Belmont Vice President and Chief of Staff Dr. Susan West was recently named to the Nashville Post’s “2019 All-Star Board.” Published in the Post’s Summer 2019 print edition, the All-Star Board recognizes leaders who bring “tremendous brainpower and inspiring generosity” to their service on local business and nonprofit boards.
West was one of only six individuals in Middle Tennessee to be honored in the publication for her work in helping “improve, grow and guide” local organizations. A Belmont employee since 1988, she currently serves on the boards of Habitat for Humanity, Saint Thomas Health and the Middle Tennessee State University Friends of the College of Liberal Arts.
Belmont University Athletics continues to add to its reputation
as a model for academic excellence within NCAA Division I.
In assessing the 2019
NCAA Division I Academic Progress Rate (APR) data reporting, Belmont stands in
exclusive company as one of only 11 NCAA Division I institutions with at least
nine athletic teams earning APR Public Recognition List honors – men’s basketball,
women’s basketball, men’s golf, women’s golf, women’s cross country, men’s
cross country, men’s track & field, women’s soccer and women’s tennis
– while also having at least 60 percent of its total sport offerings making the
list.
The 11 institutions
meeting that high standard represent a veritable who’s who of the most
prestigious universities in the country:
Belmont
Bradley
Colgate
Columbia
Gonzaga
Holy
Cross
Lehigh
Northwestern
Notre
Dame
Saint
Louis
Villanova
Taken further, Belmont and Gonzaga are the only schools in 2019 to reach the
APR milestone and have both men’s and women’s basketball programs reach the
NCAA Tournament. In addition, the men’s basketball team is the only institution
in Division I to make the Public Recognition List every year since its
inception and was lauded in 2019 for the third time as the NCAA
March Madness Academic Bracket Champion by InsideHigherEd.com. Belmont’s
women team also made it to the Academic
Championship Game in their bracket this year, coming in second overall to
the national winner, Stanford.
For the 2019 spring
semester, the overall grade point average (GPA) for Belmont student-athletes
was 3.379, which marks the 43rd consecutive semester they have earned a GPA of
3.0 or higher.
The Bruins currently hold the 2017-18 Ohio
Valley Conference Academic Trophy, signifying the
OVC institution with the greatest percentage of its eligible student-athletes
that earn a 3.25 grade-point average or higher for that academic year. Belmont
has claimed its conference’s academic achievement award 15 of the last 17
years. The current year’s trophy winner will be announced later this summer.
In addition to the overall list, Belmont tied for fourth
place for outstanding undergraduate teaching. The site ranked Belmont no. 5
among regional universities in the South, highlighting the university’s
offerings for veterans and degrees in music and music production.
Dr. Todd Lake, vice president for spiritual development,
said, “Belmont is one of the fastest growing and most dynamic Christian
universities in the country because we have both broadened and deepened how we live
out the Christian faith.”
The University now has 20 student-led Christian faith development organizations, sends hundreds of students on mission trips each year, brings Chapel speakers to campus in every academic discipline, and directly serves Nashville residents who are homeless or in need of legal or healthcare services.
Student partakes in communion at Belmont Chapel service.
The Edvocate used a variety of categories to rank
universities for the list, including graduation and retention rate, faculty and
staff resources, reputation, student selectivity, financial resources,
accreditation status, employer and student success, affordability, and alumni
giving and engagement. Learn more about how these methodologies were used to
rank each school here.
Associate Professor in the Department of Sports Administration Dr. Ted Peetz co-authored a manuscript that appears in the newest edition of the Journal of Contemporary Athletics.
The article, “Predicting consumption of rival sport team games: The importance of team identification and perceptions of the rival,” was designed to examine predictors of consumption of athletic contests involving a favorite team and a rival. To read the article, download the attachment below.
Peetz’s research interests include fandom, sport consumer behavior and celebrity athlete endorsers.
The symposium consists of essays by four academic philosophers with replies by Dr. Anderson. The project developed out of the ‘Author Meets Critics’ session on Dr. Anderson’s book which was part of the Tennessee Philosophical Association’s annual meeting in the fall of 2018.
Tens of thousands of people will fill the streets of music
city for the “ultimate country music fan experience” June 6-9. The 48th
annual CMA Fest will host concert goers from all 50 states, Puerto Rico and 36
international countries for performances on 11 official stages, many of which
will be taken by Belmont students and alumni.
Among
those performing with a Belmont connection are:
Trisha Yearwood
Florida Georgia Line’s Tyler Hubbard and Brian Kelley
John Osborne of the Brothers Osborne
Chris Young
Steve Moakler
Devin Dawson
Current student Maggie Renfroe
Current student Lauren Weintraub
Current student Matthew Burhans
Levi Hummon
Russel Dickerson
Paul Amundson
Kassi Ashton
Anna Vaus
Ryan Hurd
Paulina Jayne
Ty Herndon
Clare Dunn
Carlton Anderson
Rachele Lynae
Chad Warrix from Halfway to Hazard
Porter Howell and Duane Propes of Little Texas
Curtis Justin Solar of CJ Solar
Mignon E. Grabois of Mignon
Olivia Harris of Maybe April
Those interested in experiencing CMA Fest, but looking for more affordable events, may want to check out two other low-cost options. On Wednesday, June 5, there will be a Songwriters Series at the Country Music Hall of Fame. Tickets are only $20 and can be purchased here. Additionally, there are shows three nights of the festival at the Ascend Amphitheater for $10. Learn more and purchase passes on the Firestone Country Roads stage website page.
Belmont Honors Program Director and Professor of English Dr. Bonnie Smith Whitehouse’s book, “Afoot and Lighthearted: A Journal for Mindful Walking,” was recently praised by BookPage.
The book was listed as the top pick for their Lifestyles: May 2019 feature. The article notes the book’s six different sections and how each helps the reader explore the benefits of walking differently. Full of prompts and literary passages, the journal is described as a “smart, fetching book” by BookPage.
At the recent McWhorter Society luncheon at Belmont University, trustee and Vice Chairman of Belmont’s Board of Trust Gordon E. Inman was honored with the 2019 McWhorter Society Distinguished Service Award. This award was established to honor individuals who have made significant contributions to the health and health care related academic programs at Belmont University and who’s life work serves as a powerful example for students.
Inman was a major contributor to the construction of the Gordon E. Inman College of Health Sciences and Nursing complex in 2006. The impact of this facility allowed Belmont to triple its nursing enrollment while also providing expanded laboratories for other health care programs such as physical therapy, occupational therapy and social work.
Over the years, Inman has been an active member of the McWhorter Society at Belmont named after his close friend, the late Clayton McWhorter, whom he honored in his acceptance speech. After accepting the 2019 McWhorter Society Distinguished Service Award, Inman shared stories of his late friend and expressed his gratitude for being chosen as a recipient.
“I am incredibly thankful to everyone who is responsible for giving me this award,” Inman said. “I’m also honored and I’m truly humbled to be standing here before such a distinguished crowd. I’m very proud today to accept this award.”
Banker, businessman, entrepreneur, real estate broker, developer and community leader summarizes Inman’s dynamic career and civic leadership to date. He has been involved with numerous organizations in Middle Tennessee including Boy Scouts of America, the Nashville Symphony, Cheekwood and Brentwood Baptist Church, among others. Presently, he is Director Emeritus and Middle Tennessee Chairman of FIRSTBANK.
Assistant Professor of Religion and the Arts Dr. David Dark recently had his new book, “The Possibility of America: How the Gospel Can Mend Our God-Blessed, God-Forsaken Land,” reviewed by Chapter 16.
The question-and-answer style review discussed his goals of returning to the subject of the book 14 years after his previous book was published, his vision of a “Beloved Community” and other insights into the book’s topics.
Dark’s latest book follows in the footsteps of his previous book “The Gospel According to America.” It expands on ideas of broken and redeemable Christianity.
COUNTRY MUSIC director Ken Burns today joined Belmont University President Dr. Bob Fisher to unveil two Martin D-28 Guitars signed by 76 of the 101 country music artists interviewed for the highly anticipated eight-part, 16-hour film scheduled to premiere on PBS stations on September 15.
Among the signatures on the guitars, which will be on display in Belmont’s Gallery of Iconic Guitars, are: Merle Haggard, Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson, Vince Gill, Reba McEntire, Kris Kristofferson, Brenda Lee, Loretta Lynn, Garth Brooks and others. Thirty-seven of those who signed the guitars are Country Music Hall of Fame members. Fifteen have since passed away.
In addition, Burns
announced a collection of educational resources prepared by PBS and Belmont faculty
that will reach middle and high school students across the country.
Guitars signed by 76 of the 101 country artists interviewed for Ken Burnss highly anticipated documentary, COUNTRY MUSIC.
The materials, including video and lesson plans drawn from the research that went into the film, will explore American history through country music, illustrating the extent to which this distinctly American art form reflects the times in which it evolved. Materials will cover the musical style, the genre’s history, and the workings of the music industry. Students and teachers will be able to access the collection for free on PBS Learning Media which reaches one million users each month throughout the school year.
“As with all of our
films, we work with partners to help teachers and other educators share this
history with students,” said Burns. “The history of country music provides an
engaging, thoughtful and often soulful way to help students understand unique
parts of the American story. Perhaps most importantly, from this unique art
form, which was created by so-called ordinary Americans often struggling with
extraordinary hardship, we see how the ‘rub’ of American cultures gives birth
to country – and really gives birth to who we are as a people.”
Belmont President Dr. Bob Fisher added, “Belmont’s lengthy history as a
magnet for young people interested in studying music, songwriting, performance,
motion pictures and the entertainment industry made our sponsorship of COUNTRY
MUSIC a perfect pairing. We are honored to now be able to showcase the signed
guitars that serve as such a unique and visible emblem of this project, but
we’re even more excited to demonstrate the talents of our faculty to high
school and middle school students across the country. These men and women are
experts in their fields and can lend great insights to country music’s role
within, and impact on, American history.”
Belmont faculty participating in ‘Country Music’ curriculum
Belmont faculty participating in the COUNTRY MUSIC curriculum include
Dr. Don Cusic (music business), Dr. Jeremy Lane (music), Dr. Sarah Blomeley
(English), Dr. Nancy Riley (music), Dr. Lauren Lunsford (education), Eric Holt
(music business), Dr. Amy Smith (music business), Dr. Ryan Fox (math) and Dr.
Mark Hogan (education).
COUNTRY MUSIC digs deep to uncover the roots of the music, including ballads, minstrel music, hymns and the blues, and its early years in the 1920s, when it was called “hillbilly music,” and was recorded for the first time and played across the airwaves on radio station barn dances. It explores how Hollywood B movies instituted the fad of singing cowboys like Gene Autry and shows how the rise of juke joints after World War II changed the musical style by bringing electric and pedal steel guitars to the forefront.
The film witnesses
the rise of bluegrass music with Bill Monroe and reveals how one of country
music’s offspring — rockabilly — evolved into rock and roll in
Memphis. Throughout, the documentary focuses on the constant tug of war between
the desire to make country music as mainstream as possible and the periodic
reflexes to bring it back to its roots.
As Burns and Dayton
Duncan, the film’s writer and producer, weave together the musical stories,
they connect the history of country music to the larger story of America,
looking at how artists and songwriting reflected periods of depression, war and
cultural upheaval, and how radio and later television impacted the art form.
The series also tells the story of how Nashville came to be not only the
epicenter of the country music industry, but Music City USA.
COUNTRY MUSICboasts nearly 600 music cues over the 16 hours and in the fall of 2019, Legacy Recordings, a division of Sony Music Entertainment will release a comprehensive suite of soundtrack music products timed to the PBS broadcast of COUNTRY MUSIC.
Funding for COUNTRY MUSIC was provided by Bank of America, the Annenberg Foundation, the Arthur Vining Davis Foundations, Belmont University, Tennessee Department of Tourist Development, the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County, Rosalind P. Walter and by members of ‘The Better Angels Society,’ including: The Blavatnik Family Foundation, the Schwartz/Reisman Foundation, the Pfeil Foundation, Diane and Hal Brierley, John and Catherine Debs, the Fullerton Family Charitable Fund, the Perry and Donna Golkin Family Foundation, Jay Alix and Una Jackman, Mercedes T. Bass, Fred and Donna Seigel, Gilchrist and Amy Berg, James R. Berdell Foundation, David Bonderman, Deborah P. and Jonathan T. Dawson, Senator Bill and Tracy Frist, Susan and David Kreisman, Rocco and Debby Landesman, Lillian Lovelace, John and Leslie McQuown, Mindy’s Hope Foundation, the Segal Family Foundation, Michelle Smith. Major funding was provided by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and PBS.
COUNTRY MUSIC is a production of Florentine Films and WETA, Washington, DC. Directed by Ken Burns, written by Dayton Duncan, and produced by Duncan, Julie Dunfey and Burns.
