Dr. J. Patrick Raines, Jack C. Massey Dean of the College of Business Administration and professor of economics, recently published an article in the International Journal of Social Economics (Vol. 38, No. 4) titled “Natural Religion and Moral Capitalism: Insights From Adam Smith and Thorstein Veblen.”
Skinner Completes FBI Academy
Kathy Skinner, director of International Student Services, recently completed the FBI’s Citizens’ Academy. FBI employees and previous academy graduates nominate local community leaders to participate in the program. Skinner was chosen because of her knowledge of immigration, a current focus of the FBI.
Belmont Invited to Become a Science Communication Fellow as Pharmacy Students Impact the Lives of Young Tennessee Women
In February, four Belmont student pharmacists volunteered their time at a hands-on science summit for the Tennessee Women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Research (TWISTER). TWISTER is a program to inform and motivate high school girls to pursue science and technology careers, provide positive role models and engage young women with limited opportunities for success in positive math and science experiences.
Pharmacy students Erica Evans, Laci Hendress, Jessica Paullet and Lindsey Smith dedicated a Saturday to mentor young women and promote pharmacy as a career field. These students modeled the professional, career-oriented women who work in pharmacy to 9th through 12th grade girls. “TWISTER seems to be a wonderful opportunity for these highly motivated individuals,” said Hendress.
These four women have demonstrated excellence in academic coursework, the work place and extracurricular activities while at Belmont. “I was excited to have the opportunity to give back, especially to this group of girls because I had so many mentors in my life who inspired me to set my goals higher and to go achieve them,” said Smith.
The four students gave a 15 minute presentation, followed by a series of pharmacy-oriented, hands-on lab activities: compounding ointments, accurate measurement exercises and a timed pill-counting competition.
TWISTER’s effect on the lives of high school participants is immeasurable. Belmont University School of Pharmacy and TWISTER hope to continue to inspire young women to excel in the sciences and educate them on possible career options. Paullet said, “If I can make a difference in one girl’s life and help guide her along a career path, then it is well worth the time spent.”
As a result, Belmont University has been invited to become a 2011-2012 Science Communication Fellow for the Adventure Science Center of Nashville. As a Fellow, Belmont will build sustainable partnerships with the science community, provide professional development opportunities that prepare scientists, and create public programs throughout Tennessee. “Twister was a wonderful experience and we are thrilled to extend our efforts as part of a program that is offered at only five science centers across the country,” said Dr. Ronda Bryant, Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Practice and project mentor. “Being a 2011-2012 Science Communication Fellow is a privilege.”
Belmont Serves Neighbors Through ‘A Brush with Kindness’
A dedication ceremony and block party were held Sunday in the Edgehill neighborhood to celebrate four homes that have completed the Nashville Area Habitat for Humanity’s “A Brush with Kindness” beautification and revitalization program for low-income and elderly homeowners. Habitat partnered on this project with Belmont University, eight area churches, Metropolitan Housing and Development Agency and Fifth-Third Bank. In addition, dozens of Belmont students, faculty and staff volunteered their labor in repairing and restoring the properties, working on exterior maintenance and revitalization on the four homes located at 1017 Summit Ave.,1025 Summit Ave., 1024 Wade Ave. 1111 Argyle Ave.
Belmont’s Director of Community Relations Joyce Searcy said, “This pilot project was an opportunity for Belmont University to work alongside our neighbors as we transform our neighborhood. Not only did we renovate homes, we built relationships. It was so exciting to watch as Belmont students, staff and faculty interacted and learned from the homeowners, community church members and each other. A Brush With Kindness is only the beginning. Belmont University will be collaborating with the Christian community in our neighborhood to meet needs and improve the quality of life in our area.”
Patterned after a Habitat for Humanity International program of the same name, A Brush with Kindness offers painting, landscaping, weather stripping and minor repair services for homes in need. The program serves homeowners who struggle with maintenance and helps them reclaim their homes with pride and dignity.
In addition to Belmont, MDHA and Fifth-Third Bank, the following area churches also served as sponsors on the project: Belmont Church, Mount Gilead Missionary Baptist Church, Greater Christ Temple Church, Southside Community Church, Kayne Avenue Baptist Church, Tabernacle of Glory Church, Greater Bethel A.M.E. Church and John Wesley United Methodist Church.
Each participating community organization contributed funds and volunteers to this $50,000 project. Improvements were made at no cost to the homeowners. Homeowner applicants were selected based on income, need and willingness to partner. Click here to view more photos from the project.
Volker Named Composer of the Year
Dr. Mark Volker, assistant professor in the School of Music, was recently named the Nashville Area Music Teachers’ Association (NAMTA) “Composer of the Year.” Volker will automatically be entered into the state division (TMTA).
Clawson, Cole Compete on ‘CMT’s Next Superstar’
Belmont University alumni Steven Clawson and Courtney Cole are among the final 10 contestants on “CMT’s Next Superstar,” which premieres Friday, April 8 at 8 p.m. Central on CMT. The 10 episode series, produced by “American Idol” executive producer Nigel Lythgoe and his son Simon, is a singing/songwriting competition to find America’s next great country star and opens the door for undiscovered singer/songwriters who think they have what it takes to make it in the music industry. The country contest, hosted by Thea Andrews, differs structurally from the usual TV singing competition. Rather than simply performing before an audience, five men and five women ages 22-50 will take on a range of challenges, including writing songs, participating in radio interviews and making music videos.
The show allows the world to see every triumph and every setback unfold weekly. The 10 contestants will live in a music mansion, (Kenny Chesney’s house) in Nashville — providing a rare and revealing inside look at the all-ensuing drama that can take place when musical adversaries live and compete together. Contestants will try to impress celebrity guests each week through a series of music business related challenges and grueling performance rounds. In the weekly competition, a house audience will vote for its favorites. The bottom two vote-getters have to sing to survive, with the judges deciding their fate as one finalist will be eliminated each week. When the competition gets down to two finalists, America will have the final vote to determine who will win the title of CMT’s Next Superstar. The winner will be announced during the CMT Awards in June with a single to be released on radio, a record deal, and a spot on the CMT summer tour.
“It’s really much more of an in-depth look than I think you would traditionally get from a singing competition show,” says Grammy-winning songwriter and producer Matt Serletic, the show’s one permanent judge. He’ll be joined on the panel each week by celebrity guests, including singers Colbie Caillat and Trace Adkins. The premiere’s guests are actress-singer Kristin Chenoweth and Billboard writer Fred Bronson.
Adam Presents Research at Two Conferences
Dr. Jamie Adam, a faculty member in the School of Nursing, is presenting her doctoral research at two conferences this month. She will present Depressive Symptoms, Self-Efficacy and Adherence in Patients with Type 2 DM at the Western Institute of Nursing Research and again at the 18th Annual National Evidence-Based Practice Conference.
Littlejohn Publishes Book
Dr. Ronnie Littlejohn, department chair and professor of philosophy, has recently published his book, Riding the Wind with Liezi: New Perspectives on the Daoist Classic.
Littlejohn’s book offers philosophical and religious perspectives on the Liezi, a little known, important text that sheds light on the early history of Daoism. Co-authored with Jeffrey Dippmann, associate professor of philosophy and religious studies at Central Washington University, Riding the Wind with Liezi argues the text’s historical, philosophical and literary significance, using contemporary approaches and providing novel insights.
The book is available here.
Pathways Scholars Visit Mammoth Cave
Danny Biles (Mathematics and Computer Science) and seven of the Pathways Scholars visited Mammoth Cave on Saturday, April 2. The Pathway Scholars included Grayson Carroll, Liberty Foye, Angela Gaetano, Alina Lepkowski, Lee McGill, Rebecca Newton and Corey Schmidt. The group first received a cave tour given by Shannon Tromboli, Education Program Specialist at Mammoth Cave. The tour included cave history and an introduction to the various scientific studies that are being conducted in the cave which relate to water flow, air flow and other factors of the cave climate. Following the tour, they were given an in-depth look at the surface Air Quality Station, where Johnathan Jernigan, Physical Scientist in the National Park Service Air Resources Division and Cumberland Piedmont Network, discussed the various air quality and meteorology sensors and data and their significance. Click here for more information on the Pathway Scholars Program:
Eighth Graders Learn from Communication Studies Majors
The Communication Studies Department hosted 116 eighth-graders from Southside Elementary School in Wilson County for the “Three Cs: Communication College Connection” conference. Lambda Pi Eta members Meg Tully, Kate Harris and Eric Schoen led a large group workshop on speech organization and audience analysis. Students from Mary Vaughn’s COM 1100 classes conducted break-out workshops on speech delivery and led walking tours of campus. Southside teacher Janie Johnson commented, “Belmont has a nationally winning Speech & Debate Team, so we knew this would be the best place to come for instruction in public speaking. I can teach these TCAP competencies all year, but when a cool college student does it, it sticks!”
