curricula and characterize faculty qualifications, educational methods, and recent changes in drug information. The overall outcome of the study shows an increased focus on evidence-based medicine, medication safety, and informatics.
Ficzere Published in Annals of Pharmacotherapy
Professor Writes New Reading
Steve Leslie, an adjunct songwriting professor for Belmont’s Curb College, has collaborated with Len Cohan to write Umbrella: A Love Story with Songs. The Nashville Metro Parks Theatre Department New Reading Series production was Feb. 13 at Nashville’s Looby Theatre.
Belmont Student Named Miss Black Tennessee
Belmont student Natalie Newbill was recently chosen as Miss Black Tennessee through an interview process done by the chief executive officer of the Miss Black USA organization.
Passionate about her platform entitled “Be At (R)espect.(I)ntegrity.(S)elf-esteem.(K)knowledge” Newbill says her favorite part about being Miss Black Tennessee is the ability to make a difference in the lives of teenagers.
“I get to take my platform across the state of Tennessee and make an impact. It is so easy for us to get caught up in making appearances, but an appearance is nothing without an impact,” she said. Newbill hopes to use this platform to raise self-esteem in adolescents to dream big and believe in their abilities.
Newbill recently traveled to Washington, D.C. to participate in a red dress photo shoot for the Heart Truth campaign, a national sponsor for Miss Black USA. Through that trip Newbill was then selected to be one of five models in a “I love the brown skin I’m in” shoot.
Newbill hopes to continue her Be At Risk programming with a state-wide rally.
Belmont Student Performs at First Lady’s Rally
Belmont junior music business major Katelyn Epperly recently sang at First Lady Michelle Obama’s three-day national tour kick-off event. Held in Des Moines, Iowa the event was to celebrate the second birthday of the “Let’s Move” campaign.
An Iowa native and finalist on American Idol in 2010, Epperly said she has made many connections through events and charity work that lead to recommendations for valuable opportunities to perform, such as for the “Lets Move” campaign.
“I’m always appreciative of opportunities like this and everything that the people at HyVee continue to do for me. It’s opened so many doors for me, and I hope more to come,” Epperly said.
Click here to view the rally and Epperly’s performance.
Sport Science Homecoming Dinner and Speaker Panel
The Department of Sport Science sponsored an event Feb. 17 with Alumni Relations for current undergraduate majors as well as 
Master of Sport Administration students and alumni. The event included a dinner and panel discussion hosted by Belmont’s own, Harry Chapman, with sport industry professionals. The impressive line-up of panelist this year included Beth DeBauche, OVC commissioner; Debbie Williamson, secretary-editor for the NCAA’s Women’s Basketball Rules Committee; Casey Carter, assistant athletic trainer for the Tennessee Titans; and Gregg Williams, defensive coordinator for the St. Louis Rams.
Each of the panelist brought a different perspective to the discussion and offered advice on how to succeed in the sport industry.
Coach Williams explained we should “treat each day like it’s an interview, always doing the best we can in our lives.”
Commissioner DeBauche told the audience to go for it with future career decisions, often times we are our own worst enemy by not even applying for a job opportunity.
Speech and Debate Team Clinch State Championship
The Belmont University Speech and Debate team was crowned the state champion team at the Tennessee Intercollegiate Forensics Association (TIFA) state tournament, held Feb. 18-19 at Tennessee Tech University in Cookeville, Tenn. Overall, the team won first place in individual events, second place in debate, as well as being the top combined team in the state. Below is the list of awards Belmont students received:
Debate:
Eric Schoen – 2nd place varsity debater
Nicole Bright – 6th place varsity debater
Lisa Sekscinski & Matthew Roberts – tied for 7th place varsity debater
Nicole Bright & Lisa Sekscinski – 2nd place debate team
Matthew Roberts & Jenni Gustafson – Semi-finalist debate team
Individual Events:
Extemporaneous Speaking:
Eric Schoen – 1st place
Jenni Gustafson – 3rd place
Matthew Roberts – 4th place
Nicole Bright – 6th place
Persuasive Speaking:
Jenni Gustafson – 1st place
Matthew Roberts – 2nd place
Prose Interpretation:
Eric Schoen – 2nd place
After Dinner Speaking:
Nicole Bright – 1st place
Eric Schoen – 2nd place
Impromptu Speaking:
Eric Schoen – 2nd place
Nicole Bright – 3rd place
Bryan Meehan – 4th place
Jenni Gustafson – 5th place
Informative Speaking:
Eric Schoen – 1st place
Matthew Roberts – 3rd place
Programmed Oral Interpretation:
Eric Schoen – 1st place
Nicole Bright – 5th place
Communication Analysis:
Matthew Roberts – 3rd place
Jenni Gustafson – 4th place
Duo Interpretation:
Eric Schoen/Katie Callaway – 1st place
Nicole Bright/Katie Callaway – 3rd place
Pentathalon – Top Speakers:
Eric Schoen – 1st place
Nicole Bright – 2nd place
Jenni Gustafson – 3rd place
Kallie Callaway – 5th place
Matthew Roberts – 6th place
Final Results:
Debate Team: 2nd place
IE Team: 1st place
Overall Team: 1st place
Neurobiology Class Visits Vanderbilt Laboratory
Dr. Lori McGrew (Biology) recently took her Neurobiology class to visit Dr. Al George’s laboratory at Vanderbilt University to 
explore techniques in neuroscience. Dr. Chris Thompson, a postdoctoral fellow in the George lab, explained how the lab’s work helps to facilitate understanding and treatment of epilepsy. Students were also able to observe Dr. Thompson record electrical activity in mouse hippocanpal neurons.
Bruins Return to Campus for Homecoming 2012
Homecoming 2012 was a success with alumni returning to campus to make their “Destination: Belmont.”
The week-long celebration began Feb. 13 and featured several concerts, a residence hall banner competition for students, a campus-wide pep rally and bonfire and concluded with a basketball doubleheader.
Hope Cooper, a senior studying public relations and education, and Taylor Dillon, a junior studying management, were elected Homecoming Queen and King. Also on the Homecoming Court were Bianca Edwards, Katie Hudson, Shirah Foy, Shai Wilkins, Johnathan Butler, Kevin Deschler, Jordan Kirkdorffer and Rami Nofal.
A highlight of Belmont’s Homecoming 2012 week was the Fourth Annual Alumni Art Exhibit, which opened Jan. 23 and runs through Feb. 24. The exhibit showcases the artwork of several esteemed alumni and is being held in the Leu Center for the Visual Arts in Gallery 121. The exhibit features multiple mediums to depict this year’s University theme of “Wealth and Poverty.” The alumni whose works are represented–L.A. Bachman (’06), Matt Chenoweth (’07), Paul Chenoweth (’08), Bethany Taylor (’07), Leah Tumerman (’05), Laura Amstutz Weibezahn (’08), and Ron York (’75)–responded to an open call to all Belmont graduates.
Belmont 2002 graduate Eric McLaughlin returned to campus Feb. 15 for the Homecoming Chapel to discuss the work he, his family and others doctors are doing in Africa. Dr. Peter Kuryla, professor of history, gave the Simmons Distinguished Lecture this year with a presentation titled “A Prosthetic Aesthetic: William and Henry James, The Father Problem and the Case of the Cork Leg.”
Julie Thomas, director of constituency programs in the Office of Alumni Relations, said, “Belmont alumni are such an important part of this institution. Homecoming is the perfect time for us to honor and celebrate our alums and welcome them back to campus.”
Click here to view photos from Homecoming 2012.
Parry Invited to Serve as Journal Copy Editor
Pam Parry, chair of the Communication Studies Department, has been invited to serve as a copy editor of a new peer-reviewed journal titled, Teaching Journalism and Mass Communication. The publication is an online journal published by the Small Programs Interest Group of the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication that was launched in fall 2011.
Belmont to Host Phase 1 of ‘Spotlight on Turkey’ Program
The Tennessee World Affairs Council, housed at Belmont, and the Turkish Cultural Foundation are partnering with Belmont’s Center for International Business to bring “Spotlight on Turkey” to campus, a program put on by the Council and Foundation.
The three-phase program begins with a day-long workshop Saturday, March 24 for Tennessee teachers to learn about Turkish culture. In phase two, several teachers will be selected to take a tour of Turkey in order to get a first hand account of the area. The final phase, a “Portrait of Turkey” program, will be held in the fall of 2012 and will allow the teachers who participated in the Study Tour of Turkey to share the experience with other teachers, students and the general community through a workshop, program, speakers and/or cultural event.
Overall, the Tennessee World Affairs Council seeks to bring resources to Tennessee as opportunities for educators to increase their knowledge of Turkish culture and history. “In general, our purpose is to provide programs. Our goal is to learn more about the world,” said Patrick Ryan, the Council’s president.
The first workshop will take place at Belmont University and will include 30 to 50 participants. Belmont faculty and staff interested in speaking about Turkish culture or assisting in the workshop are encouraged to contact Patrick Ryan or Jeff Overby. For more information, click here.
