2009 Belmont alumna Jordan Chouanard knows what it is like to feel shipwrecked. After contracting Lyme disease following her graduation, Chouanard relied heavily on her family to get her through such a difficult time. Despite the hardship of her illness, the diagnosis allowed Chouanard to find her calling in life – helping women in hopeless situations like the one she experienced herself.
“God changed my heart,” Chouanard said. “I began researching how to set up at charitable organization—I absolutely had to do it.”
Today she helps women in need through her nonprofit Fair Havens, which was founded in 2017 in Nashville, Tennessee.
Inspired by Acts 27, the namesake and mission of the nonprofit came to be. This chapter tells the story of Apostle Paul being shipwrecked in a place called Fair Havens after God calls him to rest. Like Paul, “God wanted me to rest, and it was hard,” Chouanard said.
Fair Havens brings hope and healing to women suffering from abuse, trauma, addiction, disease, depression, eating disorders and other difficult situations. The women receive teaching, counseling and prayer during an all-expenses-paid weekend retreat, leading to hope, healing and transformation in their lives.
“It is incredible to see what God can do in 48 hours—we watch Him perform miracles,” Chouanard proclaimed.
After the weekend retreat, the women are held accountable by volunteers, who strive to keep them growing despite whatever circumstances they return to in their lives.
Chouanard credits her time at Belmont in part to her success with Fair Havens. She said, “I am thankful for all of my time at Belmont. The connections and experiences I gained in my time there have been so valuable to the work I do today.”
Fair Havens hopes to expand its reach with the inaugural Fair Havens Hustle 5K on May 1, 2021, in Columbia, Tennessee. The nonprofit is also working to create and provide materials for women to take home, aiding them on their healing journeys. Donations to Fair Havens can be made here.
SimplyBank creates directing officer corps, promotes Swafford and others to inaugural director class.
Growth SimplyBank has organization leaders poised to make significant leaps into new markets and services this year. To help facilitate those expansions, SimplyBank’s executive leadership elevated five existing senior officers to a newly-created directing officer corps this spring, including Belmont alumnus Blake Swafford, class of 2010.
“Strong leadership is a must to get where we’re going,” said John Owen, president and chief executive officer at SimplyBank. “We know community banks have to work harder than ever to compete in today’s market for today’s customers, and this team is unafraid to roll up their sleeves and get the job done.”
The new directing officer level reports up to the bank’s C-Suite, working hand-in-hand to build strategy and execute tactical specifics to continue building one of the area’s leading community banks. Accountable to those at the highest level of the organization, the new officer corps is currently enrolled in a months-long leadership program built and led by Owen. From self-awareness to conflict resolution, the course – based on experience gained over Owen’s 20-year career in financial institutions – covers leadership and training topics for rising executives.
“Our executive team is excited about this talented group of leaders. But the training and development are key, because we aren’t interested in keeping a senior officer in that role for 10 years,” said Owen. “We want to grow our people, and I’ve had a lot of selfless mentors in my life who poured into me, and now I’m looking forward to paying that forward with this group and others in the future.”
Dr. Dana Zhang, assistant professor of data science in Belmont’s Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, has been awarded a grant that will allow her to develop a new course at Belmont. During the duration of this project, Zhang will develop a semester-long, credit-bearing research course in Data Science for Spring 2022 focusing on solving real-world problems.
The course will provide enrolled students with opportunities to collaborate with industrial mentors from business, industry or government (“BIG”) partners to analyze and extract insights from either open datasets (such as community health and wellbeing data) or proprietary data. The awarded grant will also allow students to present their project results in person at the Mathematical Association of America (MAA) MathFest summer showcase in Washington D.C. in the summer of 2022.
The grant is made possible through the MAA Preparation for Industrial Careers in Mathematical Sciences Program (PIC Math) and the National Security Agency (NSA). Learn more at www.maa.org/picmath.
Zhang also recently contributed a chapter to a Springer book titled “Blockchain Technology and Innovations in Business Processes.” The book has now been published in electronic and print format. Zhang was the primary author on this work, and her collaborator Dr. Kuo is from the University of California San Diego. Their book chapter is titled “The Feasibility and Significance of Employing Blockchain-Based Identity Solutions in Health Care,” with a preview available at here.
Belmont alumna Nicole Stoltenberg, MBA class of 2013, and her husband Todd sought to create a book to inspire their two young boys to explore the world of sports and nurture their curiosity about athletics, even as babies, knowing first-hand the benefits of sports in their own lives.
Touch and feel books have grown in popularity for their ability to increase child engagement, stimulate sensory awareness and foster associations between senses and new vocabulary. Traditionally, these books have featured subjects such as farm animals, cars, colors and dinosaurs. Little representation of sports exists, leaving a void where none should exist.
Tired of the continuous barnyard narrative, the Stoltenbergs partnered with illustrator Brandon Minch, a former college and French pro-league football player, to create the first touch and feel book for toddlers called “You Can Play Sports” which uses fabrics and materials from popular sports balls to create a fun and interactive early childhood learning experience.
Designed for ages 0-3, “You Can Play Sports” features eight different sports with a textured ball (or puck) for each, allowing children to create meaningful associations with the words, the sports, the equipment and the balls in an interactive manner. Sports teach life lessons and aid in the development of social skills, physical fitness and cognitive and emotional intelligence. The book is designed to:
Encourage participation and excitement for athletics at a young age
Help children in their development of sensory and motor skills
Expand children’s vocabulary with meaningful word association
Create a diversity of young reader book topics to make bed-time reading fun and engaging
Belmont alumna Molly Breen, class of 2002, is helping writers and theatre companies through the Tennessee Playwrights Studio, a company she co-founded with Kenley Smith in 2018.
“Theatre has always been a part of my life,” said Breen.
Tennessee Playwrights Studio (TPS) is a playwright development lab and theatre production company in West Nashville, originally intended “to offer in-state playwrights the opportunity to develop fresh, incisive scripts that reflects a changing world.” In 2019, the organization broadened its scope to theatre production projects developed in Tennessee, opening with MAIDENS by Smith at the Darkhorse Theatre. In 2021, the organization partnered with two Black-owned theatre companies, Destiny Theatre Experience and SistaStyle Productions, for collaboration on new works. A new initiative, TPS Talks, will bring their combined experiences into college classrooms (virtually and live).
Most recently, TPS debuted THAT WOMAN, “a Virtual Workshop Reading of ten original monologues from the perspectives of women involved (or rumored to be involved) with President John F. Kennedy.” Breen stated a full production will be presented at the Darkhorse Theatre in 2022. In the meantime, it can be viewed online for free (donations appreciated) for a limited time.
“We plan to produce a companion dance piece with the monologues, as well as other new works in our season, and we look forward to working with a new cohort of playwrights in 2022,” said Breen.
A former educator with a Master of Education from Belmont University, Breen enjoyed teaching but felt something was missing from her life, so she followed her theatrical passions. She has performed in more than 50 productions, including originating roles in over 15 world premieres. Additionally, she attained writing fellowships with the Virginia Center for Creative Arts and the Mary Anderson Center for the Arts, gaining experience and expertise in her field nationwide.
“Life is about connecting with people—teaching and learning from each other,” said Breen.
Belmont School of Music students and alumni returned to the Opry stage on April 18 to collaborate with Mickey Guyton, supplying ethereal back up vocals to her song “Hold On.” The group had a successful recording session with her on Wednesday and then taped the performance of the song at the Grand Ole Opry for the 56th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards.
This was Belmont’s second, consecutive appearance on the ACMs after performing with Kane Brown last September. Professor of Music and Director of Choral Activities Dr. Jeffery Ames prepared the students musically and attended the event as their advocate and sponsor.
The singers from Belmont included David Cistrunk, Domenica Coka, Katelyn Grigsby, Andriana Haygood, Cassandra Henriksen, Ally Jackson, Ava Jackson, Tori Kocher, Chamberlin Little, Wilson Smith, Tyra Thompson and Grayson Thurman.
In honor of tomorrow’s Earth Day global celebration, Belmont University announced today the establishment of two Rob Fisher Endowed Funds for Environmental Science. One fund will go entirely to support scholarships for students within the University’s Environmental Science program, while the second establishes a new environmental science faculty chair as well as research and experiential learning opportunities. These funds, which collectively now stand at more than $3.5 million, were made possible by a recent lead gift from retiring Belmont President Dr. Bob Fisher and his wife Judy Fisher as they seek to honor their late son Rob, a nature and conservancy advocate who passed away five years ago.
Belmont Provost Dr. Thomas Burns said, “These new endowments promise even more robust educational opportunities to our students and will further establish Belmont as a leader in the environmental science field. It comes as no surprise to me or anyone else on this campus that this gift comes from the generosity of Bob and Judy Fisher, who have consistently demonstrated their commitment to students and their dedication to be thoughtful caretakers of God’s creation.”
The scholarship fund currently stands at approximately $1.5 million while the endowment to support a faculty chair is at $2 million. Belmont Assistant Professor Dr. Matthew Heard, who serves as the Environmental Science Program Coordinator, has been selected as the inaugural Chair in Environmental Science.
Dr. Bob Fisher, who is retiring at the end of May, noted, “Judy and I are so excited that Dr. Heard has accepted this role. We have both had a chance to observe his work in his time at Belmont, and his scholarship is outstanding. But what stands out the most to us is the way he gets students involved in activities outside the classroom. It’s that sort of experience that provides the spark that will ignite embedded passions that some of our students have regarding our natural environment. We speak for Rob’s sisters—Jennifer and Kelly—as well as our entire family when we say that we know that Rob celebrates this announcement with us!”
Rob Fisher spent his career working to protect and improve natural resources in his home state of Arkansas and throughout the world, serving as the executive director and co-founder of the Ecological Conservation Organization (ECO). Prior to founding ECO, Rob worked for American Rivers, Arkansas Audubon and the National Wildlife Federation. With these and other organizations, he approached his passion for conservation in a variety of fashions, from leading state and federal environmental policy programs to developing wetland restoration projects to expanding education initiatives.
His passion was inherited from his parents, longtime supporters of the environment and conservation efforts, who established Belmont’s Conservation Covenant in 2015 to model for Belmont students and the broader community the imperative to care for God’s creation. More than 50 years ago, Dr. Fisher participated in the first Earth Day events and has passionately promoted environmental stewardship ever since. Through his leadership Belmont:
Serves as an arboretum to preserve more than 100 species of trees and shrubs and carefully manages water usage for irrigation.
Constructs new buildings to LEED-certified standards, including the only LEED-platinumnew construction of any university in Tennessee
Builds multiplegreen roofs totaling 55,650 square feet of natural habitat created four-to-five stories high above ground, providing homes to indigenous plant species as well as the wildlife they support, including hummingbirds, monarch butterflies, pigeon hawks and honey bees. (Fisher himself manages the bee hives.)
Utilizes geothermal energy and other innovative systems to heat and cool parts of campus
Creates more than 4,200 underground parking spaces beneath buildings, limiting the architectural footprint of campus growth while also maintaining natural environments
Installed Solar Array on Curb Event Center Arena which generates 245KwHrs reducing Green House Gas (GHG) emissions by 223 metric tons
Received numerous awards for conservation efforts including Governor’s Environmental Stewardship Award, Trane Energy Efficiency Leader Award and a Gold Rating from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education.
Dr. Heard, a Belmont faculty member since 2017, has been the recipient of two recent National Science Foundation grants focused on helping students to engage in field-based research in remote settings during the COVID-19 pandemic and to integrate environmental data into undergraduate teaching and research programs. His work is frequently published in peer reviewed journals and conservation magazines. He also serves on the board of the Association of Southeastern Biologists and the Ecological Research as Education Network. Heard has an undergraduate degree in Ecology and French from the University of Tennessee and a Ph.D. from Brown University in Ecology & Evolutionary Biology.
Dr. Matthew Heard
“Being asked to serve as the Rob Fisher Endowed Chair is a humbling and exciting opportunity,” said Heard. “I am so grateful to be able to honor the legacy of Rob, and the entire Fisher family, who have always been committed to helping Belmont students see the value in the environment and in giving back to their community. This award is also a transformative opportunity that will help with new program development, expansion of experiential education and service-learning opportunities in Nashville and beyond, and allow for the pursuit of exciting interdisciplinary research. In short, this endowment will help create an exciting new chapter for the environmental sciences at Belmont.”
Housed in Belmont’s College of Sciences & Mathematics, the Environmental Science program seeks to equip students to provide realistic solutions to the environmental issues facing the world today. Through active and integrated approaches to learning, discovery and research, students are prepared for diverse careers in environmental conservation, legislation and consulting as well as for more intensive graduate studies. The program balances interdisciplinary courses with hands-on, in-the-field experiences through lab research, field trips and internships to infuse discovery and experimentation.
Additional gifts to the Rob Fisher Environmental Science Scholarship Fund and/or the Rob Fisher Endowed Chair in Environmental Science can be made at webelieve.belmont.edu/give.
Marvin Ellison, president and CEO of Lowe’s Companies, Inc., joined the Belmont Community for a conversation about ethics, leadership and giving back with Jack C. Massey College of Business Dean Dr. Sarah Fisher Gardial. This event was hosted by the Edward C. Kennedy Center for Business Ethics, the Executive Learning Network of the Jack C. Massey College of Business and Belmont’s University Ministries.
The conversation included Marvin Ellison’s background and the most foundational influences in his life that made him the person he is today. Ellison grew up in Brownsville, Tennessee and is the middle child of seven. His family did not have a lot of financial wealth, but he learned early the importance of hard work, faith in God and how essential education and continuous learning would be throughout his life. “My father was always learning, always trying to stay ahead of the changes in the industry, so when I went to college, I decided to major in business to be a salesperson like my dad because I so respected him,” he said.
Dr. Sarah Fisher Gardial hosted the discussion with Ellison
Ellison answered other questions such as: Is there a role for a “Christian” perspective in business and ethics, and how should we teach it? Do you tire of the question of how your identity – as an African American – is reflected in your leadership? Why aren’t things changing at the top for underrepresented groups of all kinds, e.g., women, ethnically diverse, education backgrounds? What is your personal formula or recipe for giving back? Do you have a deliberate strategy?
Ellison is one of three African American CEOs of Fortune 500 Companies. He emphasized his belief that he chooses not to always actively engage in a discussion to make his thoughts known, but rather to live by example instead of just words. He included that he always begins his day with time for exercise and for reflective meditation, guided by lessons from Biblical readings, in order to be centered in both spiritual and physical preparation for the day ahead.
2016 songwriting alumna Emily Landis co-wrote the current No. 1 country single by Gabby Barrett: “The Good Ones.” The song, written by Landis, Barrett, Zach Kale and Jim McCormick, raised to the top of the April 10-dated list.
Landis is currently a staff writer at BMG Nashville and told the story of the day she wrote the new hit when her publishers scheduled a write with Kale and McCormick. “Zach had been working with this new girl from ‘American Idol’ with a big voice. He asked if we’d like to add her to the session – and thank God we did! We all threw out ideas in Zach’s studio and somehow landed on ‘The Good Ones,’” Landis recalled. “Gabby sang her face off effortlessly into an SM7 microphone, and we got burgers next door afterwards. I’ll never forget that day. It taught me that days that feel completely normal can be the days that change your life.”
Landis currently writes 4-5 times a week and reads a lot in between sessions to keep the ideas flowing. This past year taught her to rely on herself more musically rather than her co-writers as COVID-19 transitioned writing sessions to Zoom, but Landis still calls it “the best job in the world.” Landis gets the opportunity to write with many new artists she believes in and loves watching their careers unfold.
“This song has been a Godsend to me. The song I wrote about my now-fiancé is the first song of mine to go to radio. To watch it climb, to see it ring the bell, and to get engaged in the process to the guy who inspires every song for me… I just could never have made this up,” Landis said. “The whole experience has taught me to trust my gut, write the truth and sing it from the heart. I’m in control of how prepared I am in the room, but God is in control of the rest.”
Landis remembers falling in love with country music at an early age, being inspired by Taylor Swift’s early songs, Garth Brooks’s Double Live album and Kenny Chesney’s “The Good Stuff” before she “even understood what the good stuff was.” The way country music has the power to tell stories through pictures and melodies is what pushed Landis to explore songwriting, wanting to learn how to tell her own stories. Her family saw potential in her writing, and she began playing her songs at a local coffee shop. But, she also credits a lot of where she is today to her time at Belmont.
“I took songwriting classes taught by Tom Douglas, Drew Ramsey and James Elliott that really focused on learning how to craft a commercial country song. I’m so grateful for every teacher and mentor who believed in me early on. They really saw something in me I didn’t even see in myself,” she said. “I am so thankful for the Nashville community for taking me in as a young Belmont grad. I learned more co-writing on Music Row than I could’ve learned from any textbook.”
Young Leaders Council(YLC) recently announced the spring participants in three of five cohorts to be hosted this year, including Nashville Class 76, Junior League of Nashville and the Jack C. Massey College of Business at Belmont University. 92 young professionals from diverse backgrounds are represented in the program this spring, which kicked-off officially in mid-March with a celebratory opening session and inspirational keynote address from Derek Young, YLC alumnus and president/CEO of Young Motivation Group.
To view a full listing of the 2021 spring participants, please click on the appropriate link below:
YLC’s mission is to train diverse, committed individuals to effectively participate on the boards of nonprofit organizations and make a difference in the community by replenishing the Nashville volunteer leadership base. Each year, YLC hosts five cohorts for a series of 11 interactive training sessions specifically designed to address fundamental board skills and prepare participants to be successful nonprofit board leaders. Training is facilitated by industry experts and reflects on success indicators deemed crucial for today’s nonprofit leadership. Once training concludes, participants connect with a nonprofit organization where they complete a yearlong internship as a nonvoting member of the board.
“YLC trains the best and brightest young professionals within our community. Our students transition from the program with an exceptional amount of skill, knowledge and confidence – empowered to make an impact for our nonprofit community,” said Kim James, Young Leaders Council executive director. “By focusing on the leadership goals of participants and needs of our nonprofit partners, the program is fully immersive and strategically designed to ensure student success.”
Over the past 35 years, more than 2,700 students have participated in the YLC program, providing highly skilled community servants to support hundreds of nonprofit partners in the Nashville and surrounding area. “Our program is designed to empower young professionals who are aiming to take their community involvement to the next level,” James said. “The unique training and professional engagement offered through YLC ensures that each student is exceptionally prepared to make an impact and help address the need for effective volunteer leaders in the nonprofit boardroom.”
About Young Leaders Council
Young Leaders Council was founded in 1985 by the Council of Community Services, the HCA Healthcare Foundation and the United Way. More than 175 graduates enter the nonprofit community each year from five YLC classes, including two in Davidson County and three in partnership with the Junior League of Nashville, Williamson Inc. (Chamber), and the Jack C. Massey College of Business at Belmont University. To learn more about YLC, visit www.youngleaderscouncil.org.
