A reception was held Monday to honor Dr. Pete Giordano, professor and chair of the Psychology Department, who was named last month as the 2007 Tennessee Professor of the Year. Dr. Giordano was selected from more than 300 top professors in the United States. Joined by his family for the celebration, Dr. Giordano and fellow faculty and staff listened to comments offered by Associate Provost Marcia McDonald, Provost Dan McAlexander, interim Arts and Sciences Dean Mike Pinter and Faculty Improvement Group (FIG) representative Sue Trout.
In an earlier press release, Dr. McAlexander noted, “Pete Giordano has been an outstanding faculty member since his first days on the Belmont campus, receiving the high honor of our own Chaney Distinguished Professor award and serving as a former director of the Belmont Teaching Center. Pete is an excellent model of how all Belmont faculty are committed to teach in ways that empower students to learn to their highest potential. His own ongoing commitment to intellectual exploration makes Pete a model of the teacher-scholar, a way of teaching that enables his students to thrive.”
Belmont University professors have received the Tennessee Professor of the Year Award two other times in recent history, in 2000, for Dr. Mike Awalt (Philosophy) and in 2001, for Dr. David Julseth (Spanish).
Dr. Giordano joined Belmont’s Psychology Department in 1989 after receiving his B.A., M.A., and Ph.D. (Clinical Psychology) degrees from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. A past National President of Psi Chi, the honor society for psychology, he frequently teaches courses in such subjects as Abnormal Psychology, Psychology of Personality, Psychometrics and Introduction to Psychological Science. He is also a member of the Belmont Undergraduate Research Symposium Steering Team, Fellow of Division Two of the American Psychological Association and a consulting editor for Teaching of Psychology. In the past year alone, he has received the Tower Award for exceptional contribution to campus life from Belmont’s Student Affairs division and the Academic Inspiration Award from Belmont’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.
Campus Celebrates Pete Giordano, Professor of the Year
Hare Selected as Candidate for National Award
Senior men’s basketball student-athlete Justin Hare has been selected as a candidate for the 2007-08 Lowe’s Senior Class Award. This is the latest national honor for Hare in his decorated Belmont career. A 2007 Second Team Academic All-American and twice Academic All-District selection, the Cleveland, Tenn. native was named Atlantic Sun Conference Male Student-Athlete of the Year this past June. Hare sports a 3.86 GPA in his chosen major of exercise science and health promotion.
Hare is one of 30 senior male college basketball student-athletes to be nominated for the prestigious award. The Lowe’s Senior Class Award is presented annually to the NCAA Division I Student-Athlete of the Year in eight sports, focusing on the “Four C’s” of classroom, character, community and competition. From the list of 30 nominees for each gender, a national media committee will select 10 finalists for the Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award in January 2008. Those 10 names will be placed on the official ballot for a nationwide vote during the NCAA Tournament in March. Fan balloting will be coupled with votes from coaches and media to determine the male and female recipients. Lowe’s, an official corporate partner of the NCAA, will award the winners with trophies during the respective men’s and women’s NCAA Final Four weekends.
Now in its seventh year for basketball, the award has developed into the nation’s premier tribute for college seniors. The award was conceived by legendary sportscaster Dick Enberg, who continues to serve as Honorary Chairman.
Graduating Business Students Score High on National Exam
The College of Business Administration announced today that many of its graduating seniors scored at or above the top 10 percent level on the Major Field Test in Business, an exam produced by the Educational Testing Service (ETS) of Princeton, N.J. The ETS exam has been administered to almost 9,000 students at 181 undergraduate business programs across the U.S.
“Many of our students are now demonstrating that they can score very well when compared to their peers at other U.S. business schools” said Susan Taylor, associate dean of the Undergraduate School of Business Administration. “Their performance is a direct reflection of our focus on delivering a high-quality program and the individual attention our students receive from our highly-qualified faculty.”
Undergraduate students from the Fall 2007 cohort who scored in the Top 10 percent or higher nationally include: Jessica Bowden (Sycamore, IL), Edward Buchanan (Nashville, TN), Jacob Buckman (Louisville, KY), John Ebinger (Frederick, MD), Matthew Erickson (Peoria, IL), Alexander Haemmerlein (Nashville, TN), Niels Jensen (Kirchheim/Teck, Germany), Matthew Kubicek (Mandeville, LA), Raymond Mockmore (Brentwood, TN), Kevin Twist (Ballwin, MO), Christopher Winkle (Maryville, TN) and Rebecca Young (Chatham, IL).
Belmont Partners with Center for Nonprofit Management for New Masters Program
Belmont University and the Center for Nonprofit Management today signed the official agreement to formalize their partnership in creating a new Masters program at the university to specialize in Nonprofit Leadership. Courses are scheduled to begin Fall 2008.
Belmont University President Dr. Robert Fisher said, “With Belmont’s significant emphasis on learning and service, it only makes sense that we should offer a Masters of Nonprofit Leadership for individuals seeking to start a second career or those who want professional development in a current nonprofit venture. By partnering with the Center for Nonprofit Management, we can guarantee students will have Middle Tennessee’s best experts and nonprofit executives to direct courses and share their experiences.”
Lewis Levine, President of the Center for Nonprofit Management, added, “This is wonderful news for the nonprofit community in Middle Tennessee. It will provide the opportunity for future leaders in our sector to improve their skills and to benefit from the strong academic environment at Belmont University.”
Webster Gives Address at Induction Ceremony
On Nov. 18, Dr. Andrew Webster, Chair of the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, gave an invited address at the induction ceremony of the Beta Lambda Delta Chapter of the Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society of the Jefferson State Community College in Hoover, Alabama. The title of his presentation was “How Is the World a Better Place Because of You?” and focused on the importance of professional and community service in attaining admission to professional schools and beyond. The event was attended by about 150 people.
Coach Cross Scores 500th Win in Victory over Alabama
The Belmont women’s basketball rocked its way to its third win of the season on Wednesday night at the Curb Event Center behind the 29 point performance of sophomore Amber Rockwell. The Bruins gained a double digit lead early in the first half and never looked back en route to a 75-58 win over Alabama. The victory became the 500th of Head Coach Tony Cross’s career and snapped a two-game skid. With the win, Cross becomes the first women’s coach in program history to notch 500 wins. Belmont also joins only three other programs in the country that feature 500-win coaches in both men’s and women’s basketball.
‘Christmas at Belmont’ Showcases Belmont’s Musical Talent
From the first notes of “Festival Fanfare of Christmas” to the parting strains of “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing,” the 2007 “Christmas at Belmont” holiday concert again provided undeniable proof of Belmont School of Music students’ talent.
Taped live in front of a full house Monday night in the Laura Turner Concert Hall of the Schermerhorn Symphony Center, the annual performance featured Belmont alumnus Melinda Doolittle (’99) as host for the evening, and she also performed four selections, including “Some Children See Him” with the Nashville Children’s Choir and “Joy to the World” with the combined choirs, University Symphony Orchestra and Jazz Sextet.
The taped special will air nationally on PBS Mon., Dec. 24, at 9 p.m. Central after its local premiere on Nashville Public Television (NPT) Thurs., Dec. 20, at 8 p.m. Central. The television production was made possible by generous gifts from The Beaman Family Foundation and The Jack C. Massey Foundation. For additional photos from the evening, click here.
Massey Faculty Published in Journal of Teaching in International Business
The research of three Massey faculty members was recently published in the Journal of Teaching in International Business. Dr. Jane Finley (Deloitte Professor of Accounting), Dr. Susan Taylor (Associate Dean and Associate Professor of Marketing) and Dr. Lee Warren (Associate Professor of Accounting) submitted their paper on “Investigating Graduate Business Students’ Perceptions of the Educational Value Provided by an International Travel Course Experience.” This piece is particularly relevant to Belmont as it ties into a specific dimension of Massey’s graduate business program, namely, the required international study abroad experience for all graduate students.
Town Hall Debate Announcement Brings Dignitaries, Media to Campus
Chairman of the Board Marty Dickens, Belmont President Bob Fisher
and Governor Phil Bredesen celebrate today’s announcement.
The Vince Gill Room erupted in cheers as Belmont President Bob Fisher announced, with a dramatic curtain parting, that the Curb Event Center would play host to the pivotal Town Hall Presidential Debate on Oct. 7, 2008. “It’s always about a song for me,” Fisher noted, “‘I’m walkin’ on sunshine and don’t it feel good.’ What a great day for Belmont, for Nashville and for the state of Tennessee.” (To view a student-produced video package of the campus press conference, click here.)
After being introduced by Dr. Fisher, Gov. Phil Bredesen offered his own congratulations. “I was particularly pleased to learn that the debate here will be the town hall debate. Tennessee is a perfect microcosm of America, and this state is right in the middle of mainstream American values and has been for a very long time.”
Nashville mayor Karl Dean, Congressman Jim Cooper and Curb Center namesake Mike Curb were also present to offer remarks. Cooper made reference to the historical context of today’s announcement, noting that seventh American president, Andrew Jackson, initiated quite a legacy by spending most of his career in Tennessee, while more recently former Vice President and Tennessee native son Al Gore won the state acclaim by securing a 2007 Nobel Peace Prize for his work with the environment. “And now this, the Presidential Town Hall Debate,” said Cooper. “It doesn’t get better than this. I’m so proud for Tennessee and for Belmont.”
For more information on the format of the debate and selection of debate sites, visit the Commission on Presidential Debates Web site.
For additional information on this event, media should contact Pamela Johnson in Belmont’s Office of Strategic Marketing and Special Initiatives at 615-460-6178 and johnsonp@mail.belmont.edu.
To view a student-produced video package of the campus press conference, click here.
Local media coverage links:
The Tennessean
Nashville City Paper
NewsChannel5
WKRN
WSMV
Fox 17
To read the press release announcing Belmont’s selection for the Town Hall Presidential Debate, click here.
A Web site for the 2008 Town Hall Presidential Debate at Belmont University is currently under construction.
Belmont Chosen as Site for 2008 Town Hall Presidential Debate
The Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD) announced today that Belmont University in Nashville, Tenn., will host the Town Hall Presidential Debate on October 7, 2008. Belmont was one of 16 sites nationwide under consideration to host one of three presidential, or one vice presidential, debates. Tennessee has been home to three former United States Presidents—Andrew Jackson, Andrew Johnson and James K. Polk—but this will be the first time a presidential debate has been held in Tennessee.
“It is a distinct privilege to be chosen to host the Town Hall Presidential Debate,” Belmont President Bob Fisher said. “This opportunity will provide an invaluable educational experience to our students, allowing them to observe firsthand our nation’s political process and to be participants in American history. We are also pleased that the candidates and all of our distinguished guests will have an opportunity to witness the many benefits offered by the greater Nashville community.”
The Presidential Debate at Belmont will be held in the Curb Event Center, home of the NCAA Division-I Belmont Bruins basketball and volleyball teams and host site of the live CMT Music Awards show two years in a row. With a generous gift from the Mike Curb Family Foundation, The Curb Event Center opened in 2003. Seating 5,500 and equipped with state-of-the-art lighting and sound systems, the versatile, in-the-round facility is ideal for the Town Hall format, in which citizens propose questions directly to the candidates. The debate is expected to attract more than 2,500 members of the media to Nashville, along with the candidates’ campaigns and supporters, and will be viewed by millions worldwide.
The CPD was established in 1987 to ensure that the debates provide the best possible information to viewers and listeners. Its primary purpose is to sponsor and produce debates for the United States leading presidential and vice presidential candidates and to undertake research and educational activities relating to the debates. The nonprofit, nonpartisan organization sponsored all the general election debates in 1988, 1992, 1996, 2000 and 2004.
Civic organizations and state and local government officials have supported Belmont’s bid for the presidential debate. Former Nashville mayor Bill Purcell, Tennessee governor Phil Bredesen and senators Bob Corker and Lamar Alexander, and congressman Jim Cooper all wrote letters in support of Belmont and bringing one of the debates to Tennessee. In his letter to the CPD, Governor Bredesen wrote, “The Presidential Debates would find a compatible home at Belmont University where students with inquisitive minds take their roles as future citizens of our community, nation and world very seriously.”
“Hosting the debate at Belmont will engage our students in the political process through invaluable first-hand participation,” Dan McAlexander, Provost at Belmont, said. “Belmont takes seriously its mission to prepare its students for success in the real world, and serving as host site for the presidential debate will give our students invaluable tools in critical thinking and practical experience as they take an active role in what will surely be an historical election.”
For more information on Belmont University, click the link to Download file.
To see the list of debate site applicants, click the link to Download file.
For additional information, visit the Web site for the Commission on Presidential Debates.
To read more about the press conference announcing Belmont’s selection for the Town Hall Presidential Debate, click here.
A Web site for the 2008 Town Hall Presidential Debate at Belmont University is currently under construction.
