Professor Takashi Terada of Waseda University visited Belmont’s campus recently to speak on the topic of economic relations between the U.S., Japan and the Asia Pacific region. Professor Terada’s visit was made possible by the ongoing friendship and collaboration between the Consulate General of Japan in Nashville and Belmont University. He was welcomed by the provost, Dr. Thomas Burns; Dean of the College of Business Administration (COBA), Dr. Patrick Raines; Dr. Cynthia Bisson (History) and Dr. Marieta Velikova (COBA). Prior to his Belmont visit he spoke at the Nashville Chamber of Commerce addressing a similar topic.
Professor Terada holds the position of Professor of International Relations at the Institute for Asian Studies at prestigious Waseda University in Tokyo. His visit provided an exciting opportunity for students to be exposed to global issues and challenges while listening to an expert in the area of international business. Professor Terada’s
most recent works include The United States and East Asian Regionalism: Inclusion? Exclusion Logic and the Role of Japan, A Pacific Nation: Perspectives on the US Role in an East Asia Community, The Origins of ASEAN+6 and Japan’s Initiatives: China’s Rise and the Agent-Structure Analysis, Singapore and ASEAN’s Competitive Regionalism in Southeast Asia and beyond and Critical Perspectives in World Economy: Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation. He is the recipient of the 2005 J.G. Crawford Award.
Terada Speaks on Economic Relations Between U.S., Japan, Asia Pacific
Belmont University Hosts First Meeting of CMA EDU
![speaking_18257[1].jpg](http://forum.belmont.edu/news/umac/archives/speaking_18257%5B1%5D.jpg)
On March 14, the Country Music Association, and special guests Little Big Town, unveiled plans at Belmont University for a new, education-based, national college initiative named CMA EDU (Photographer: John Russell / CMA). The program is designed to reach and engage undergraduate college students with a hands-on opportunity to enhance their skills in marketing and promotion. Belmont University was chosen to host the pilot program for CMA EDU and currently boasts more than 115 members.
“CMA is excited to be making history by launching this new initiative that will bring the Power of Country to campuses across the nation,” said Sarah McGrady, CMA Senior Coordinator of Partner Programs, who spearheads the project. “The college demographic is a great source for research, and their fresh perspective and passion will support the future growth of the Country Music format.”
With the support of CMA and the Country Music community, students will gain networking opportunities, unique educational experiences, and leadership training all while promoting the Country Music genre. The students enrolled in CMA EDU commit to holding monthly meetings and work closely with CMA and members of the Country Music community to develop workshops, panels, networking opportunities, and leadership training.
Dan Keen, a former ASCAP VP and instructor in music publishing at Belmont serves as faculty adviser for CMA EDU. He said response to the program has been “overwhelming.” Adding, “College kids are very interested in Country Music.” Keen notes that the program exemplifies a significant shift in the way young aspirants look for a place in the music industry. “Fifteen years ago, when I began at Belmont, I was trying to train kids in how to fit into a machine,” he said. “The publishing houses, the record labels, management companies, and everything looked a certain way, and had a certain way of doing business, so you trained the kids to fill specific roles. That’s no longer true. Now we try to educate kids to be entrepreneurial and develop critical thinking skills so they can go out and build their own machine.”
Alpha Sigma Tau Host Mardi Tau 2011
The Delta Eta chapter of the Alpha Sigma Tau celebrated Mardi Gras through their annual Mardi Tau event in the Neely Dining Hall on Feb. 24.
Despite the dismal weather conditions and tornado warning, the event had more than 75 guests in attendance, and everyone enjoyed a break from studying for midterms.
The sorority hosts the Mardi Gras-themed event annually, inviting all of campus to attend. Several members of other Greek organizations were in attendance to support their members who were nominated to Mardi Tau court. Every year the sorority nominates a Greek king, an AST queen, a non-Greek duke and a Greek duchess. This year the court included: Braxton Wilson, King; Hayley Cook, Queen; Brenden McNerney, Duke; and Britt Rogers, Duchess. Rob Lazenby served as the D.J. for the event.
“I had such a great time tonight, and it was really great getting to be a part of all this Greek unity because that has been a goal that everyone in Greek life has worked towards,” said Caroline Crozier, a sophomore member of Alpha Gamma Delta.
“I really enjoyed the music and dancing, and getting a chance to meet other Greeks that I otherwise wouldn’t have to meet,” said Jamie Allen, a sophomore member of Phi Kappa Tau. Allen was on the ballot to be the Mardi Tau king.
Carrie Morris, served as the Alpha Sigma Tau social chair, coordinating the Mardi Gras event. The sorority worked together to make a life-sized paper mache Mardi Gras mask.
“Some people don’t realize the amount of preparation that goes into such a large-scale event. I am so excited that it was such a success and everyone had such a great time,” said Morris.
Alpha Sigma Tau is a national Pan-Hellenic sorority whose purpose is to promote the ethical, cultural and social development of their members. Their open motto is to be active, self-reliant and trustworthy. The Belmont Delta Eta chapter currently has more than 80 active members and an active alumni chapter.
OT Students, Faculty and Alumni Host International Seating Symposium
Students, faculty and alumni of the Belmont University School of Occupational Therapy served as presenters and volunteers at the 2011 International Seating Symposium (ISS) at Opryland Hotel earlier this month. The annual symposium, coordinated by the University of Pittsburgh’s School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, focuses on research; training & exhibits regarding wheeled mobility and seating; and solutions for people with disabilities. The audience is composed of primarily clinicians, medical manufacturers, rehab equipment suppliers and educators. Twenty-one students from Belmont, representing the Schools of Occupational and Physical Therapy, served as volunteers for the event. Lee Woodruff, author and contributing editor for ABC’s “Good Morning America,” served as the keynote speaker.
Dr. Teresa Plummer, Assistant Professor of Occupational Therapy, presented at several symposium sessions. In one session, she presented her doctoral dissertation, “Participatory Action Research to Examine the Current State of Practice in Wheelchair Assessment and Procurement.” She also co-presented “A Practice Guide for Wheelchair Assessments” with Mary Shea of Kessler Rehabilitation in West Orange, N.J., and “Powered Mobility and the Effects on Visual / Perceptual Deficits” with 2005 Belmont OTD graduate, Casey Emery of Banner Good Samaritan/Touchstone Rehab in Phoenix.
“As a student attending ISS, I was fascinated by the international attention of assistive technology. I was quickly reminded of the excitement involved with my future career as an occupational therapist through the elaborate exhibits and meeting others from around the world who share the same passion,” said Jessica Rutledge, an OT student. “Hearing and meeting Lee Woodruff at the closing of the symposium served as an energizer for persevering through the stresses we encounter as students as she so eloquently described the greater stresses of clients and their families. ISS will now serve as a standard for me to one day attain such prestige as the professionals represented there.”
Belmont Alum Named CFO at Physiotherapy Associates
Belmont alumnus Andrew DeVoe has been hired as Chief Financial Officer at Physiotherapy Associates, the nation’s foremost provider of outpatient rehabilitation services. In his new role, DeVoe will refine the processes of the revenue cycle and oversee corporate financial matters. DeVoe graduated from Belmont in 1991 with a degree in finance.
DeVoe has more than 20 years of healthcare financial and operational experience in rural and urban investor-owned and not-for-profit hospital providers across the country. Most recently, DeVoe served as president and chief executive officer of Apollo Health Street. DeVoe also spent time as CEO, COO and CFO at Health Management Associates, Hospital Corporation of America and Tenet Healthcare.
“I am thrilled to have Andrew come on board as our chief financial officer. He has seen virtually every aspect of healthcare, from both a finance and management perspective,” said Dan Connors, CEO of Physiotherapy Associates. “I believe he will be a strong leader as we continue our dynamic growth initiative in 2011, and provide our leading-edge physical therapy services nationwide.”
DeVoe is a four-time recipient of Tenet’s Outstanding CFO award and was honored by the Philadelphia Business Journal as a member of the Top 40 Under 40 list of business professionals in 2006.
Halle Receives Outstanding Alumni Award
Dr. John Halle, professor and chair of the School of Physical Therapy at Belmont University, was recently honored with the Outstanding Alumni Award from the U.S. Army Physical Therapy Alumni Association at Baylor University.
Established in 1989, the Outstanding Alumni Award is presented annually and recognizes the graduates who have made significant contributions to the profession and who are furthering the health and quality of life for members of the military and/or civilian communities. Dr. Halle is the 22nd recipient of the award, which was first presented in 1989.
Physical therapy education in the United States Army has a long and proud tradition of excellence beginning as physiotherapy Reconstruction Aides during World War I. Prior to the early 1970s, physical therapists worked in a prescriptive environment. However, after the Vietnam War, due to a physician shortage, Army Physical Therapists took on the role of “physician extender” or direct access and were credentialed to evaluate and treat patients with neuro-musculoskeletal conditions without physician referral. Army physical therapists have been functioning in a direct access setting since that time.
The program at Baylor University transitioned to a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree in 2003. The program has Army, Navy, Air Force and Public Health Corps students.
Smith Wins Mail Manager of the Year
Mail Services Coordinator and Supervisor of the Mail Center Veronica Smith recently won the Connie Lawson Mail Manager of the year award from the College and University Mail Services Association. The award is given once a year. CUMSA represents nearly 60 colleges and universities in the southeastern region of the United States.
Belmont Hosts Society of Student Pharmacists
In February, Belmont hosted approximately 120 student pharmacists from Tennessee’s five schools of pharmacy (Belmont, East Tennessee State University, Lipscomb University, Union University, and the University of Tennessee) for the third annual Tennessee Society of Student Pharmacists meeting. TSSP is the student branch of the Tennessee Pharmacists Association. At the meeting, Shanna Harris, a third-year pharmacy student at Belmont, assumed the presidency of the TSSP.
“TSSP provides student pharmacists opportunities including leadership, community service and networking with fellow students and pharmacist across the state,” said Dr. Cathy Ficzere, assistant professor of pharmacy and director of Drug Information Services. “Whether our students remain in Tennessee after graduation or not, these skills will go with our students ‘From Here to Anywhere.’”
The TSSP meeting included a full day of programming with keynote address from U.S. Rep. Phil Roe, M.D., workshops on medication therapy management and the family model of addiction recovery and a legislative update from the executive director of TPA, Baeteena Black.
Speech and Debate Team Wins National Christian College Forensics Invitational
The Belmont University Speech and Debate team won first place Sunday at the National Christian College Forensics Invitational (NCCFI). This is the second year in a row Belmont has taken first place as the top team at this national tournament.
The 14th annual NCCFI tournament was held on the campus of Azusa Pacific University in Azusa, California with 25 Universities competing. Other universities included fellow Tennessee schools Carson-Newman College and Bryan College as well as outside universities including Wheaton, Pepperdine, John Brown and Point Loma Nazarene. Coach Jason Stahl said, “It’s a tremendous honor to be named the top school among so many great teams. To receive this honor two years in a row is truly astounding. Our students should feel very proud.”
Not only was Belmont named first overall, but also was named the second place school in individual events. Assistant coach Ryan Greenawalt commented, “All the trophies that the students won are great, but their hard work goes much further. The skills these students are learning doing speech and debate not only make them critical thinkers while at Belmont but also will help them in their future careers and will make them more socially conscientious citizens for the years to come.”
Individually, of the 168 debaters competing over the weekend, Belmont’s Holly McKee placed 5th overall in the novice division and debaters Tim Smith and Eric Schoen placed 3rd and 2nd respectively in the varsity division. In individual events novices Nick Yacksich and Matthew Roberts placed 5th and 2nd in the novice division as well as Eric Schoen and Nicole Bright placing 5th and 1st in the open division.
The Belmont University speech and debate team is a group of students who debate global issues, perform speeches over complex topics, as well as present literature presentations centered on social causes.
Belmont Voted Third Smartest Team in March Madness
Online news outlet TheDailyBeast.com recently ranked the 68 teams in the NCAA men’s basketball tournament in terms of how the student-athletes fared academically, and Belmont University landed at third on the list behind only Princeton and Brigham Young. Rounding out the top five were Notre Dame and Villanova. Rankings were calculated based on each team’s graduation success rate (GSR), Academic Progress Rate (APR) for both the most recent year available as well as the multi-year, four-year average score and the head coach’s career APR. All four metrics, calculated and provided by the NCAA, were weighted equally. Click here to see the story and complete list.
Belmont was also one of only seven schools nationwide to be praised by CBSMoneyWatch.com for having perfect graduation rates for men’s basketball student athletes. Click here for more on that story.
Meanwhile, InsideHigherEd.com released today its own picks for the Tournament Bracket based on classroom outcomes. Winners of each game in their bracket were determined using only the NCAA’s multi-year Academic Progress Rate, a nationally comparable score that gives points to teams whose players stay in good academic standing and remain enrolled from semester to semester. In this bracket Belmont falls in the Regional Semifinals to eventual tournament champion Butler. In 2008, the site selected Belmont University to make it all the way to the Championship Game. Click here to read more on this story.
Belmont Men’s Basketball will face Wisconsin in the second round of the 2011 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament this Thurs., March 17 in Tucson, Ariz., as part of the Southeast Regional bracket. Tip-off time is 6:27 p.m. Central, and the game will be carried live on TruTV.
