While this year’s Bruin Lead sessions posed their own challenges in the light of the COVID-19 pandemic, faculty and graduate students successfully facilitated leadership workshops for all Belmont students.
Between the two options, nearly 60 students challenged how they practiced and viewed leadership. Students were able to come together via Zoom to learn and practice exemplary leadership using the Student Leadership Challenge by James Kouzes and Barry Posner.
As Zoom continues to play a key role in our current education it certainly allowed facilitators and BOLD to keep the energy alive among students and challenge them to think boldly and organically. For example, students were given the task to acknowledge themselves and their personal goals.
Two students reflected on their Model the Way experiences, one of which is anonymously quoted saying, “Something that stuck with me the most was the premise that I need to strengthen my own personal values before I can express them to others and lead them. It was something I had always struggled with, and BOLD gave me ways to actually go about strengthening them.”
Another student anonymously said, “I have really been challenged to reflect on the Model the Way leadership type. It was my lowest scoring one and I want to take the time this semester to make sure my actions match my values. I want to work on taking and using constructive criticism better.” Bruin Lead and the Student Leadership Challenge gave leaders the ability to acknowledge themselves as an individual first and move on to them as a part of a group.
Facilitators took advantage of Zoom Breakout Rooms for students to work in small groups where they clarified their values and goals as an individual. By modeling the way, students were able to move into inspiring a shared vision, to challenge the process, enable others to act and finally to encourage the heart (the five practices covered in the Bruin Lead curriculum).
As defined by BOLD, leadership at Belmont University is, “A values-driven process of individuals from diverse backgrounds working together to boldly and ethically engage and transform the world.”
Bruin Lead’s overall hope for 2020 is that students take the leadership behaviors that are proven to bring out their best self and work and use it to transform the world. BOLD’s next major event is the Leadership Lately series on November 9.
BOLD is also hosting a self-paced online training program called The Beat – Belmont Ethics and Accountability Training virtually until December 10 for leaders through their Blackboard account. Students can join the BOLD experience in Bruin Link.
To contact the BOLD office, email bold@belmont.edu with any questions.
Belmont musical theatre alumnus Hampton Bishop launched his company HKBalloons NYC in 2015 and has seen growing success. HKBalloons NYC mixes art and entertainment, most notably providing balloon sculptures and bouquets for companies, events and shows.
After graduating from Belmont in 2011, Bishop began his career in musical theatre, pursuing opportunities at the Tennessee theme park Dollywood and eventually moving to New York City, the musical theatre capital of the world, to further his career on stage. Although Bishop found success in musical theatre, he also needed additional income. Determined to continue pursuing his passion for visual and performing arts, he decided to pick back up his first passion of balloon sculpting.
He began by twisting balloons in Central Park for tips and soon realized he could do so much more. Bishop then launched HKBalloons NYC. While balloons were always a part of Bishop’s life, from learning in grade school to creating designs during high school and college, he never dreamed they could become his stable income and career. After just a few years in business, HKBalloons NYC had clients including Too Faced Cosmetics, World Dance Championship and Saturday Night Live, where his company created the set design for the Jonas Brothers’ musical performance.
Many of the skills and values Bishop learned while studying musical theatre at Belmont have equipped him to be a successful entrepreneur. Musical theatre taught him about making good impressions in an audition, being kind and respecting others and the space you’re in. These are things Bishop tries to implement with every client and venue he works with today. Bishop hopes to create a stage show with balloon puppets and sets to use balloons to get back to his theatre roots. Bishop’s background in theatre and music, along with his eye for design and production, allow his company to provide unique sculptural installations that serve as functional décor and art.
To current students, Bishop says, “My advice would be to enjoy your time at Belmont. The relationships and people you meet will last for a lifetime. Also be willing to pivot. Being able to pivot and change ‘the path’ that you’re on is not always a bad thing. You may think that you have set out to do one thing, but you can find happiness in another.”
HKBalloons NYC provides sculptures, bouquets, covered ceilings, custom prints, videos, LED lighting, large inflatables and fantasy flowers. Visit hkballoonsnyc.com to view recent work and learn more.
In conjunction with the final Presidential Debate being hosted by Belmont University, middle school and high school students enrolled in Metro Nashville Public Schools were invited to enter the Presidential Debate Essay Contest.
First place winning essays were published in the Tennessean, and winners were also invited to provide a video of themselves reading their essays or excerpts to share publicly. Winners also had the opportunity for a behind-the-scenes tour of the Belmont Presidential Debate grounds (pictured here), in addition to receiving monetary prizes.
The winners are:
High School:
1st Place: Jamie Watson, Hume-Fogg Academic Magnet High School (Click here to read Watson’s winning essay published in The Tennessean)
2nd Place: Michayla George, Hume-Fogg Academic Magnet High School
3rd Place: Saida Bolduc, Martin Luther King Jr. Magnet School
Middle School:
1st Place: Trane Abernathy, Rose Park Middle School (Click here to read Abernathy’s winning essay published in The Tennessean)
2nd Place: Mary Li, Martin Luther King Jr. Magnet School
For the final event of Belmont’s White House Style series, “Dressing for the White House,” host Libby Callaway was joined by two of her friends in the fashion industry. Special guests Robin Givhan, Washington Post fashion critic, and Diane Von Furstenberg, fashion designer, are both highly acclaimed fashion professionals and joined Callaway for a discussion over the President and First Lady’s occasional attire. The series is sponsored by the O’More College of Architecture and Design as part of Belmont’s host role for the October 22 Presidential Debate.
Both emphasized that the First Lady’s fashion style and choice of attire for special occasions are always well-thought-out. The two discussed the elegance and significance each of the First Lady’s outfit has, with special attention to the inauguration piece. The inauguration pieces are donated to the Smithsonian or another D.C. museum and are deemed as “a gift to the country.”
Additionally, the two discussed the First Lady’s choice to not wear American designers on large occasions. Givhan stated that, “the American first lady has a responsibility to wear, celebrate and uplift the American culture.” The two discuss the importance of presidential attire also supporting American craftsmanship.
Throughout the night, Callaway shared pictures of past First Lady’s significant, elegant and sometimes controversial outfits to discuss. Both fashion professionals discussed and admired the style and elegance of First Lady Jackie Kennedy. She had the perfect diction, look, education and “was the American ideal,” both Givhan and Von Furstenberg stated.
Each piece of the outfit is crucial to the representation of the First Lady’s style and persona. “People should be themselves, and they should be the best of themselves,” Givhan shared. Callaway used the example of a necklace First Lady Nancy Raegan wore that demonstrated her maternal and warm elegance that tied into the legacy of her time as the First Lady of the U.S.
The night concluded by talking about the position of the First Lady and Givhan shared that, “the first lady position can be a really powerful place to be.” The designer and journalist discussed their perspectives and opinions on various outfits and choices of each First Lady and the legacy each left on the United States.
Nashville’s stalwart reputation as the nation’s health care capital grows even stronger today. Belmont University announced this morning its intent to start a new College of Medicine in collaboration with with one of the nation’s leading healthcare providers, HCA Healthcare. HCA Healthcare’s Nashville-based TriStar Health will provide clinical elements in support of Belmont’s plans to pursue Liaison Committee on Medical Education(LCME) accreditation for the new college.
Sponsored by the Association of American Medical Colleges and the Council on Medical Education of the American Medical Association, LCME is the nationally recognized accrediting authority for medical education programs leading to the M.D. degree in the U.S. (and Canada). Belmont College of Medicine would seek to become the nation’s 156th LCME-accredited medical school, and its graduates would be well positioned to help fill the significant physician gap anticipated to be felt between now and 2033.
“As seen with all of the efforts observed this week as we prepare to host a presidential debate, Belmont University settles for nothing less than excellence in everything we do. That is certainly our intent with this new College of Medicine, and working with HCA Healthcare, I have no doubts that this program will produce the next generation of health care leaders,” said Belmont President Dr. Bob Fisher. “HCA Healthcare will bring world-class expertise to Belmont’s College of Medicine, offering our students extraordinary faculty instructors and a pathway to residency and clinical placements. A College of Medicine is the natural next step in Belmont’s health care offerings. It’s not an easy step, but it’s characteristic of Belmont University to take on challenges and do big things, and do those things well.”
In addition to being a leading healthcare provider, HCA Healthcare also is the leading provider of graduate medical education in the country. HCA Healthcare’s TriStar Health will provide third year medical students core clinical clerkships and fourth year medical students clinical elective rotations. HCA Healthcare also will provide a pathway to outstanding graduate medical education opportunities for Belmont College of Medicine graduates and will support existing members of the medical staff who may be interested in faculty positions in Belmont’s College of Medicine.
“According to the Association of American Medical Colleges, the shortage of U.S. physicians continues to worsen, and we share Belmont University’s commitment to address this critical need,” said HCA Healthcare CEO Sam Hazen. “We appreciate our long history of collaboration with Belmont, and we look forward to supporting their pathway to be a successful LCME-accredited medical school.”
This new medical school further builds on a lengthy legacy of connections between Belmont and HCA Healthcare, one that traces back to the company’s co-founder Jack Massey, a staunch Belmont supporter. Since those early years, the organizations have worked together on a number of vital initiatives, including the Partners in Nursing Consortium to address a nursing shortage in Tennessee. HCA Healthcare also is working with the University as the local health advisor for the Oct. 22, 2020 Presidential Debate at Belmont.
President of the Physician Services Group for Nashville, Tennessee-based, HCA Healthcare, Dr. Michael Cuffe speaks during Belmont’s College of Medicine press conference announcement.
HCA Healthcare is a leader in clinical and medical education, and its affiliates currently include 58 teaching hospitals. The health system is the largest sponsor of Gradual Medical Education (GME) programs, with more than 4,300 residents and fellows in 272 programs and a growing commitment to medical education. In addition, HCA Healthcare affiliates include Galen College of Nursing, Research College of Nursing and Mercy School of Nursing. HCA Healthcare also has several Centers for Clinical Advancement that provide nursing training in simulation environments.
As the largest and most comprehensive healthcare provider in the region, HCA Healthcare’s flagship, Tristar Health, will provide a vast learning environment for Belmont College of Medicine students and residents.
The academic and clinical expertise HCA Healthcare brings to the table along with the countless opportunities presented by being located in the nation’s healthcare capital aren’t the only advantages Belmont medical students will receive. They will also benefit from numerous interprofessional healthcare opportunities already embedded on the Nashville campus. The University is heavily invested in the health sciences, currently offering degrees in nursing (bachelor’s, master’s and DNP), physical therapy (DPT), pharmacy (Pharm.D.), occupational therapy (OTD) and public health (bachelor’s) as well as an MBA in Healthcare.
Furthermore, the need for qualified, compassionate healthcare practitioners is substantial. According to data published by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) in June, “the United States could see an estimated shortage of between 54,100 and 139,000 physicians… by 2033.” Of those numbers, a shortage of approximately 21,400-55,200 primary care physicians alone are anticipated. Interestingly, the data for this study was gathered prior to the advance of COVID-19 into a worldwide pandemic, an emergent crisis that has demonstrated “the need for a strong and sufficient health care workforce.” Other key findings from the report suggest that physician demand will also be impacted by population growth and aging as well as that “a large portion of the physician workforce is nearing traditional retirement age.”
Belmont aims to help address this coming shortage by welcoming an inaugural class of 150 students, with an expected enrollment of 500-600 students when the College of Medicine reaches full capacity.
Belmont’s strong financial status, impeccable health science academic programs and longstanding commitment to excellence provide the perfect foundation for a dynamic, state-of-the-art new College of Medicine. As next steps, the University will immediately launch a nationwide search for the inaugural dean of the new Belmont College of Medicine. The dean will begin to build a team and initiate the required steps to pursue candidacy status with the Liaison Committee on Medical Education and also establish timelines for potential openings.
A prominent site for a building to house the College of Medicine has been identified, and preliminary plans are being developed for the approximately 150,000 square foot building. More detailed information will be announced at a later date after review and approval by all parties and the accrediting body.
About HCA Healthcare Nashville-based HCA Healthcare is one of the nation’s leading providers of healthcare services, comprising more than 2,000 sites of care, including 186 hospitals, surgery centers, freestanding ERs, urgent care centers, and physician clinics, in 21 states and the United Kingdom. With its founding in 1968, HCA Healthcare created a new model for hospital care in the United States, using combined resources to strengthen hospitals, deliver patient-focused care and improve the practice of medicine. HCA Healthcare has conducted a number of clinical studies, including one that demonstrated that full-term delivery is healthier than early elective delivery of babies and another that identified a clinical protocol that can reduce bloodstream infections in ICU patients by 44 percent. HCA Healthcare is a learning health system that uses its more than 35 million annual patient encounters to advance science, improve patient care and save lives. Please click here to connect with HCA Healthcare on social media.
About Belmont University Belmont University—home of the October 22, 2020 Presidential Debate, the third and final in the election season—is made up of more than 8,200 students who come from every state and 28 countries. Nationally ranked and consistently recognized by U.S. News & World Report for its innovation and commitment to teaching, Belmont brings together the best of liberal arts and professional education in a Christian community of learning and service. The University’s purpose is to help students explore their passions and develop their talents to meet the world’s needs. With more than 100 areas of undergraduate study, 27 master’s programs and five doctoral degrees, there is no limit to the ways Belmont University can expand an individual’s horizon. For more information, visit www.belmont.edu.
On October 13, University Ministries hosted a panel to discuss “How Christians Approach Politics” as part of the University’s Debate 2020 Programming. The discussion was moderated by Assistant Director of Spiritual Formation Josh Ten-Haken Riedel, who led the conversation between Dr. Mona Ivey-Soto, assistant professor of Education, and Dr. Nathan Griffith, associate professor of Political Science.
Throughout the night, Ten-Haken Riedel provided thought-provoking questions that facilitated conversation on issues in politics and its relationship to Christianity. Dr. Ivey-Soto explained that Christians should be invested in social issues because these issues are deeply connected to the people we care about.
They discussed how there’s constantly a political nature to what we do, yet this doesn’t mean there’s a political affiliation. Dr. Ivey-Soto shared that “advocacy work is engaging in the process because we are seeking to create social change.” She continued to share the issue of racism in the United States and reminded the viewers that Jesus did not approach people with a colorblind mentality, and Christians are encouraged to do the same.
Both professors shared the need for a humble, kind and understanding approach to conversations of civil engagement. Dr. Griffith stressed the importance that “the Bible doesn’t say a lot about what exactly you should support, but more about how you should support.” Dr. Ivey-Soto stressed that “it’s not what would Jesus do, but what did Jesus do?”
The night ended with questions on the live zoom from other student participants and discussion on the expereince of growing up in a Christian household and then moving away to college. Dr. Ivey-Soto and Dr. Griffith provided students with a new perspective and lens to look through in terms of faith in politics.
Dr. Douglas Murray, professor in Belmont’s Department of English, was a speaker at the Annual General Meeting of the Jane Austen Society of North America. His talk, presented virtually on October 11, was entitled “The Female ‘Ramble Novel’ and Austen’s Juvenilia: Concluding with Comments on how we read Pride and Prejudice.”
The band SELAH announced their album release date to be November 6 after releasing their first single in the album, “Step into My Story,” on Oct. 2. The contemporary Christian music band consists of three members: Amy Perry, Todd Smith and Allan Hall who have re-introduced hymns and classic songs to the modern age.
Two band members are alumni of Belmont and have been producing music together for the past 24 years, with Todd Smith from the class of 1996 and Allan Hall from the class of 1997. To read more about SELAH and their upcoming album release, visit their website.
Nashville singer/songwriter James Rodgers celebrated his first RIAA Gold-certified single as an artist for his single “Some Girls.” Multiple publishing companies and labels surprised Rodgers with the news along with the song’s writers HARDY, Jake Mitchell and Belmont alumnus C.J. Solar.
Solar, a Belmont songwriting graduate, was a co-writer on the gold-certified single and is featured on Music Row’s website along with other artists who helped surprise Rodgers. To read the full article, click here.
In the summer of 2020, creatives from all over the U.S. were invited to create a Unity Flag in order to promote empathy for bipartisanship in a time of political unrest as a part of Belmont’s Debate 2020 Programming to hang in a gallery, sponsored by Belmont’s Watkins College of Art. Belmont Assistant Professor of Art Dr. Meaghan Brady Nelson hosted a virtual presentation and discussion about the project on October 8 with several of the participating artists, with a goal of exemplifying unification of our nation’s communities through collaborative art making.
“Each unity flag is distinctive in its visual meaning, and as a collective, they help us to understand, become aware of and sensitive to vicariously experiencing bipartisan discourse,” Nelson said. Many of the artists shared their stories of what their diverse flags represent and how they contribute to a conversation that drives social progress, as well.
Examples of Unity Flags presented included “The World Needs More Kindness,” made by Tanya Wall and Jordan Sauer in Wyoming, which represents the hope that the nation can come together through kindness, courage and optimism. “Confetti Celebration,” created by Vonnie Gaither in Alaska, uses a variety of colors to represent ethnicity, cultures, social events, human issues, emotions, moods, fears, struggles and more that celebrate the unification of all into one in America.
Nelson explained that she does some of her best thinking with a pencil in hand. She dreamed up this project as a way to allow visual literacy a safe space to cultivate “purple empathy,” an optical blending of blue and red coming together to engage in civil bipartisan discourse through the visual arts. After inviting creators from all over the country to participate, “I’m in” was the resounding response of creators looking for ways to connect through the visual impact of art.
“2020 has been a year that has brought hardship and division but the efforts of each unity flag creator in this project work to counter balance this. I will forever be grateful for your artistry that seeks to build empathy and unity for our country,” said Nelson.
The Unity Flag Project is currently on display on campus at the Leu Center for the Visual Arts for the Belmont community to visit. Art lovers everywhere can also view each flag and creator involved in this project at unityflagproject.com.
