Dr. Paulo Oliveira, assistant professor in the School of Music, gave a lecture-recital at the International Guitar Research Center Conference in Hong Kong. His presentation was titled “Incorporating the Practice of Jazz Improvisation in the Technical Routine of Classical Guitarists.”
Dr. Oliveira said there were speakers from all over the globe at the conference. “I am glad to share that my presentation was very well received, and I am making lots of good connections,” he said. “I am happy to be representing Belmont in this prestigious conference, and I am grateful for the support!
Dr. Oliveira will also play concerts in Singapore and Malaysia before returning home.
Associate Professor of Audio Engineering Technology Dr. Dave Tough’s song “Go Where It Takes Us,” co-written and co-produced with Justin Busch and mixed by Chris Sernel, is featured in the new movie “Stuber.” The movie opened July 12 in theaters nationwide.
Lucian Dervan, associate professor of law and director of criminal justice studies for Belmont Law, presented this week at The International Society for the Reform of Criminal Law’s conference in Brisbane, Australia. The conference’s theme this year focused on bribery and corruption, and Dervan presented a session sharing his research regarding plea bargaining. Dervan also serves as the chair of the American Bar Association Global White Collar Crime Institute and a member of the International Criminal Justice Standards Task Force.
Dervan said, “It seems fitting that one of my last acts as the Australian born chair of the American Bar Association Criminal Justice Section is to return to Australia for this event. It’s been a fast and fun year as Chair.”
He continued, “I enjoyed the opportunity to attend the conference. We heard a lot during the event about the pressing problem that corruption poses to the global community. Plea bargaining is a tool that offers the possibility of not only moving cases through the system swiftly, but is also a means of creating significant incentives for cooperation that might lead to more investigations and successful prosecutions. In addition to discussing the positive aspects of plea bargaining during my presentation, I also warned the audience about the risks associated with plea bargaining, including the significant problem of false pleas by innocent defendants. As those attending the conference consider the use of plea bargaining in their countries as a tool to assist in the global fight against corruption, I hope they will pause to consider the power of the incentives inherent in the bargain, consider at what point efficiency jeopardizes reliability, and work to create balanced systems that harness the power of plea bargaining, without jeopardizing the fundamental principles of the criminal justice systems we all work to protect for the future.”
Dr. Cheryl Slay Carr, associate dean of the Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business, and April Hefner, editorial and news content director for the Office of Communications, were selected to participate in the recent “Advancing Leaders Summit.” The event is sponsored by the Tennessee Independent Colleges and Universities Association (TICUA) and was held July 10-11 at Cumberland University.
Designed for aspiring campus officials seeking to advance to a more senior role within their institution, the TICUA Advancing Leaders is a two-day intensive summer workshop that helps advancing leaders to evaluate their own skills, gifts and calling against the primary leadership skills needed in today’s private higher education environment.
Professor of Religion Dr. Judy Skeen helped plan the “Heart of Higher Education: Living Between What Is and What Could Be” conference this summer. Held at Goshen College (Indiana) in late June, the conference brought together more than 75 faculty and administrators from across the country and drew on the work of teacher, author and activist Parker J. Palmer, who participated in a keynote conversation.
In addition to helping to organize the event, Skeen also spoke at a plenary session. Click here to read more about the conference.
While some may be relaxing by the pool or working at a
summer job, nearly 800 Belmont students started their summer off by participating
in one of 45 faculty-led Maymester and Summer Study Abroad programs.
With programs based in Australia, Belgium, China, Czech Republic, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, England, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Israel, N. Ireland, Morocco, the Netherlands, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Tanzania and more, students have the opportunity to learn in a non-traditional classroom by visiting historical sites and experiencing new cultures first-hand.
These short-term programs, lasting anywhere from a week to a
month, are led and designed by Belmont faculty to explore one or two certain
areas of study, while giving students the opportunity to travel to and discover
a new place.
Belmont students enjoy a study abroad trip to the Mediterranean
Director of Study Abroad Thandi Dinani said Belmont’s culturally enriching study abroad programs enhance a student’s academic experience. “Classrooms come to life as faculty take students to visit places where history took place,” she said. “Whether visiting Nelson Mandela’s prison cell in South Africa, walking streets where Jesus walked in Israel or studying chemistry while taking a cooking class in Italy, students see how countries, concepts and cultures have shaped history and impact their world.”
Belmont Students learn audio engineering on a trip to Germany and France
Belmont’s catalog of study abroad opportunities grows every
year, thanks to the Office of Study Abroad and the dedication of more than 100
faculty who lead the programs and work to keep up with the increasing demand
for unique learning experiences.
This summer, new programs include studying cruise industry
entertainment operations by sailing to the Bahamas, learning about island
entertainment, food, music and sports in Jamaica, experiencing one of the
happiest countries on Earth by examining folk culture, music and nature in
Norway, and even touring iconic civil rights locations right here in the U.S.
Other new-to-2019 programs will take students to Ghana, Czech Republic, France
and Germany, among others.
Senior Anna Pearson said her trip to Norway has been the hightlight of her Belmont experience so far. “Studying abroad gave me a perspective of the country that I never would have gotten from a simple vacation. I loved studying about Norway’s history and culture and seeing it unfold right in front of me,” she said. “What I loved most about the Maymester to Norway was that our leaders fit in as much as possible, jam-packing our schedule with a variety of awesome events. From visiting Edvard Grieg’s house to learning about Viking ships to marching in the Constitution Day parade to hiking in the Aurland mountains, there was always something exciting to see, do and learn.”
Belmont students marching in the Norweigan Constitution Day Parade
Belmont senior Tommy Gotsch took three courses on his trip to the Bahamas: third year writing, cruise ship operations and artist management. “My favorite part of the trip was visiting Puerto Rico, going out to dinner at the restaurant, and seeing all of the performances,” he said. “The trip really made me think how unique Belmont is in its learning and teaching, mostly in the real world experience I got in cruise ship entertainment.”
Popular programs among students returning for the 2019 year
include the Hawaii Maymester month-long program, Belmont in South Africa and
Tanzania, as well as the return of the Belmont
at Bonnaroo program.
“We’re able to offer programs that accommodate a wide variety of students from different majors with different program preferences,” said Dinani, who credits strong faculty support for the growing interest in and diversity of study abroad experiences.
Belmont in Italy
Although the Maymester programs have wrapped up, many students are still participating in summer study abroad programs. Follow along with #BelmontAbroad as students and faculty document their summer 2019 travels on social media.
Alec Shirer, senior composition major (percussion principal), will intern with Luray Carillon Park in Luray, Virginia. He will play a series of carillon concerts at the park late in July.
Shirer studies carillon at Belmont with Dr. Richard Shadinger.
Recognizing that many prospective college students and their parents think about a university’s academic rigor, prestige and price when choosing where to attend, another factor to consider is the beauty of the campus itself. The website noted, “Belmont is located on the former Belle Monte estate, which includes an antebellum mansion. Built in 1853, it is on the National Register of Historic Places. The 105-foot bell tower, gardens and gazebos are also scenic aspects of the school.”
Active Times scoured media coverage, online reviews and other accolades to compile a list of schools from coast to coast with campuses that stand above the rest.
Amanda Ellis, who graduated from Belmont in 2013, serves as the marketing and communications manager for the Chattanooga Chamber of Commerce.
Ellis majored in corporate communications and double minored in psychology and dance. A Chattanooga native, she returned to her hometown after graduation to join the Chattanooga Chamber of Commerce, named international Chamber of the Year in 2017 by the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives.
In her role, Ellis is the managing editor of Business Trend magazine, the area’s longest running business publication telling local business, entrepreneurship and economic development stories. She also works with her team to promote the greater Chattanooga region as a premier economic development destination and manages the Chattanooga Chamber’s communications intern program, mentoring local students.
The Chattanooga
Lookout chapter of the Public Relations Society of America named Ellis its 2017
Up and Coming Leader.
The article examines how tax revenues generated from outdoor recreation impact the 13 states in the Appalachian Mountain Club Region.
AMC Outdoors, the magazine of the Appalachian Mountain Club, inspires readers to get outside and get engaged by providing high-quality, compelling coverage of outdoor recreation, education and conservation throughout the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic.
