Dr. Merrie King, Associate Professor of Education, will serve as Assistant Director of the Belmont Teaching Center beginning in August 2008. Since coming to Belmont in 2001, King’s outstanding teaching and dedication have been recognized in the form of several awards including Chaney Distinguished Professor (2005-2006), Peabody Outstanding Educator (2005) and Robert E. Simmons Distinguished Lecturer (Spring 2008). In addition to serving as a Teaching Center Advisory Board member (2003-2006), she has participated in many Teaching Center activities including workshops, lunch discussions and summer reading groups as well as led several faculty retreats sponsored or cosponsored by the Teaching Center.
Pharmacy Faculty Publish Tennessean Editorial
An editorial written by Drs. Phil Johnston and Sal Giorgianni from the School of Pharmacy recently appeared in The Tennessean. The article, which can be read here, provided warning signs for prescription drug abuse.
Belmont Connections Appear in The Tennessee Conservationist
Two articles in the March/April 2008 edition of The Tennessee Conservationist magazine feature Belmont connections. Dr. Steve Murphree, professor of Biology, wrote an article titled “Managing Mosquitoes.” In addition, Jill Neblett, a biology major at Belmont, was featured in the article “Trail Work, Exotic Plant Removal and More Mark Tennessee Youth Conservation Corps First Year.” Jill was a Tennessee Youth Conservation Corps team leader and did work at Montgomery Bell State Park this past summer.
Belmont to Host Gulf-South Summit on Service Learning
More than 400 faculty, students, and community partners from higher education institutions throughout the south and east will gather March 13-15 at Loews Vanderbilt Plaza for the sixth annual Gulf-South Summit on Service-Learning and Civic Engagement in Higher Education. Hosted by Belmont University, the Summit will feature workshops and addresses by national leaders in service-learning. In addition, participants can select from over 110 presentations offered over three days on a wide range of programs and issues related to service-learning. Participants are expected from 33 states, representing over 150 different educational and community institutions.
The Gulf-South Summit is one of the leading national conferences on service-learning, and one of the few actively to include community leaders, students and faculty. Service-learning is one of the leading ways that colleges get their students involved in communities, and that universities and communities forge relationships. In a service-learning class, students engage with the community on projects that meet community needs and are related to the class subject. For example, environmental science students may work with a community garden, or business students with financial literacy programs, or English students with tutoring elementary students.
Marcia McDonald, Associate Provost at Belmont University and Chair of the Executive Committee for the Gulf-South Summit, said, “Service-learning is central to Belmont’s vision, and to the vision of many universities in the Nashville area, for a meaningful university education. Service-learning can be a life-transforming experience for students; it can also be a challenging experience for educators and community partners. The Summit is designed to bring together all the parties in a service-learning program and enable them to exchange best practices, innovative ideas and to learn about new initiatives on the national landscape.”
Grammy-Nominated Engineer Shares Expertise
Alumnus and Grammy-nominated engineer/producer Jeff Balding (’82) shared his expertise with Belmont’s AES (Audio Engineering Society) student chapter recently by staging a Mix Session in the campus’ Robert E. Mulloy Studio A. Balding mixed “This Time Last Year,” a track provided by CEMB senior student Garrett Miller, who recently completed an internship and landed an assistant engineer position at Starstruck Studio. Balding has worked with a wide gamut of artists spanning all genres of music: Shania Twain, Michael Bolton, Barbara Streisand, Celine Dion, Faith Hill, Amy Grant, LeAnn Rimes, Rascal Flatts, Brooks & Dunn and Reba McEntire to name a few. He also continues to serve on the CEMB Advisory Board and has found time to become a CEMB adjunct this semester, teaching a class in the business of becoming a successful recording engineer.
Grammy-Winning Composer Joan Tower Visits Belmont
The Belmont University School of Music honored 2008 Grammy-winning composer Joan Tower on Mon., March 10. Hailed as “one of the most successful woman composers of all time” in The New Yorker, Tower’s visit included a morning lecture as well as an evening performance of her works by Belmont Camerata Musicale in celebration of her 70th birthday.
At 10 a.m., Tower presented a lecture in Massey Concert Hall, titled “Choreographing Sound,” in which she discussed her life as a composer, her approach and process in creating music, and presented samples of her music. In the evening, Tower joined the resident chamber ensemble in Belmont Heights Baptist Church for a performance of “Tres Lent” for cello and piano. Other works on the program included “Petroushkates for piano, strings and winds; “DNA” for percussion ensemble; “Wings” for solo saxophone; and a new piano trio, “For Daniel.”
Belmont School of Music Faculty members Daniel Lochrie (clarinet), Keith Nicholas (cello) and Robert Marler (piano)were joined by guest Erik Gratton (flute) for the concert. The four musicians played on the Nashville Symphony Orchestra’s recording Joan Tower: Made in America, which won two 2008 Grammys, Best Classical Album and Best Orchestral Performance. Tower’s work, Made in America, also won a Grammy for Best Classical Contemporary Composition. Also performing were Camerata regulars Kris Elsberry (piano), Celeste Myall and Elisabeth Small (violin), guest saxophonist Philip Barham and the Belmont Percussion Ensemble directed by Chris Norton.
Marc Broussard Provides ‘Insider’s View’ of Music Business
Recording artist Marc Broussard shared his music business experiences with students at Wednesday’s Insider’s View seminar in a packed Massey Performing Arts Center. A major point of discussion revolved around Broussard’s innovative new deal with Atlantic Records and what it indicates about changes in label-artist relations.
Hosted by Director of Development and Major Gifts Harry Chapman, the event opened with a viewing of Broussard’s video for hit single “Home,” from his 2004 major label debut on Island Records, Carencro. Broussard, who was accompanied by manager Ross duPre of New York’s Brick Wall Management, noted that his new label deal on Atlantic, a 360 deal, reflects current trends in the music business as Atlantic is invested in every aspect of his career. In fact, the company paid Broussard in advance for three years of touring under the agreement that they will receive 27 percent of the income generated by touring and merchandise.
“I have no idea if this new model is going to work,” Broussard said, acknowledging the risks all parties are taking in a changing music industry climate. “If you can do something other than music and live with it, then do it because this is not an easy business.”
A Louisiana born singer/songwriter, Broussard grew up playing with his father, renowned guitarist Ted Broussard, and singing in the Catholic University church choir. Broussard’s recent Must Be the Water EP is available on iTunes now, and the title track was featured in TV and movie trailer commercials for this year’s NBA All Stars Game. Broussard is currently recording a new album at Ocean Way Studios that is due out this summer. Along with his busy musical career, Broussard has been active in helping raise funds to both help residents of his beloved New Orleans and to restore the city to its pre-Katrina glory. For more information, visit www.marcbroussard.com.
Warren Named A-Sun Golfer of the Month
After almost four months away from team competition, Belmont’s Lorrie Warren stepped back onto the course and entered the winner’s circle at the Jacksonville Spring Invitational, dominating the event in winning by 14 shots. In honor of her outstanding play, the conference office announced that she won the Golfer of the Month award for February, her second award of the 2007-08 season and third of her career. Warren, a junior business major from Hendersonville, Tenn., won the Jacksonville Spring Invitational individual title contested on February 25-26 after posting a 36-hole score of 141. Her score broke her own school record of 143 set at the Great Smokies Collegiate in October. For the 2007-08 season, she leads Belmont in scoring with a 74.4 average and owns five top-10 finishes.
Sophomore Akin Takes Third Place in Guitar Competition
Sophomore Mark Akin recently won third place in the Beethoven Guitar Competition which was held in Memphis. This competition is open to all age groups through college-level. Akin will be invited to perform on the winner’s concert on March 16 and awarded a cash prize for his third place win. He is the first student guitarist at Belmont to enter and win a prize at this state competition. He also recently won a place in the Belmont classical performers competition and will perform the second movement from Rodrigo’s “Concerto de Aranjuez” in April with the Belmont University Orchestra.
Business Students Inducted into Beta Gamma Sigma
The College of Business Administration and the Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business recently inducted 64 students into the Belmont University Chapter of Beta Gamma Sigma. Only business students who earn the distinction of “the Best in Business” during their academic careers qualify for membership. Beta Gamma Sigma is the business school equivalent of Phi Beta Kappa in liberal arts education.
These students join an expanding worldwide network of more than 560,000 outstanding business professionals who have earned recognition through lifetime membership in Beta Gamma Sigma. Students ranking in the top 10 percent of the baccalaureate and top 20 percent of graduate programs at schools accredited by AACSB International (Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business) are eligible for this invitation. Beta Gamma Sigma membership is truly an international honor, and these outstanding Belmont students have received the highest recognition a business student anywhere in the world can receive.
The following students were inducted at a ceremony and reception on Thurs., Feb. 28: Jacqueline Marie Allinder, Erik W. Anderson, Jennifer M. Bischoff, Jonathan L. Bradberry, Connie L. Brais, Kelsey E. Breault, Sierra M. Briggs, Ephraim T. Brown, IV, Lindsay E. Browning, Evelyn (Betsy) E. Bruington, Adam S. Bryan, Karisa N. Butler-Hurst, Charles M. Canon, IV, Allison P. Champagne, Beth A. Clayton, Nicholas A. Connell, Lauren E. Cooper, Joshua C. Curd, Katherine Nicole Curtis, Maurissa G. Davis, Elizabeth L. Dawson, Rachel M. Dooley, Matthew P. Durdel, James I. Elliott, J. Seth Estep, Jennifer H. Foster, Kenneth N. Gaines, Thomas J. Gephart, Mara B. Greenberg, Christopher Chase Hamby, Keena C. Harris, Clinton D. Hill, Joseph V. Hofflinger, Adam J. Hogan, Sarah C. Irby, Benjamin S. Kann, Nathan J. Klages, Stephanie W. Lambring, Kristen M. LaScola, Kari E. Lennon, Christine M. Lewis, Danara D. Lowery, Ryan T. Malloy, Andrew E. Mills, Matthew P. Nicholson, Ryan H. O’Hern, Allison M. Pellicciotti, Dain C. Penzhorn, Merrick M. Pickens, Laura A. Rathgeber, Libby A. Reed, Matthew J. Robinson, James M. Rosano, Tanner A. Scott, Amber M. Slifer, Matthew R. Spiess, Tessa B. Stratton, Blake M. Tidwell, Mary Lauren Walden, Katherine N. Williams, Lauren A. Williams, Laura E. Wright, Julie E. Zaloba and Adam C. Zinke.
