Dr. Linda Wofford, associate professor in the School of Nursing, recently was named as co-principal investigator for Project Diabetes, an 11-month grant from the State of Tennessee to impact obesity rates and diabetes incidence in the high risk African American school-aged population. 

The grant will evaluate an existing after-school program at McGruder Family Resource Center in north Nashville and will include participation from Belmont undergraduate and graduate nursing students.  The program uses the CASTLES curriculum to help the children increase their physical activity, develop skills to improve nutritional choices and improve self-esteem related to school performance. In addition to evaluation of the existing after-school program, the long-term focus is to impact a community identified need (increasing childhood obesity) with a sustainable community-based program. 

The program includes several community partners:  McGruder Family Resource Center, United Way, Matthew Walker Comprehensive Health Center, Metro Nashville Public Schools, Vanderbilt Center for Health Services and Belmont University School of Nursing

Adjunct Instructor of Media Studies Dorren Robinson will participate in the Artclectic art show at University School of Nashville along with 45 other artists. Robinson has been making handmade felted wool bags for about five years and this is the second time she has been chosen to show her creations at Artclectic.

Artclectic has been held in October for the past 15 years and features a diverse assortment of art and emerging and established artists in an incredibly lively setting. The show runs Oct. 20 through Sunday Oct. 23. Saturday and Sunday are free and open to the public.

The Department of Psychological Science hosted the second annual meeting of Psychology Educators of Tennessee on Oct. 8.  It was collaborative effort among Belmont, Middle Tennessee State University and Tennessee State University. Dr. Linda Jones, associate professor of psychology, was the primary coordinator of the event. With nearly to 50 participants, the conference attracted faculty from four-year colleges, community colleges and high schools in Middle Tennessee and southern Kentucky. The theme of the conference this year was “Teaching with Technology.” The morning keynote address was given by Dr. Edna Ross of the University of Louisville. Dr. Lonnie Yandell, professor of psychology, presented one of the breakout sessions called “Improving PowerPoint by Animating Graphic Slides.”

Mathematics Professor Glenn Acree led a panel discussion entitled “HIT Technology Hiring Needs: A Discussion Between CIOs and College Educators” at the CIO Breakfast as part of the 2011 HiMSS Summit of the Southeast, at the Opryland Hotel on Sept. 29. The panel members included:

•  Dr. Ty Tabernik, Assistant Professor of Information Technology, Trevecca Nazarene University
•  Mark Gilliam, V.P. and CIO, Ardent Health Services
•  Gary Seay, SVP and CIO, Community Health Systems
• Andy Flatt, SVP and CIO, HealthSpring
• Dr. Elizabeth Breeden, Director of the Master of Health Care Informatics Program, Lipscomb University

Each year the Summit provides leaders from across the southeast with collaborative opportunities with our nation’s top Healthcare Information Technology leaders on strategies for leading the change and what to expect in the year to come. Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society is a cause-based, not-for-profit organization exclusively focused on providing global leadership for the optimal use of information technology and management systems for the betterment of healthcare.

Biology Professor Steve Murphree participated in the inaugural “Hiketoberfest” on the scenic Signal Mountain on Oct. 9. The event was a celebration of the Cumberland Trail State Scenic Trail, the Tennessee River Gorge and the natural, historical and musical traditions of the place and included a full day of hiking, history, education and music. Murphree also led a discussion in the outdoor classroom on Insects Everywhere, in addition to an afternoon trail walk  called Spineless Walk – Insects, Arachnids and Invertebrate. Click here for the full schedule of events.

Belmont Associate Professor of Honors Dr. Kristine LaLonde has been named as chairman of the Nashville Poverty Council by Mayor Karl Dean. A past Metro Council member, LaLonde has also been named to the Metro Social Services Board. Created in 2010, the Council was started to aid in the implementation of Nashville’s Poverty Reduction Initiative.

“Kristine brings a great deal of passion and commitment to this initiative,” Dean said. “She shares my vision for making life a little easier for those who don’t know where they will get their next meal or how they will provide shelter for their family.”

As chair of the Poverty Council, LaLonde will serve as the point person on poverty issues with the Metro Council, Metro Social Services, the Mayor’s office and seven public-private Implementation Teams.

“I’m honored to have this opportunity to help our city address the challenges of poverty,” LaLonde said. “In a time of greater needs and fewer resources, we need to provide leadership that assures that the community’s work has the most possible impact. It’s crucial that we ask ourselves if our resources are being used in the best ways possible and if we are applying new technologies and thinking in ways that will create change.”