IMPORTANT NOTE: These are the archived stories for Belmont News & Achievements prior to June 26, 2023. To see current stories, click here.

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Samford University Names Jill Robinson as School of the Arts Woman of the Year

Emma dela Pena
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Samford University Names Jill Robinson as School of the Arts Woman of the Year

Belmont University’s Director of External Relations and Executive Learning Networks Jill Robinson was recently named Samford University’s School of the Arts Woman of the Year. The university puts forth multiple nominations and the recipient is then chosen by an award committee of the School of the Arts. 

A graduate of Samford University in 1993, Robinson studied graphic design and illustration in the School of Arts. She moved on to Nashville to pursue her career eventually working at Belmont where she currently works in the College of Business and promotes the undergraduate and graduate programs offered to students. 

“I often tell my students and work associates that Samford’s School of the Arts prepared me to think creatively and problem solve at a higher level. Through my illustration art classes, we learned to take concepts, a book or a magazine article and translate it into one picture that could tell the whole story. Four years of this type of training, and you begin to see differently finding the nuances in communication,” Robinson shared. 

As a full-time staff and adjunct faculty member at Belmont, Robinson creates partnerships throughout the Middle Tennessee community. Robinson shared that she enjoys connecting and finding like-minded people to work alongside and helping others with their goals personally and professionally.  

Robinson said the award came as a surprise to her and she heavily credits her support team at Samford University, sharing that they helped her be more observant of life, people and connections which have served her well in her career. “I owe that gift of seeing the few higher purpose solutions to Samford School of the Arts, and I am forever grateful they helped me succeed in this area in my business, nonprofit and education careers,” she said.

MNPS Recognizes Kia Jarmon for ‘Black Excellence’

Emma dela Pena
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MNPS Recognizes Kia Jarmon for ‘Black Excellence’

Alumna Kia Jarmon was featured by the social media platforms of Metro Nashville Public Schools as a part of the #MNPSBlackExcellence celebration through the month of February. As a 2002 graduate of Nashville’s School of the Arts, she was recognized for the contribution and legacy she’s left on the magnet high school.

During her time at the School of the Arts, her guidance counselor selected a few students to tour Belmont University during her junior year for an exploratory weekend which finalized her decision to come to Belmont. Jarmon shares how her high school experience in Nashville shaped her passions and desires in this video. 

Jarmon graduated from Belmont with a Bachelor of Business Administration in 2006 and was the first to receive the Ingram Diversity Leadership Scholarship, which awards an incoming freshman full-tuition for four years for presenting outstanding academic and leadership performance. The scholarship continued after Jarmon’s meeting with the scholarship donor recognizing the great contribution the award can have on future students.

Jarmon shared, “Black Excellence means to me: Strength. When I have the opportunity to show up as my fullest, authentic self, even in a world that can be so challenging for a person that looks like me, I know that I have the strength of my ancestors and those who stood before me.”

She currently leads the boutique communications and community engagement firm MEPR agency, serves as founder of the Nonprofit Equity Collaborative, is a Collective Impact consultant with the Center for Nonprofit Management and is co-leader of the Black Philanthropy Initiative in Nashville. Jarmon serves in many other community positions across Nashville and has a passion for philanthropy and mentorship. To read more about the work she is doing, visit her website.

Belmont Alumna Opens Occupational, Speech Therapy Practice

Haley Charlton
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Belmont Alumna Opens Occupational, Speech Therapy Practice

After years of hard work and determination to making her dreams a reality, Belmont alumna Jennifer Pacileo has succeeded in opening her own clinic – Southern Pediatric Therapy.

As freshman at Arkansas State University, Pacileo accepted a position at an outpatient pediatric clinic, owned by another Belmont alumna, to clean bathrooms, file papers, schedule patient appointments and answer the phones. The moment she started the position and saw the impact of occupational therapy on a child’s life, she knew she not only wanted to be an occupational therapist, but she also wanted to own her own clinic. Two years later, as a junior in college, she wrote her business plan for Southern Pediatric Therapy.

Due to financial hardships, Jennifer was unable to finish her degree at Arkansas State and had to return home. She applied to and graduated from the Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) program at Concorde Career College and set her next goals of finding employment and working to apply to the Bridge Program at Belmont University.

After several years of working as a certified occupational therapy assistant in a variety of settings, starting a family, studying business, and finding as many mentors as possible, Pacileo was accepted into the MSOT Occupational Therapy Program at Belmont.

In 2018, twelve years after writing her initial business plan and praying for the Lord’s guidance, she finally opened Southern Pediatric Therapy, an occupational therapy outpatient pediatric clinic in Hernando, Mississippi. Southern Pediatric provides occupational and speech therapy services to the community and surrounding schools.

Pacileo’s hard road has made her appreciate everyone she works with on every level. The owner of the pediatric clinic she worked for in college is now her mentor and one of her best friends. After many years, she is still cleaning bathrooms, but now it is the bathroom at her own clinic.

Belmont Fashion Alumni, Instructor Featured in NFocus Magazine

Haley Charlton
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Belmont Fashion Alumni, Instructor Featured in NFocus Magazine

The March issue of NFocus magazine features work by alumni and faculty from Belmont’s O’More College of Architecture and Design as the issue focuses on new trends for spring with the tag line: “In Full Bloom: Get to know six of the city’s top fashion designers.”

Work from Jami-Lyn Fehr, founder of Modiste, graces the cover of NFocus (and also page 22). Fehr was also recently featured in Grit Magazine.

Others featured throughout the March issue include Adjunct Instructor Nancy Youssef (page 8), alumna Emily James and her atelier, Lady James (page 13), and Van Hoang (pages 36-37).

The March issue of NFocus can be viewed here.

Belmont University Earns 2021-22 Military Friendly® School Designation for Seventh Year in a Row

Emma dela Pena
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Belmont University Earns 2021-22 Military Friendly® School Designation for Seventh Year in a Row

Belmont University announced today that it has earned the 2021-2022 Military Friendly® School designation for the seventh consecutive year. Belmont was highly rated on culture and commitment, admissions and orientation and academic policies and compliance.

“It’s an honor to once again receive this designation that recognizes Belmont’s commitment to support our student veterans and military family members,” said Dr. Mimi Barnard, associate provost for Interdisciplinary Studies and Global Education, home to Belmont’s Veteran Success Team. “Belmont faculty and staff are intentional in their goal of providing educational environments that support student veterans and military family members in meaningful ways.”

Among the 1,200 institutions that participated in the survey, 746 schools received the designation, which serves as a resource for current military service members, veterans and military spouses. Being designated as a Military Friendly® School indicates greater support and better outcomes for veterans who attend these schools.

“Schools who achieve designation show true commitment and dedication in their efforts,” said Kayla Lopez, Military Friendly® national director of military partnerships. “Our standards assist schools by providing a benchmark that promotes positive educational outcomes, resources and support services that better the educational landscape and provide opportunity for the military community.”

Institutions earning the Military Friendly® School designation were evaluated using both public data sources and responses from a proprietary survey. The list will be published in the May issue of G.I. Jobs magazine and can be found here.

Methodology, criteria and weightings were determined by input from the Military Friendly® Advisory Council of independent leaders in the higher education and military recruitment community. Final ratings were determined by combining the institution’s survey response set and government/agency public data sources, within a logic-based scoring assessment. The institution’s ability to meet thresholds for Student Retention, Graduation, Job Placement, Loan Repayment, Persistence (Degree Advancement or Transfer) and Loan Default rates for all students and, specifically, for student veterans are measured. 

For more information about Belmont University’s student veteran programs, visit Belmont University’s Veterans website. 

Belmont Alumna Promoted at Diversified Trust

Emma dela Pena
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Belmont Alumna Promoted at Diversified Trust

Diversified Trust, an independent comprehensive wealth management firm with offices throughout the Southeast and more than $7 billion of client assets under management, recently announced multiple new promotions in the Nashville office. Of these include Belmont University alumna Mary Raymond who has been promoted from senior vice president to principal.

Raymond serves as the corporate portfolio management lead and provides client service for institutions, individuals and retirement plans. Her responsibilities include providing detailed performance reporting, sharing economic updates and making allocation recommendations.

Raymond is a CFA charter holder and holds the CFP® certification awarded by the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. She received her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Belmont University and her Master of Business Administration from Kaplan University.

“We are delighted to congratulate our promoted colleagues and reward their dedicated work in serving our clients,” said Robyn Hari, managing principal. “Each of these professionals contributes to our firm by enhancing client relationships and delivering value through their purposeful and innovative work. I am confident they will continue to lead with positive force.”

Diversified Trust, established in 1994, provides clients with comprehensive wealth management solutions, including investment management, trusts and estates, family office and institutional advisory services.

Diversified Trust’s clients include individuals, multi-generational families, family offices, foundations, endowments and retirement plans. In addition to Nashville, the Southeast-based company has offices in Greensboro, North Carolina; Atlanta, Georgia; and Memphis, Tennessee. For more information on Diversified Trust, visit diversifiedtrust.com.

The Rev. Charlie Curb Center for Faith Leadership Announces Judeo-Christian Studies Initiative

Haley Charlton
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The Rev. Charlie Curb Center for Faith Leadership Announces Judeo-Christian Studies Initiative

The Rev. Charlie Curb Center for Faith Leadership at Belmont University is announcing the creation of The Judeo-Christian Studies Initiative, which will sponsor several interfaith activities as a part of the work of the Rev. Charlie Curb Center. This endowed program is a multi-pronged endeavor that includes lectures, classes and conversations that will help to provide dialogue, perspective and understanding across these two major faith traditions. 

“The creation of this program will provide lasting lessons and teaching opportunities for both the Nashville community, as well as for our students,” said Belmont President Dr. Bob Fisher. “Anything that we can do to build opportunities for dialogue and mutual learning with those of other faiths is a wonderful thing for everyone.”

A six-member advisory board, comprised equally of both Jewish and Christian members, will collaborate with the executive director of The Rev. Charlie Curb Center to plan topics, lecture guests and annual events. A concerted and intentional effort will be made to offer a balanced and thoughtful approach to this interfaith dialogue.

Jon Roebuck, executive director of the The Rev. Charlie Curb Center, said,“It is increasingly important to create space in our culture for civil, respectful and meaningful dialogue to occur. I am excited about the creation of this initiative and the possibilities it imagines. Though there are many differences in our faith traditions, it is important to find common ground from which we can learn and grow in our understanding and shared faith experiences. I am grateful for the donors and dreamers who have helped to create this program.”

Under the umbrella of this initiative, three endowments totaling more than $150,000 with university matching funds have been established, thanks to donors Dr. Frank and Julie Boehm, Mark and Harriet Schiftan, and Shelly and Trish Krizelman. Each of these funds will focus on unique goals and objectives.

The Dr. Frank & Julie Boehm Lecture Endowment Fund will focus on the history of Judaism by providing an annual lecture series that will bring lecturers from both Jewish and Christian communities to campus each spring to discuss a wide variety of topics that would honor and respect both faith traditions. Invited expert speakers will concentrate on the many historical events that helped shape Judaism, other world religions, as well as the birth and history of modern-day Israel.  

The Shelly and Trish Krizelman Social Ethics Endowment Fund will highlight shared faith traditions and wisdom literature regarding a variety of topics, including the protection of the biblical honored vulnerable populations including the widow, the orphan, the poor and the stranger. This includes a focus on the civil rights and liberties of all persons engrained in our nation’s constitution and other sacred documents.

The Rabbi Mark & Harriet Schiftan Holocaust Endowment Fund will focus attention on Holocaust studies, awareness and remembrance, and will seek to educate Belmont students, as well as the greater Nashville community, concerning issues related to the Holocaust.   

“I’m both excited and elated for my role in the creation and establishment of the Judeo-Christian Initiative at Belmont,” said Rabbi Mark Schiftan. “This initiative will include an honest examination of the history, lessons and legacy of the Holocaust and its broader impact and meaning on the culture and character of this current moment in time, as well as its important and lasting lessons for peoples of faith communities— Belmont students included— over their lifetimes.”

Belmont College of Law Ranked No. 5 in Nation for Female Enrollment

Haley Charlton
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Belmont College of Law Ranked No. 5 in Nation for Female Enrollment

Belmont University College of Law is ranked No. 5 in the nation for female enrollment, according to the 2020 annual report from Enjuris. The report uses compiled data from the ABA on law school enrollment to break down law school gender diversity by state and highlight the top-ranked schools for women, placing Belmont near the top of the list with a female enrollment of 64.18 percent.

Based on the most recent data (2020) from the American Bar Association, in 35 states and Puerto Rico, at least half of the students who are attending law school are women. In 2020, women accounted for 54.09 percent of all students in ABA-approved law schools, while men made up 45.70 percent of law school students.

“While we make admissions decisions based on merit, we are pleased that our process has resulted in greater opportunities for women to achieve their dream of serving others by becoming lawyers,” said Belmont College of Law Dean Alberto Gonzales. “It seems incredibly timely in this month that celebrates Women’s History that we can acknowledge and honor female law students across the country, especially those at Belmont Law.”

Woman studying

The numbers follow the country’s five-year trend of women making up the majority of law school students pursuing Juris Doctor (JD) degrees in the United States. In 1960, women comprised only 3.5 percent of enrollees in ABA-approved law schools. In 2016, the number of female law school enrollees surpassed male enrollees for the first time. Now, nationwide, the majority of law schools (73.98 percent) have more female students than male students.

The top five of 20 listed ABA-accredited law schools by female enrollment in 2020 were:

  1. North Carolina Central University
  2. Northeastern University
  3. Howard University
  4. New England Law | Boston
  5. Belmont University

Thirteen of the top 20 law schools as ranked by U.S. News & World Report had more female attendees than male attendees. More infographics, charts and gender enrollment data can be found on Enjuris.com.

This is the most recent addition to Belmont Law’s list of national rankings, as the school was also named sixth in the nation last year for first-time bar passage rates.

Alumna Moves to VP of Marketing at Triple Tigers Records

Emma dela Pena
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Alumna Moves to VP of Marketing at Triple Tigers Records

Laura Hostelley, Belmont journalism alumna, was recently promoted from director to vice president of marketing at Triple Tigers Records. Graduating from Belmont in 2016, she joined the team at Triple Tigers immediately after.

Throughout her time as a Belmont student, Hostelley interned at Music Row Magazine, Sirius XM Radio, Country Aircheck and the Tennessee Chamber of Commerce. 

Hostelley’s promotion has been featured in Music Row, with words from Hostelley herself and Triple Tigers President Norbert Nix. Nix said, “She is a keen observer, creative thinker and fearless when it comes to advancing the careers of the artists we work with at Triple Tigers.”

African American Heritage Society Features Alumnus Bernard Childress

Emma dela Pena
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African American Heritage Society Features Alumnus Bernard Childress

The African American Heritage Society of Maury County features those from Maury County who have made a significant impact in the world of sports. Belmont alumnus Bernard Childress, executive director of the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association (TSSAA), is among those role models.

A native of Maury County, Childress left to attend Belmont, graduating in 1978 with a Bachelor’s of Science degree and as a member the basketball team all four years. He then went on to receive his Master’s Degree in Administration and Supervision from Trevecca University. 

In 1992, Childress was inducted into the Belmont Athletic Hall of Fame and was also named the assistant executive director of the TSSAA, which strives to provide leadership and coordination for the supervisors of athletics.

His feature can be found in the City of Columbia News and on the AAHS Facebook page, including more of his high school and post-grad accomplishments that have impacted Maury County residents. Belmont’s Alumni website also shared a story on his success.

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