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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Curb College’s Diversity in the Entertainment Industry Symposium Welcomes Keynote Erik Moses

Julia Couch
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Curb College’s Diversity in the Entertainment Industry Symposium Welcomes Keynote Erik Moses

The Mike Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business hosted the fourth annual “Minding the Gap: A Diversity in the Entertainment Industry” Symposium Oct. 6-7 during Belmont University’s Diversity Week. In its fourth year, the Symposium leaned into its “Call to Action” theme, challenging attendees to move beyond dialogue and toward impact.

The Symposium’s flagship event welcomed Erik Moses, president and general manager of Nashville Superspeedway to campus for a fireside chat with Curb College Associate Dean and Professor Cheryl Slay Carr. In August 2020, Moses became the first Black person to hold the title at any NASCAR track in the sport’s history. Today, he is leading efforts to revitalize and reposition Nashville Superspeedway into a premier motorsports and live event venue.

While familiar with Nashville’s good food, good music and creative economy, Moses was still unsure of what to expect when moving here in 2020. “I have found Nashville to be not only friendly, but welcoming – and there’s a difference,” he said. “Friendly people say hello, welcoming people invite you in.” That has been a defining characteristic during the beginning of his NASCAR career in Tennessee, and one he is working to implement among the sport in Nashville.

Symposium chair, Cheryl Slay Carr with Erik Moses

Carr and Moses settled into a conversation about his background, the sports industry, and diversity, equity and inclusion within NASCAR and beyond. “I’m thankful to Belmont for allowing this conversation as part of a larger conversation,” he said. “The inclusiveness, the welcoming part – that’s what matters most,” said the NASCAR executive.

Moses isn’t the only person in his family to blaze the trail as a “first.” His great-uncle was one of the first to integrate the law school at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill in the 1950s, paving the way for a line of lawyers in his family, where Moses would later call his undergraduate alma mater.

Sports and entertainment was not the original plan, however. He, too, followed in the footsteps of family members and became a lawyer. After practicing law for a few years, he found his way into the Washington D.C. sports scene, and has obtained deep fulfillment in how the industry can unify communities. “The ability to build bridges between people is like no other thing that I’ve ever done,” said Moses, reflecting on the diversity of fans the entertainment industry brings together. “That is why I work in sports. Being able to build opportunities for those connections to happen is really important.”

When asked about the legacy of being the first Black NASCAR track president, Moses responded, “Humbly, I think it means more to them than it does to me… It’s not as important that I’m the first, but rather to ensure I’m not the last.”

During the Symposium’s Impact luncheon Q&A with students after the interview, Moses offered sound counsel for aspiring entertainment executives. He advised students to build a network and foster strong connections, a differentiating factor of success in the entertainment business. “Show people you want to be in relationship with them,” he said.

As a father to a high schooler and college student, he shared wisdom he often tells his children: use your voice; be patient; dream big; respect those older than you; and “don’t let anyone silence pieces of who you are.”

In its fourth year, Symposium chair Cheryl Slay Carr reflected, “It was a pleasure to interview Erik, to explore his career journey, to glean his insights on moving from DEI dialogues to action, and to offer our students the opportunity to hear his unique experiences and perspectives. Students have shared with me how much the interview and his presence on campus meant to them. That is what I envisioned and hoped for in creating “Minding the Gap” 4 years ago, and what makes the effort involved in hosting the Symposium each year so worthwhile. The cherry on top is welcoming someone of Erik’s caliber as a future Belmont partner in entertainment, sports and tourism/hospitality.”

Other sessions during the Symposium included a music showcase and research presented by Curb College faculty and staff including

  • Changing the Music from Within: A Case Study of Three Women in Bluegrass and Americana Music, presented by Thomm Jutz, instructor of songwriting
  • From Slave Songs to Grammys: The Story of the Fisk Jubilee Singers, presented by Dr. MarQo Patton, assistant professor
  • Answering Ava DuVernay’s Call to Action: Using Film and TV as Tools of Empathy, Empowerment, and Community Engagement, presented by Dr. Amy Bertram, Lecturer of Motion Pictures
  • Diversity, Equity & Inclusion in Creative Organizations, presented by Dr. David Schreiber, associate professor and chair of the Creative & Entertainment Industries program; and Nadine Waran-Perrero, coordinator of student enrichment
  • Diversity in Country Music, presented by Dr. Don Cusic, professor
  • This is What it Sounds Like: A Music Showcase, hosted by Jodi Marr, instructor of songwriting; Performances by Amanda Aponte, Avery Ellis, Eleni Iglesias, Grace Wiles, Lydia Von Hof, Miles Squiers, and Trey Strange

View photos from the Symposium here.

Nadine Waran-Perrero
Dr. David Schreiber
Dr. MarQo Patton
Dr. Don Cusic
Dr. Amy Bertram
Erik Moses and student

Billboard Names Curb College a Top Music Business School in the Country

Julia Couch
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Billboard Names Curb College a Top Music Business School in the Country

Billboard magazine, one of the world’s premier music publications, recognized Belmont University’s Mike Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business as one of the “2022 Top Music Business Schools” in the country.

The publication’s annual review of the top music and entertainment business schools highlighted 38 institutions around the country that provide students with career-launching opportunities in the music business. When college rankings have garnered less focus nationally, author Thom Duffy states, “The music industry, however, has good reason to take the graduates of these programs very seriously.” Consistently, Belmont has been included on this powerhouse list.

Sarita Stewart, Interim Dean of Curb College, said, “It is indeed thrilling to be included once again on Billboard’s elite list of top music business programs. This recognition is a testimony to our faculty, staff, and world-class facilities that help prepare Curb College students for their dream careers. Our alumni are well represented across the myriad industries within entertainment – recording artists, music executives, journalists, entrepreneurs, filmmakers, producers, audio engineers and the list goes on. The Curb College faculty is committed to staying on the cutting edge, with the continued goal of providing students with robust academic and experiential learning opportunities. We strive to graduate creative collaborators, problem solvers and entertainment innovators – both now and in the future.”

The profile highlighted Belmont’s Bonnaroo U, an immersive, experiential course at the legendary Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival, housed within Belmont USA. Students conduct research, meet with industry leaders and witness the behind-the-scenes workings of running the festival. In addition, everyday learning opportunities span beyond campus to studio spaces on historic Music Row and with entertainment industry partners like Creative Arts Agency. Belmont’s well-connected faculty and staff help provide students with industry connections for networking and internships.

Outside of class, students can get involved in multiple student organizations as active participants in the entertainment industry. Through the student-led Service Corps organization, Curb College students have volunteered at and attended the Grammy Awards, CMA Fest, the Academy of Country Music Awards, Sundance Film Festival and more. Other student organizations include Grammy U, CMA EDU, Showcase Series and Bear House Writer Management, among others.

Interested in Curb College? Apply today!

Apply Now

About the Mike Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business
In 1973, Belmont first established a music business program designed to prepare students for operational, administrative, creative and technical careers in the music industry. The program grew in both size and reputation, leading to the advent of the full Mike Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business in 2003. Currently home to more than 2,700 undergraduates with majors in music business, audio engineering technology, entertainment industry studies, songwriting, media studies and motion pictures, Curb College boasts an impressive faculty of academic scholars and authors, entrepreneurs, songwriters, producers, journalists, filmmakers and sound and recording engineers. The college serves as a world leader in music business and entertainment industry education and is the only freestanding college of its kind.

Belmont University’s O’More College of Architecture & Design Named a Top 50 Fashion Design School in the Nation

Emma Johansson
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Belmont University’s O’More College of Architecture & Design Named a Top 50 Fashion Design School in the Nation

Student resource site Fashion-Schools.org named O’More College of Architecture & Design at Belmont University as one of their Top 50 Fashion Design Schools out of hundreds of programs across the nation. They examined academic reputation, admission selectivity, depth and breadth of the program and faculty, value as it relates to tuition and indebtedness, and geographic location. This is O’More’s first time appearing on the list, coming in at 37th in the rankings.

O’More College of Architecture & Design merged with Belmont University in 2018, originally existing as a separate institution established in Franklin, Tennessee in 1970. They offer Bachelor of Fine Arts degrees in Fashion Design, Fashion Merchandising and Interior Design, a Bachelor of Architecture degree and a Bachelor of Science in Architectural Studies degree. The merger with Belmont’s liberal arts system allows for students to experience a vast education that prepares them for a variety of applications within their field.

Leveraging Nashville’s growth as a fashion hub, O’More is a generator for exceptional graduates. Between the state-of-the-art facilities and small class sizes with personal instruction from industry professionals, students are set up for success in this fast-paced and demanding industry. Incredible opportunities for experiential learning like an annual fashion show create a dynamic and well-rounded environment, allowing transformative design to prosper. O’More offers classes in fashion forecasting, portfolio development, fashion business and marketing, apparel manufacturing and technical design, among many others, strategically balancing both creative and practical skills.

O’More College of Architecture and Design presents their annual Fashion Show at the Franklin Theatre in Franklin, Tennessee, April 22, 2022.

Chair of the fashion department Jamie Atlas explained that the O’More faculty are “instrumental in the success of the fashion programs.” She went on to say that they “embrace a service-based mission and focus on ways to improve the design and production process in the industry with an emphasis on partnership studio projects that have included collaborations with Gigi’s Down Syndrome Achievement Center, Daybreak Arts, SVP Worldwide, Eastman Chemical Company, New Dialect Dance Company, Goodwill Industries of Middle Tennessee, Atelier & Repairs and Olah, Inc.”

Fashion-Schools.org began publishing rankings in 2013 in order to aid incoming college students by providing information on fashion programs around the United States. They also streamline the school search process by making program information, degree specifics and career outlines viewable directly on their site. Acquired by C6 Marketing in 2018, they seek to be the “most authoritative and comprehensive online resource for aspiring fashion industry professionals.”

The full rankings can be found here.

Grammy-Nominated Alumnus Cody Fry Performs Sold-Out Show at Fisher Center

Julia Couch
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Grammy-Nominated Alumnus Cody Fry Performs Sold-Out Show at Fisher Center

Belmont alumnus Cody Fry (’12) is a man of many talents: pianist, guitarist, singer, songwriter, composer, arranger, conductor and producer… just to name a few. Graduating as a commercial music major in Belmont’s College of Music and Performing Arts, Cody has worked tirelessly throughout the last ten years building an impressive career, developing a strong skillset extending far past vocals.

In a town filled with musicians abundant, Cody has carved out a space for orchestral and pop music to live harmoniously together. “I’ve always loved film scoring; I’ve always loved orchestras, and I’ve also always loved pop songwriting,” Fry reflected. “I thought I had to keep them separate because the orchestration and arranging nerd in me thought it wasn’t palatable for live audiences.”

Photo by Victoria Quirk

His dream show came together on Sept. 22 at Belmont’s Fisher Center for the Performing Arts. Celebrating the conjunction of these two seemingly different genres live, the Grammy-nominated arranger performed “Cody Fry & Friends,” a one-time-only show featuring a 60-piece symphony orchestra, live band and special guests including Ben Rector, Scott Mulvahill and Cory Wong.

“Cody Fry & Friends” poster

The show—and first orchestral concert at the Fisher Center—sold out in one day, filling all 1,727 seats. “I can’t believe you’re all really here,” Fry marveled after the first song. “I’ve been dreaming about this kind of show since I was a little kid. It’s surreal.” The energy in the performance hall was palpable.

Along with many special guests, six current students and numerous alumni played in the orchestra with Cody’s father, Emmy-winner Gary Fry conducting. “It’s insane and special to me to share the stage with my dad, Gary Fry. He’s kept me together my whole life and now he’s going to keep us all together tonight.”

During the show, Cody took the audience through classical, pop and rock hits, each with orchestral support. He arranged Claude Debussy’s Clair de Lune with his original track “Photograph,” played Bon Jovi’s “Livin’ on a Prayer,” and the song that started it all, “I Hear a Symphony,” which first went viral on TikTok in 2021. Ben Rector joined Cody on stage for his song “Sailboat,” first played by an orchestra during a live recording at Belmont’s Ocean Way Studio A.

When the two concluded “Sailboat,” Rector said, “It’s an honor to watch this all come together; a real treat for me. It’s been one of the great pleasures of my life watching you build this thing.” 

Cody ended the performance with his arrangement of The Beatle’s “Eleanor Rigby,” which earned him a 2022 Grammy nomination for Best Arrangement, Instruments and Vocals. The crowd erupted in a minutes-long standing ovation, following an audience-sung, perfectly-harmonized C major chord.

The next day, he spent time on campus with students for a WELL-core interview event and as a guest instructor in composition and arranging classes, sharing reflections from the night before, advice for music students and an inside look at how he’s built his career.

Cody shared with students that he hasn’t always been the frontman the crowd cheers for. “I’ve always wanted to be an artist, but I’m so grateful for the time I was in bands—playing for Ben Rector, Hunter Hayes, Dave Barnes—being alongside to shadow how others work,” he said. “It’s also important to develop empathy for all the different parts of what people do in music.”

Relationships were the most significant part of college for Cody and have directly impacted the trajectory of his career. “All of the big gigs I’ve had were all because of people I knew at Belmont,” he reflected. “The people sitting in this room—those are the people who are going to help you rise through the ranks. The rising tide will lift everyone together.”

He imparted wisdom to students about honing their skills and staying focused on their goals. “Your degree is just the piece of paper, but your education is the proof,” said the CMPA alumnus. “When you get to show that to people; that’s what matters.”

A couple of big projects are on the horizon for Cody including writing a musical and an upcoming studio orchestral album… and recruiting more people to become French horn enthusiasts.

Photos by Victoria Quirk

Belmont’s 21st Humanities Symposium Examines the Haunted Facets of the South

Jasmine Simmons
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Belmont’s 21st Humanities Symposium Examines the Haunted Facets of the South

Belmont University hosted it’s twenty-first Humanities Symposium last week. The schedule was laden with presentations, panels, and interviews that keenly examined the relationship between the regional south and its complex history. The event series was hosted by the School of Humanities with support and assistance from the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences (CLASS) 

The Symposium’s theme of “The Haunted South” was borrowed from humanities professor and symposium co-chair Dr. Sue Trout’s general education course which explores the folklore, myths, and urban legends of the American South.  

“Although many people assume ‘haunted’ is tied to ghosts, the course actually interrogates what a haunting is from many perspectives, looking specifically at what problems (race, gender, class) that continue to haunt the region of the South,” Trout said.  

The Symposium offered an extended exploration of aspects that haunt both the South and the Belmont campus. The Symposium’s planning committee structured each day’s topics to focus on one of the five strategic pathways. 

“Our goals for the symposium are always to introduce students to the importance of the humanities, and this year we wanted to simultaneously embrace the ways the university is moving into the future as well,” said symposium co-chair and CLASS faculty Dr. Susan Finch. 

Attendees had the opportunity to hear from faculty and staff from across campus along with an esteemed group of featured guest speakers.  

Essayist and contributing opinion writer for the New York Times, Margaret Renkl gave keen insights to her books Late Migrations: A Natural History of Love and Loss and Graceland, At Last: Notes on Hope and Heartache in From the American South. Belmont history department professor Dr. Pete Kuryla moderated a conversation with Renkl and discussed topics ranging from Renkl’s naturalist observations in her garden to her experiences of familial loss.  

“Late Migrations talks a lot about my grandparents, a lot about my great grandmother,” Renkle said. “They didn’t have television at my grandparents’ house, so people sat on the front porch and told stories. So often the stories were about people who I never knew but became real to me because they were with me all through my childhood. When your people start dying, they aren’t gone. They are with you always. It feels as though you live partly in the past and in the present.” 

New York Times bestselling author Tom Franklin and award-winning author T.R.C. Hutton were also featured authors who spoke at the symposium. Among the symposium speakers was also Sunny Eaton, who works to overturn wrongful convictions in her role as the director of the conviction Review Unit at the Davidson County District Attorney’s office. Eaton shared accounts of compelling wrongful convictions cases and talked about the key factors that often result in wrongful conviction. 

The Symposium exists as a lens to showcase the teaching, scholarship and value of the humanities. From athletic spaces to health-related implication to the deep roots of the diverse geographical landscape of the South, the Haunted South Symposium examined the regional south from a myriad of perspectives. 

“The South continues to be an evolving landscape, culturally, politically, ethnically, artistically,” Trout said. “We wanted to reckon with the complicated history of the South and its impact on our daily lives.” 

The College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences (CLASS) prioritize interdisciplinary studies that will teach you effective communication, problem solving, teamwork, critical thinking, adaptability, research and cross-cultural knowledge. 

Interested in CLASS? Apply today!

Belmont To Host Inaugural Hope Summit

Allison Fomby
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Belmont To Host Inaugural Hope Summit

Belmont University is set to host The Hope Summit October 24-26. The three-day event is a continuation of a focus on the execution of the strategic visioning process for 2030 set by the University’s president Dr. Greg Jones earlier this year, that includes five Strategic Pathways identified as integral to accomplishing the institution’s Aspirational Aim to be the leading Christ-centered university in the world.

The event’s cornerstone is Data-Informed Social Innovation to Help Regions Thrive – the second Pathway of the strategic vision. 

“Data-Informed Social Innovation so Regions can Thrive is best understood in three ways. It’s a calling for everyone, a craft everyone can learn, and a career for many,” explained Josh Yates, Executive Director of the Transformational Innovation Hub. “This is an opportunity for us all to explore how to love our neighbors and neighborhoods in practice, and not just in theory – as individuals, at Belmont and in Nashville.” 

Included in the week’s festivities is a campus-wide celebration and Day to Dream as the Summit closes on Wednesday, October 26. The event was designed so that all members will identify ways to increase their personal abilities to cultivate lasting impact, and ultimately, leave inspired. 

“The Hope Summit is an interactive gathering designed to allow us to build, innovate and dream together–all focused on how to make hope real on our campus and in our lives, work and community,” said Dr. Jones. “We are excited to welcome many guests with meaningful insights as we continue our efforts to become people of character, flourish as individuals and as a community and impact the world in meaningful ways.”

An outline of events for the week can be found below. CLICK HERE for a full listing of events.

MONDAY, OCTOBER 24

9 A.M – 10 A.M.

Pastries and Coffee + Welcome by Greg Jones

Location: Fisher Center Grand Foyer

10 A.M. – 10:50 A.M.

Unleashing Creativity and Innovation to Help Regions Thrive

Location: Fisher Center Performing Arts Hall

President Greg Jones hosts a discussion with leading voices in the social innovation sphere. 

Discussion participants include Kim Tan: Co-Founder of Transformational Business Network, and Alice Rhee: Chief Communications and Partnerships Officer of the Skoll Foundation.

2:30 P.M. – 3 P.M.

Connection + Coffee

Location: Fisher Center Grand Foyer

3 P.M. – 4:15 P.M.

Helping Regions Thrive: Through Creativity and Storytelling

Location: Fisher Center Performing Arts Hall

An imaginative conversation around creativity and storytelling featuring Rick Rekedal: Former Chief Creative for DreamWorks Animation & CEO of StoryCrate, and Alice Rhee: Chief Communications and Partnerships Officer for Skoll Foundation.

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 25

8:30 A.M. – 9:30 A.M.

Pastries and Coffee

Location: Fisher Center Grand Foyer

A time to gather and connect.

9:30 A.M. – 11 A.M.

Helping Regions Thrive: The Importance of Leadership and Friendship

Location: Fisher Center Performing Arts Hall

A discussion with influential leaders on the topics of leadership, the role of character in your career and calling, an entrepreneurial mindset and the importance of community and friendship. Speakers include: Former Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam and Belmont President Greg Jones.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 26

A DAY TO DREAM

8:30 A.M. – 10 A.M.

BASIC + Lumos + Pillar Projects Showcase + Breakfast

Location: Fisher Center Grand Foyer

Come celebrate your colleagues’ work, join an interest session and have breakfast, hosted by Greg and Susan Jones.

10 A.M. – 11:15 A.M.

Unleashing the Power of Creativity and Innovation to Help Regions Thrive

Location: Fisher Center Performing Arts Hall

A recap of the Hope Summit hosted by Greg Jones.

11:30 A.M. – 4 P.M.

A Day to Dream – Fall Festival

Location: Belmont Campus

Do you love fall? Pumpkins will abound along with music, food, rides, inflatables, games, costumes and all the things we love about the season. You won’t want to miss it.

12 P.M. – 5 P.M.

Next Level Women’s Conference

Location: Janet Ayers Conference Center

Presented by the Jack C. Massey College of Business, the Next Level Conference was developed in response to the rising need to explore, discuss, and support women in business and leadership roles. This 5-hour conference, open to all Middle Tennessee business executives and greater Belmont community will feature keynote speaker Sheri Salata and two 1-hour long workshop sessions, covering a wide range of relevant leadership topics. CLICK HERE to register.

3:30 P.M. – 6:30 P.M.

Community Trick-Or-Treating

Location: Belmont Campus

Details to come.

7 P.M. – 8:30 P.M.

Writers Round

Location: Fisher Center Performing Arts Hall

Join us for a night of songs and stories as we hear from some of Music City’s most creative songwriters.

Physical Therapy Students Attend Dinner with Malawi President & Sara Walker Foundation

Julia Couch
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Physical Therapy Students Attend Dinner with Malawi President & Sara Walker Foundation

Belmont physical therapy students and faculty attended a dinner at Lipscomb University on Sept. 16 with the president of Malawi, His Excellency Dr. Lazarus Chakwera. The event celebrated partnerships among Sara Walker Foundation, Blessings Hospital and Chikondi Health Foundation.

The dinner highlighted the impact the Sara Walker Foundation—created in memory of Belmont physical therapy alumna Sara Pigg Walker (’03)—has had on the people of Malawi. Since 2013, Sara Walker Foundation has provided travel expenses for nursing, pharmacy and engineering student missions to Blessings Hospital in Malawi. Students serve alongside healthcare professionals with Chikondi Health Foundation during mission trips.

Since 2015, the Sara Walker Foundation has funded two mobile medical units. The all-terrain vehicles, staffed by Blessings Hospital—travel to remote villages weekly to provide much-needed healthcare to the community. In Malawi, there is one surgeon for every one million people. Because of Sara Walker Foundation’s mobile units, more than 100,000 people have received medical care, and one of every three patients is less than ten years old.

To help Sara Walker Foundation continue to meet medical needs in Malawi, join us on Sunday, Oct. 2 for the annual 5K and Kids Fun Run at Lipscomb University. The Kids Fun Run is organized by Belmont Physical Therapy students. Register here.

For those unable to attend the run/walk, please consider making a donation to the foundation.

Pictured above from left to right:

• Associate Professor of Physical Therapy and Sara Walker Foundation board member, Christi Williams
• Belmont DPT student Alyssa Milligan
• Belmont DPT student Chloe Gastright
• Belmont DPT student Emily Bygott
• Belmont DPT student Lauren Jolly
• Belmont DPT student Symphony Trimble
• Associate Dean of the College of Health Sciences and Professor of Physical Therapy, Renee Brown

Information for this story was provided by Christi Williams (’05) and Sara’s sister, Dinah Hall (’06).

Reweaving the Social Fabric for Annual Diversity Week

Jasmine Simmons
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Reweaving the Social Fabric for Annual Diversity Week

Belmont’s annual Diversity Week is scheduled for Oct. 3-8. This year’s theme of “Reweaving the Social Fabric” was derived from pathway four of the University’s aspirational aim.  

Planning for Diversity Week started at the beginning of the semester by efforts from the Welcome Home Diversity Council. Chair of the council’s Events and Engagement Committee Renee Schultz coordinated with a planning team to organize a host of activities including panel discussions, real talk sessions, commemoration services and a block party celebration. 

“The goal of Diversity Week is to provide intentional opportunities for students, faculty and staff to grow, reflect and celebrate diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging” Schultz said. “We wanted our students, faculty and staff to not only embrace inclusive excellence but to think about what it means individually and as a community to “reweave the social fabric.”  We also plan to use fabric throughout the week for some passive programming.” 

Full details and times for the following abridged schedule can be found on the Diversity Week website. 

Monday, Oct. 3 

Sandra Maria Van Opstal, a Latina pastor, author and activist will present a message titled Chasing Justice Together in Gabhart Chapel.  

Faculty members will share their experiences of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in the Johnson Large Theater for a faculty panel discussion.   

Belmont’s Diverse Community of Faculty and Staff will present “Lights at the Fountain,” a commemorative floating candle event honoring the enslaved persons that toiled on the original Belmont estate at the Freedom Plaza Fountain. 

Tuesday, Oct. 4 

Real Talk facilitates open and safe dialogue focusing on, but not limited to diversity, equity, and inclusion with the slogan, “If you are bold enough to bring it up, then we are bold enough to talk about it.” A Staff and Faculty Real Talk as well as a Real Talk for Students will take place in Janet Ayers C and D.  

Wednesday, Oct. 5 

It Must Be Wednesday will showcase diversity and multicultural organizations at Freedom Plaza. 

The Global Bruins: Shifting Perceptions workshop will teach attendees skills to operate more effectively in various cultural situations in Janet Ayers 1034.  

Dr. John Faison, Senior Pastor of Watson Grove Baptist Church in Nashville, will deliver a message about “The Black Church” in Gabhart Chapel. 

Thursday, Oct. 6 

Five events from the Diversity in Entertainment Symposium series will take place in the Johnson Center Large Theater:
– Changing the Music from within- a Case Study of three Women in Bluegrass and
American Music
– Slave Songs to Grammys: The Story of the Fisk Jubilee Singers 
– Answering Ava DuVernay’s Call to Action- Using Film and TV as Tools of Empathy,
Empowerment and Community Engagement Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in
Creative Organizations
– This is What it Sounds Like- A Music Showcase 

Real Talk for ALL will be open to staff, faculty and students in Janet Ayers C and D.  

Friday 

The final two events from the Diversity in Entertainment Symposium series will take place in the Fisher Center: 
– Diversity in Country Music
– Keynote Event: A Call to Action in Entertainment and Sports from Dialogue to Impact  

The BSA Choir will lead worship in Gabhart Chapel, and a Diversity Week Block Party will be hosted in conjunction with Food Truck Fridays on Circle Drive.  

Saturday 

“The Good Times are Killing Me,” an autobiographical comic drama that depicts a story of growing up in an interracial neighborhood in the 1960s will be performed at the Fisher Center for Performing Arts. A chat with the cast and producer will follow the performance. 

Passive programming around the theme of “Reweaving the Social Fabric” will be on display for the campus community to engage with throughout the week.  Various student groups, staff and faculty will lead social media takeovers on Belmont’s Instagram during the week for the campus to tune into updates and engagements. 

Review the full Diversity Week schedule here. 

Belmont Invites Parents, Guests back to Campus for 2022 Parent and Family Weekend

Haley Charlton
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Belmont Invites Parents, Guests back to Campus for 2022 Parent and Family Weekend

More than 1,500 guests flooded Belmont’s campus for the annual Parent and Family Weekend September 23 – 25 and found a plethora of opportunities to experience life at Belmont.

The Offices of Study Abroad, Career & Professional Development, Counseling Services and Student Success & Flourishing offered key information sessions throughout the weekend. These topical sessions provided parents with an opportunity to learn more about the resources and opportunities for all students. 

“Parents and families are a critical part of our Belmont community,” said Assistant Dean of Students Ryan Holt. “Parent and Family Weekend is one of my favorite weekends in the fall. It is such a joy seeing families back on campus reconnecting with their student and experiencing all Belmont has to offer.”

On Friday night, parents and guests had the chance to get a first-hand look at the new Fisher Center for the Performing Arts by attending the Parent & Family Weekend Songwriters’ concert. This writer’s round highlighted Belmont alumni who are making an impact in the music industry with a lineup featuring Walker Burroughs, Emma Klein, Taylor Bickett and Blake Pendergrass. 

student with family at Festival on the Boulevard

The Saturday afternoon Festival on the Boulevard provided the pinnacle event for the weekend, featuring Nashville food trucks, a family fun zone and live music. One of the crowd favorites was the Entrepreneurship Village, which featured more than 20 Belmont student and alumni entrepreneurs showcasing their businesses. 

Parent and Family Weekend is a collaborative event hosted by several offices, including the Office of Student Formation, Office of Development, Alumni Relationship and Center for Entrepreneurship, and is supported by the Office of Event Services. 

Belmont University Showcases the Work of Japanese Artist Sadao Watanabe

Emma Johansson
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Belmont University Showcases the Work of Japanese Artist Sadao Watanabe

Last week, students, faculty and staff gathered in the Ayers Atrium to listen to Dr. James He Qi, artist and educator, speak about the new exhibition taking place on the first floor of the Janet Ayers Academic Center. Titled Witness to Faith, it showcases the work of 20th Century Japanese Christian artist Sadao Watanabe, of whom Dr. He Qi was a student.

Sadao Watanabe (1913-1996) was a premier Japanese artist known for his creative spin on katazome, a stencil art form used for dying fabric. Dr. He Qi explained how Watanabe sought to bring the gospel to ordinary people through his pieces, illustrating prominent stories from the Bible in the style of traditional Japanese folk art. One of his most famous works is a representation of the Last Supper, complete with a spread of fish and sake, each biblical character clothed in the Japanese dress of kimonos. Watanabe once said, “My task is to stand within the artistic tradition of Japan…Theology will not take deep root in Japanese soil if it is merely an import.”

Dr. He Qi, inaugurated the exhibit with a Gallery Talk and a pop-up exhibit of his own painting in the atrium of the Ayers building at Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee, September 20, 2022. Photo by Sam Simpkins

Along with showcasing his pop-up exhibit in company with Watanabe’s on Sept. 20, He Qi also gave lectures in History, Asian Studies and Art classes and gifted one of his own prints to Belmont’s permanent collection. A graduate of Nanjing Normal University in China, he has gone on to become a visiting professor and artist-in-residence both in the U.S. and beyond. He Qi’s work has been featured in multiple galleries and outlets around the world, earning him International Biographical Centre’s 20th Century Award for Achievement in recognition of outstanding contributions to the field of Religious Art Theory and Christian Art Creation, among several other awards throughout his career. 

Hosted by the College of Art, Asian Studies, and Office of Faith-Based Engagement & Church Relations, Witness to Faith is the first of many shifting exhibits changing semesterly. Each will be focused on Christ-animated art as part of a new initiative to engage students in examining the ways faith can be interwoven within numerous fields. Students in Watkins College of Art will also be creating prints inspired by Watanabe’s work this semester. More information on the Witness to Faith exhibit and its next locations can be found here.

The next rotation will begin in the Spring 2023 semester with an exhibit by prominent African-American folk artist, Rudolph Bostic, known for his bright and colorful depictions of biblical scenes displayed on cardboard. In collaboration with the Welcome Home Diversity Council, the gallery will be one aspect of Belmont’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Week and Black History Month celebrations.

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