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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Belmont University Welcomes HCA Healthcare as Health Advisor for Oct. 22 Presidential Debate

April Hefner
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Belmont University Welcomes HCA Healthcare as Health Advisor for Oct. 22 Presidential Debate

Belmont University announced today that HCA Healthcare is working with the institution to implement health and safety protocols for the Oct. 22, 2020 Presidential Debate at the University’s Curb Event Center. 

HCA Healthcare is supporting protocols developed by the Cleveland Clinic, who is serving as the global health advisor for all four debates, and agreed to by the Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD). In addition to leading local site planning in consultation with Cleveland Clinic and the Metro Public Health Department, HCA Healthcare is providing support and expertise surrounding health protocols, promoting universal masking and facilitating testing at the final debate in Nashville.

A learning health system with more than 2,000 sites of care, including 186 hospitals, in 21 states and the United Kingdom, HCA Healthcare is a leader in infection prevention that sees more than 35 million annual patient encounters a year. 

Belmont President Dr. Bob Fisher said, “We are confident that HCA Healthcare’s knowledge as a leading healthcare provider with extensive infectious disease expertise will provide superior clinical guidance and safety support for this important event. HCA Healthcare has long been a valued partner for Belmont, supporting our students through scholarships, leading important community conversations on our campus and working with our faculty to ensure the next generation of health care leaders is well positioned to tackle current and future issues.” 

“We are pleased to provide clinical resources and expertise honed through experience refining safety protocols and protection measures since the onset of COVID-19,” said Dr. Jonathan Perlin, chief medical officer and president, clinical operations group of HCA Healthcare,” said Dr. Jonathan Perlin, chief medical officer and president, clinical operations group of HCA Healthcare. “We are honored to collaborate with Belmont University to help ensure a safe event for the Nashville community and visitors from around the country.”

Members from the HCA Healthcare team recently traveled to Cleveland to observe practices and protocols for the Sept. 29 presidential debate. In addition to providing guidance on safety measures for the Oct. 22 debate and the days leading up to it, HCA Healthcare will be assisting with advance communications to event participants, including health and safety information, and will be providing the University with informational signage and health education printed materials to share with guests.

Belmont is committed to the health and safety of its campus community as well as the debate candidates, campaign teams and media guests. In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, the University has already established a number of practices in line with protocols developed by the Cleveland Clinic and in consultation with HCA Healthcare to mitigate impact on the campus, including:

  • Debate guests will be required to adhere to the same safety standards being required of Belmont students, faculty, staff, vendors and visitors, including wearing masks indoors and out, social distancing and frequent hand washing/sanitizing. 
  • Debate operations will be separated from standard campus operations via credentialing and security measures to avoid close contacts between the two populations. 
  • HCA Healthcare will provide testing/screening protocols as needed for debate operations in coordination with CPD and Cleveland Clinic. 
  • Debate operations are being designed to maximize social distancing. This includes a significant reduction in media attendance, the absence of a Spin Alley and associate delegates and extremely limited ticket availability for attending the event.
  • Classes and other campus academic/student life operations will be conducted virtually during Oct. 21-22, the two days with the anticipated heaviest debate-related activity on campus.

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.

NYC-Based Theater Director Joel Kirk Visits Campus to Assist with Upcoming Virtual Performance of ‘Hamlet Remix’

Emma dela Pena
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NYC-Based Theater Director Joel Kirk Visits Campus to Assist with Upcoming Virtual Performance of ‘Hamlet Remix’

New York City-based theater director Joel Kirk was on campus this week with Belmont’s musical theater students to help with the production of “Hamlet Remix.” Kirk is the chairman and CEO of Joel Kirk Productions and founder of the non-profit organization Discovering Broadway Inc., whose mission is hosting and providing development resources for new musicals in Indiana. 

A 2012 Carmel High School graduate, Kirk pursued an internship in New York City at New Dramatists and shortly after, began directing at schools such as Julliard, Fordham and his alma mater, Ball State University.

Belmont students started rehearsing virtually for “Hamlet Remix” with Kirk when school began in August and have been working through each number of the show for the first time. This is not only the first time this material has been brought to life, but also the first time Belmont students have produced a virtual musical. The actors have made substantial progress in regards to the show and have accomplished and polished various numbers throughout “Hamlet Remix” with Kirk’s help. 

Kirk has encouraged and instructed the students through the musical numbers by providing constructive criticism. He approaches each rehearsal by staying as engaged and hands-on as possible. His passion and drive for musical theater and teaching is shown through each rehearsal. 

Kirk visited campus to help students with “Hamlet Remix” rehearsal

The students are very receptive and excited to work with Kirk and have been implementing his advice rapidly. One example is Rachel Zimmerman, a senior musical theater major, who opens the Hamlet production with a full-energy opening number. Kirk gave her advice on how to channel her conflicting emotions throughout the number and how “each shift of emotions has to have a punch to capture the audience.” 

Belmont’s Coordinator of Musical Theater Nancy Allen shared, “Having Joel here with the students has brought an incredible amount of insight and excitement for the project. Seeing the material come to life before his eyes is rewarding and almost magical.  The opportunity to work with someone who has the film background that Joel has is vital to prepare us for filming.” 

While the department does not have a set release date for the virtual musical, Belmont’s website will announce when the film has been edited and released. To learn more about Kirk, visit his website at joel-kirk.com or follow him on Instagram @joeltkirk.

Gale, Heeren Awarded Congressional Award Gold Medal

Emma dela Pena
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Gale, Heeren Awarded Congressional Award Gold Medal

Belmont freshmen Nick Gale and Weston Heeren were both awarded the Wyoming Congressional Award Gold medal. Both award recipients are from Sheridan, WY, and completed projects pertaining to exploration and expedition. Any student can register to compete in the program through the Congressional Award for Youth, which encourages students to pursue and achieve a personal goal.

The organization has each participant set specific goals under the categories of public service, personal development, physical fitness and expedition/exploration. Each participant completes their goals in each category and records their hours to submit to be reviewed by the board.

Gale pursued a cultural exploration in New Mexico as the capstone of his project while Heeren completed an expedition of Grand Teton for his project. Gale and Heeren were two of 478 other recipients in 41 states awarded the Gold medal for the Congressional Awards of 2020. 

The Congressional Award states that “the Gold Congressional Award is the most prestigious award for youth and the only award given to students by the U.S. Congress. In order to earn the Gold Congressional Award, participants must complete at least 400 hours of volunteer service, 200 hours of personal development, 200 hours of physical fitness and execute a four-night and five-day exploration or expedition. Gold medalists also receive a $1,000 higher education scholarship.”

Although the in-person award ceremony was canceled due to COVID-19, the virtual ceremony was held on September 26 to celebrate. To see the recipients of each category, read the full article on Wyoming Congressional Award for Youth. 

Michaels, OTD Students Perform Virtual Fundraiser Concert for Nashville Dolphins

Haley Charlton
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Michaels, OTD Students Perform Virtual Fundraiser Concert for Nashville Dolphins

Each year, Dr. Natalie Michaels, professor in the Occupational Therapy Department, performs a concert for a charity benefiting the Nashville Dolphins, and encourages her students to sing on stage with her. But this year, because of COVID, her students couldn’t be there for the event in person. However, the group was able to utilize Zoom to allow the show to go on.

The event raised money for the Nashville Dolphins, a dedicated group of people who teach water safety and swimming to children and young adults with Down Syndrome and other conditions. Michaels, along with fellow musicians, Jim Martin and Peter Gallinari, played everything from Willy Nelson and Styx to Whitney Houston, as well as some original music, all in the name of this wonderful organization.

First-year OTD student Kendall Jackson and new OTD graduate Roya Rezadoost both sang solos for this Zoom event, and were both a hit. Michaels’s husband, Rick , also sang a song for this extraordinary charity, and Michaels said, “He’s my rock! I couldn’t do this without him and my awesome students!”

Songwriting Alumnus Luke Olson Reaches 1 Million Views on New Music Video

Nicole Jones
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Songwriting Alumnus Luke Olson Reaches 1 Million Views on New Music Video

The Olson Bros Band, featuring Belmont songwriting alumnus Luke Olson, recently released a music video for their song “Kill Your Mom.” The impactful song, which addresses a mother’s pain after losing a child, has resonated with people across social media, garnering more than 1 million views in just two months.

Watch the music video for “Kill Your Mom” here, and learn more about The Olson Bros Band here.

Faculty Members Discuss Seeking Truth in an Age of Misinformation

Emma dela Pena
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Faculty Members Discuss Seeking Truth in an Age of Misinformation

As it becomes closer to time for Americans to head to the polls, Belmont University is encouraging students to seek out true and credible sources through a virtual event, “Seeking Truth in an Age of Misinformation”. The event was held on October 7 as part of the University’s Debate 2020 programming and featured Interpersonal Communications Scholar Dr. Mary Vaugn from the Department of Communications Studies (Belmont), Historian and Author Dr. Mary Ellen Pethel from Interdisciplinary Studies and Global Education (Belmont), Journalist and Media Literacy Scholar Jennifer Duck from Curb College (Belmont) and Outreach Librarian for Religion and Theology Kashif Graham (Vanderbilt) . 

In a panel moderated by Assistant Director of Spiritual Formation Josh TenHaken-Riedel, the professors discussed the importance of searching for accurate and credible information in a time where misinformation is circulating more frequently.  

TenHaken-Riedel started by sharing the importance of educating students on credible and accurate sources, especially as a Christian university. “As Christians, we’re called to seek out and promote truth,” he said. 

Graham expressed how important it is to recognize that all reporting has its own bias and encouraged students to read news critically and listen carefully before they post. “Every time you re-post something, you give it authority,” Graham explained.

Pethel elaborated on the importance of recognizing bias, especially in news sources. While sources should be credible, readers should also be able to recognize and understand the bias behind each source. Pethel explains how understanding bias can give you a greater understanding of the topic itself. 

Throughout the night, panelists discussed how to respond to the spread of misinformation and the role of interpersonal skills when it comes to speaking truth. Social media has also had a big impact on the spread of misinformation, which led Duck to share how important it is to pause before posting and research the accuracy of the content being shared on various platforms.

University Minister Heather Daugherty encouraged students to continue discussing and researching these important issues in light of the upcoming election. The University is offering small group opportunities to discuss social media more in-depth: sign up at Continuing the Conversation. For more information, contact University Ministries.

Belmont Sophomore Liz Kate Lands Role in Universal’s ‘Dear Evan Hansen’ Upcoming Feature Film

Emma dela Pena
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Belmont Sophomore Liz Kate Lands Role in Universal’s ‘Dear Evan Hansen’ Upcoming Feature Film

Variety Magazine just announced Belmont sophomore Liz Kate as the newest addition to the cast in the upcoming Universal movie, “Dear Evan Hansen,” a film adaptation of the acclaimed musical, which garnered six Tony Awards. Liz Kate is joining the extremely star-studded cast including Julianne Moore, Amy Adams, Ben Platt, Kaitlyn Dever and Amandla Stenberg.

Currently pursuing a songwriting major, Liz Kate grew up in a home where creativity was always encouraged by her family. Additionally, as a current resident of Atlanta, she’s been acting and songwriting in this location’s market all while learning from what the industry has to offer.

The balance between songwriting and acting is one Liz Kate has been practicing for the past 13 years, even throughout her freshman year at Belmont. “There were several times I had to grab my roommate and self-tape an audition in an empty room,” she laughed. While auditioning in the South has utilized self-taping for some time now, COVID-19 has made the process fully virtual.

Since she was little, the Atlanta actress knew Belmont would suit her long-term goals in entertainment. She shared that Nashville immediately felt like home and Belmont’s stellar reputation in the music industry solidified that choice for her. Since then, Belmont’s rigorous courses and professional atmosphere have prepared her for this opportunity.

She also expressed gratitude for the tight-knit Belmont community. “When you step on campus, people change your life,” she explained, crediting several of her professors (Drew Ramsey and Jodi Marr in songwriting, Dr. Cynthia Curtis in theology and Yvonne Bland in communications) with impacting her development.

As someone who’s practiced two creative hobbies for years, Liz Kate shared the importance of storytelling throughout her work. She credits her longtime songwriting coach, Vanessa Olivarez (Granville Automatic, The Hidden History of Music Row), who has pushed her to develop an emotional meaning and connection through lyricism.

Other mentoring and training under professionals such as Mama Jan, Julia Haltigan, Kendra Morris, Matt Arnett and Eddie Owen have given Liz Kate a unique edge. She shared that, “nature, relationships, art and current events are all inspiring to my expression in many ways creatively, but it looks different every day.”

A dedicated and involved student, Liz Kate is also involved in greek life on campus, as well as Belmont University’s Songwriting Association and Crosspoint Church. This semester, Liz Kate is completing her courses remotely as she works to balance her classes and her acting career simultaneously with music. As a student who is dedicated to both her school work and a blossoming career, she encourages other students to “be persistent in the work that you wish to pursue.”

Liz Kate has learned that the film and television industry calls for ‘thick skin’ when rejection comes into play. “It’s not always easy, but I think the various training and workshops I’ve taken all have shaped me into the person that I am today,” she said. “It’s about being the best version of yourself and learning from the people that are around you. I think it’s important to soak in everything, not make it about competition, but instead make it about bettering yourself.”

Liz Kate shared she is excited to return to Belmont to continue her studies, acting and work on her upcoming album. “I’m also looking forward to being back on campus with my sisters in the spring,” she said as Phi Mu sorority recognized her for her upcoming role.   

For more updates on Liz Kate’s role in the upcoming film, Dear Evan Hansen, follow her on Instagram @lizkatemusic or visit her website lizkate.com.

Co-curators Host Tour of ‘Designing a Democracy’ Art Exhibit

Nicole Jones
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Co-curators Host Tour of ‘Designing a Democracy’ Art Exhibit

In a virtual event for the Debate 2020 Programming, Watkins College of Art at Belmont presented a gallery talk and tour of Designing A Democracy, an exhibit boasting a survey of graphic designs as experienced through political posters throughout history. Collector and local politician Ronnie Steine, along with exhibit co-curators Belmont University Professor of Graphic Design Dan Johnson and Director of Galleries Katie Mitchell, guided students through a tour of the gallery, sharing insights on each piece along the way.

Photo of Political posters in gallery

The political posters in this gallery represent an emerging dynamic in mass media culture. They act as a mirror of culture to reinforce culture and commonality among politicians and Americans.

In a look at the posters through the years, it is apparent how art is defined by available technology of the time. From hand painted pieces, now collected, to the advanced pieces of today, often widely available for download, these posters are intentionally designed to connect with Americans.

Poster in gallery

In one section, posters represent an Age of Modernism in advertising, using simplistic and meaningful designs. Another section of the gallery represents the counter culture of the West Coast music scene and psychedelic culture of its time, using bright colors invoking perceptions of the drug culture and symbolic of its style.

In the McCarthy section, the hosts discussed how the posters represent the impact politics has on artists and in turn, the impact artists have on politics.

more posters from the gallery

Political posters have evolved over time. The political world often draws upon what is happening in pop culture at the time, designing on the cutting edge to lend a candidate more credibility in being “the common man.”

Steine and Johnson closed encouraging the Belmont community to share in the conversation this gallery sparks and to use their voice to vote. The Designing a Democracy exhibition is on display in the Leu Art Gallery in the Lila D. Bunch Library at Belmont University through November 20, 2020.

Barton, Alumna Published in Journal of Bioorganic and Medicinal Chemistry

Emma dela Pena
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Barton, Alumna Published in Journal of Bioorganic and Medicinal Chemistry

Dr. Chris Barton and alumna Priyanka Kumar were recently published in the journal of Bioorganic and Medicinal Chemistry. The article, published by Elsevier, focuses on “reports of experimental results in medicinal chemistry, chemical biology and drug discovery and design, emphasizing new and emerging advances and concepts in these fields.”  

The research paper published was a collaborative effort with Dr. Joe Deweese and Dr. Susan Mercer, both professors in Lipscomb’s College of Pharmacy. The project is centered around the synthesis of novel anti-cancer drugs and examined how these drugs affected the growth of human cancer cells.  

Dr. Chris Barton is an associate professor of biology at Belmont and worked collaboratively with Kumar. As a class of 2019 biology major and a Belmont honors student, she is currently pursuing dental school at Tufts University in Massachusetts. 

To read the full research project by Dr. Barton and Kumar, visit Science Direct. 

Author Jordan-Lake Explores the Role of Fiction in Addressing History, Enacting Change

Nicole Jones
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Author Jordan-Lake Explores the Role of Fiction in Addressing History, Enacting Change

As a part of both Belmont’s 19th-annual Humanities Symposium and Debate 2020 Programming, the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences hosted author Joy Jordan-Lake for a conversation on “unearthing the past and rebuilding the present” through works of fiction. Jordan-Lake is a writer of a variety of nonfiction and fiction titles with a focus on social justice, including novels “Blue Hole Back Home” and “A Tangled Mercy.”

Jordan-Lake explained that fiction, grounded in historical events, can provide many lessons from the past, as well as strategies to fight injustices today. Through both classic and modern stories, fiction has the power to enact social change to bring us closer to a more perfect union.

Jordan-Lake’s own experiences surrounding racial injustices were foundational to her interest in novels of social change. She shared stories of her childhood in the South during a time of rampant racism that reached her small Appalachian town and greatly affected her friends. She befriended a Sri Lankan family who had moved to her community in hopes of experiencing equal opportunity in America. However, after many racist attacks on the family, the daughter asked Jordan-Lake why this kept happening to them. As young teenagers, Jordan-Lake was unable to provide an adequate answer to her friend, which sparked her motivation to write. These experiences inspired Jordan-Lake’s first novel “Blue Hole Back Home,” a story not only of the devastating effects of racial hatred, but a celebration of courage, confrontation and healing.

“You speak up. You say or you write. You let it be known however you have to,” Jordan-Lake said in response to hateful behavior or language. She encouraged that everyone has the ability to say “no” to those that marginalize or demean any part of the human community, can refuse to be a pawn in a game of power and tell a tale that might persuade.

On the power of story in effecting social change, Jordan-Lake explored the ways in which classic stories have affected American history. She explained American racial justice in fiction must be compelling in story, not in argument. This was exemplified in “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” by Harriet Beecher Stowe. Jordan-Lake noted that while the story is controversial, no one can question its impact on the conversation of racial justice. The criticisms of the story are legitimate and worthy of discussion, but must be examined in their historical context and impact of social change in its time.

Other authors of classic works, such as Charles Dickens, Upton Sinclair and John Steinbeck, have examples of novels that shifted the court of public opinion and continued debates on important topics. The sufferings and triumphs of the characters of their stories changed the views of many Americans, and at the least, provided a new perspective for many.

“How interesting that a work of fiction has been part of what has formed public opinion, part of the ongoing debate of democracy,” Jordan-Lake said. To students, she closed saying, “I encourage you to take note not just of the political debates and of celebrity posts about social issues, but also to take note of the novels that make you see the world a little different and maybe, just maybe, unearth a part of the past you’d never known. And maybe, just maybe, contribute to building a cultural present in which a democracy thrives, even as it values decency, compassion, diversity and equality.”

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