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 Wins Nashville Minority Business Center’s 2018 Corporate Award

Hope Buckner
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Belmont Wins Nashville Minority Business Center’s 2018 Corporate Award

In honor of its Supplier Diversity Program, an initiative created in 2015 under Director of Community Relations Joyce Searcy and Vice President and General Counsel Jason Rogers’s leadership, Belmont was recently awarded the 2018 Corporate Award from the Nashville Minority Business Center during the organization’s 36th annual Minority Enterprise Development Week.

The multi-phase program, aligned with the University’s commitment to becoming more diverse and broadly reflective of its local and global community, was created as a mutually beneficial opportunity for Belmont and minority businesses. In Phase 1, the University worked to build relationships with vendors and minority business leadership, communicating Belmont’s goals to increase supplier diversity. Phase II created opportunities for vendors to market their products to two key departments on campus – Auxiliary Services and Facilities Management.

In a letter sent to Belmont acknowledging receipt of the Corporate Award, Nashville MEDWeek Coordinator said, “The achievements made by [President Dr. Fisher and Joyce Searcy] and Belmont University are yet another fine example of minority entrepreneurship development in this community. We appreciate your efforts in raising the standard for excellence.”

Searcy, along with Vice President and General Counsel Jason Rogers, accepted the award on Friday, November 30 at the Minority Business Honors and Recognition Awards, held at the Nashville City Center.

 Photo provided by Anthony Beasley Photography

Student, Alumna Accept Peace Corps Positions in Moldova

April Hefner
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Student, Alumna Accept Peace Corps Positions in Moldova

From here to Moldova? That may be the perfect motto for senior Sean Grossnickle and 2017 alumna Maxine Bouldin, both of whom will be heading to the Eastern European nation in fall 2019 with the Peace Corps.

Grossnickle, an international business major set to graduate in May, was first inspired to learn more about the Peace Corps by his friend Maxine’s interest. “Since God has not yet given me an overwhelming passion for a certain type of work, I thought about what job might utilize the skills and experiences I have gained at Belmont to their fullest.”

Grossnickle is a Kansas native who came to Tennessee to attend Belmont, but his travels since being on campus have been much more extensive. In fact, he has studied abroad in Canada and France, received a Lumos Travel Award to do microfinance work in Senegal and will lead a mission trip in March to the Dominican Republic. “The Peace Corps seemed like an extension of these experiences, which taught me that I could do the work and do it well. To top it off, I have a strong desire to learn a third language, and the Peace Corps provides me with this opportunity. I am trusting God will use me to work in the lives of the people I am going to serve.”

Bouldin, on the other hand, is a Tennessee native who grew up in McMinnville. A religion and the arts major with a music business minor, she is drawn to the opportunity to experience new cultures. “When will I get a better time to move to an entirely new place and serve people for two years? Also, I hope to work full-time for a nonprofit or social enterprise in the future, and the Peace Corps offers experiences that will help me in those fields and make me a competitive candidate for hire.”

Both described a selective application process for the Peace Corps, one that involved a written application, interview and extensive medical clearance. Bouldin and Grossnickle will each be serving as organizational development facilitators, but they don’t know yet their exact town or project assignments. Generally speaking, their positions will involve working with community institutions and nonprofit organizations to help develop their leadership and organizational capacity to better serve their communities.

Departing this summer, their positions require three months of training that will involve language, job skill and safety education along with the other Moldova volunteers. Then Bouldin and Grossnickle will move to their assigned locations for a two-year service commitment. The positions can then be extended each year after the initial two for a maximum commitment of five years.

“Belmont has given me all of the tools I need to be successful where I am going,” Grossnickle said. “I learned the power of serving others and using my gifts and talents to do so. My studies have opened my eyes to the vastness of what there is to know and allowed me to look with a more compassionate eye upon others, particularly those different than I am.”

Bouldin agrees, noting her experiences as a Spiritual Life Assistant and a lead of Chadasha Gospel Choir as well as her Belmont-affiliated community service, internship and study abroad programs all prepared her to take this next step. “Being part of the College of Theology and Christian Ministry taught me, challenged me and encouraged me in ways that have been deeply formative of the person I am today. It was truly my time at Belmont that most prepared me to join the Peace Corps!”

Belmont Graduates Create Joint Fashion Venture

Staff Writer
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Belmont Graduates Create Joint Fashion Venture

Profile by Shelby Vandenbergh 

Senni Bloom and Olivia Sweitzer, May 2017 graduates, recently launched Alina&Rose, a fashion blog. The brand encompasses authentic fashion inspiration, street style, creative styling advice, weekly content and more.

Bloom and Sweitzer met at Belmont and formed a bond over their love for fashion. After interning remotely with College Fashionista, the duo strengthened their love for blogging. Shortly after, they gained more experience working in fashion. Sweitzer worked under a celebrity stylist and started her own small personal shopping business, while Bloom worked in various fashion retail positions learning how to start and grow an online store through Shopify and social media strategy. Thanks to these experiences and the networking skills Bloom and Sweitzer developed while on campus, they have been able to grow their endeavor in a short period of time.

“Joining forces has allowed us to use both of our strengths to create one unique platform,” Bloom said. “We also felt that we could develop a niche market to really stand out within the Nashville fashion scene. By being authentic to our own personal styles, we created a platform that showcases a street style look with a touch of our New York fashion inspired roots,” added Sweitzer.

To keep up with the fashion blog, the pair attends weekly events, typically depending on the Nashville creative community. Their schedule usually includes two to three events per week ranging from restaurant, store and retail openings, as well as Nash Gals events.

Since their launch, the platform has worked with many national brands including Dior, Frye, Kate Spade and 3X1, among others. They’ve also partnered with local, Nashville retail including Shop Amelia Styles, Emerson Grace and Outdoor Voices flagship store.

The duo recently launched their t-shirt line for Alina&Rose, where they donate a percentage of profits to Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. They sell online & in person with monthly events throughout Nashville. “We wanted to find a way to expand our brand with incorporating fashion and philanthropy, especially with an organization we are so passionate about,” Bloom said. The shirts can be purchased here.

As for the future of Alina&Rose, the co-founders see the fashion blog as only continuing to gain momentum. “Our passion behind Alina&Rose will only allow us to grow,” Bloom said. “We will continue to strengthen brand relations and partnerships, provide the best fashion inspiration, and always bring something new to the table.”

Follow along with Alina&Rose’s journey here and here.

Digital Humanities Class Pilots Music Row Walking Tour

April Hefner
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Digital Humanities Class Pilots Music Row Walking Tour

Thanks to a special project from Honors Professor of Practice Dr. Mary Ellen Pethel, Belmont students were able to engage with an exciting and emerging new field during the fall semester, digital humanities. Pethel recently completed a post-doctorate certification in digital public humanities, an academic field which applies technology and digital resources to traditional humanities disciplines such as literature, history and philosophy.

Dr. Mary Ellen Pethel introduces the Music Row tour.

Pethel said, “Digital Humanities is transforming the ways in which we learn and teach within the humanities and social sciences. Course offerings and project opportunities related to digital methods, skills, and scholarship places Belmont on the leading edge in this field. Digital Humanities at Belmont allows students to pursue a project that results in scholarship that lives online and allows individuals and groups to participate as both producers and consumers.”

For Pethel’s final project for her certification program, she decided to create a historical, digital walking tour of several historic sites in downtown Nashville. With funding and support from many community stakeholders, including Belmont, Pethel saw an opportunity to include her students in her research. Called Nashville Sites, the mobile-friendly website is expected to launch in fall 2019 with approximately 20 walking or driving tours of Nashville including “Civic and Public Spaces,” “Food for Thought” (based on historic restaurants and buildings), “Architecture” and “Gulch History (1860-1900).”

“The goal,” she said, “is to attract and engage a wide audience to learn more about Nashville’s historically and culturally significant sites through images, text, navigation, audio narration, and credible information.”

A Nashville history expert and author of the recently released book “Athens of the New South,” Pethel sought two primary learning outcomes for her Digital Humanities Honors course: “to explore the history and significance of Nashville in the context of cities in the human experience and to develop analytical and technical skills related to the field of Digital Humanities.” The four students in the pilot course were challenged to create a walking tour of Music Row for their final exam. Though their work will eventually be added to the Nashville Sites website, the infrastructure for that site is still in development so the students led the tour in person in early December.

Biology major Grace Hurley took the course for her Honors seminar because she was interested in finding out more about the meaning of “digital humanities.” “The most challenging aspect was finding all the specific information about the building, like what it used to be or who built it. I had to contact many of the businesses and go into city records. In this class I gained many research skills and learned a great deal about Nashville through the process.”

The course will be offered again in the spring with more students participating in producing additional tour content. In addition, current audio engineering faculty and students are doing narrations and offering help with recording, editing and exporting files for the tours, which will be available in audio or text versions on the website.

Music Row Walking Tour in Nashville, Tennessee, December 6, 2018.

But Belmont isn’t the only local organization assisting with the project. The Metro Historical Commission Foundation and the Convention & Visitors Corporation along with several individual donors are all supporting the creation of Nashville Sites. Other universities are involved as well, with an intern from Vanderbilt and narrators from Tennessee State contributing.

When complete, physical medallions will be placed on signs throughout the city, providing QR codes to connect to the tour website. Pethel believes Nashville Sites will offer the city’s natives and tourists alike engaging, self-directed, historically accurate tours of Nashville that are scholarly and ad free.

“From Honky Tonk Row to our very own Parthenon, the Nashville story will be in the palm of your hand. Locals and tourists alike can visit our historic and cultural landmarks or explore a world hidden in plain sight. Nashville Sites will offer informative and adventure-style walking tours that allow users to see and experience Music City in a whole new way.”

Dishman’s Band, Sister Sadie, Nominated for Grammy Award

April Hefner
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Dishman’s Band, Sister Sadie, Nominated for Grammy Award

The nominations for the 61st Grammy Awards have been announced, and critically-acclaimed female group Sister Sadie are finalists in the category for “Best Bluegrass Album.” Tina Adair Dishman, director of Curb College Academic Advising, is a member of the group.

The recognition comes for the all-star vocalists project, Sister Sadie II, released via Pinecastle Records and marks Sister Sadie’s first Grammy nomination collectively as a group. The winners will be revealed on February 10 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, airing on CBS.

“All my life I have dreamed of being nominated for a Grammy and to be nominated with four best friends and sisters is even better,” exclaimed Adair.

Sister Sadie II has been hailed as one of the premiere projects released this year prior to the nomination, with publications like Rolling Stone saying, “these bluegrass chart-toppers are finished with heartbreak, ready to embrace a future filled with brighter horizons and more fulfilling relationships.” Other publications like NPR agree, saying “Sister Sadie is at ease with hard-driving tunes and soft, sophisticated ballads alike,” while Parade calls it “a finger picking time.”

The nominated album was released in August, and upon its launch debuted at No. 2 on Billboard’s “Top Bluegrass Albums” chart. Fans were treated to the lead single, “Losing You Blues,” which in addition to hitting the top spot on the Roots Music Report “Top 50 Contemporary Bluegrass Songs” chart, was also named one of Rolling Stone’s “10 Best Country and Americana Songs.”

2018: Belmont’s Year in Review

April Hefner
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2018: Belmont’s Year in Review

Life is never slow on the campus of Belmont University, but 2018 was particularly exciting and eventful. As students, faculty and staff steadfastly pursued rigorous academics and transformative educational experiences, the entire campus was able to celebrate a number of proud highlights, including:

It’s been an incredible year, and 2019 promises to be even better!

Belmont Celebrates Winter Commencement December 14

Hope Buckner
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Belmont Celebrates Winter Commencement December 14

Belmont University hosted its winter commencement ceremony for graduate and undergraduate students at 5 p.m. Friday, December 14, in the Curb Event Center. The University celebrated the graduation of a total of 472 students. During the ceremony, 395 bachelor’s degrees and 77 master’s degrees were conferred.

Dr. Robert C. Fisher, president of the University, presided over the event.

The commencement ceremony can be viewed online, here.

Belmont University 2018 Winter Commencement

Alumnus Cliff Neeley (’06) Recalls How Campus Leadership Opportunities Prepared Him for Success

Staff Writer
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Alumnus Cliff Neeley (’06) Recalls How Campus Leadership Opportunities Prepared Him for Success

Faces of Belmont : Alumni Impacting the World
This new series represents a collaboration between the Office of Communications and the Department of Public Relations, providing students practical experience in writing corporate bios and creating profiles of Belmont alumni.

By Lillian Adamson

Out of Belmont University’s class of 2006 came Cliff Neeley, who graduated with a business management degree that ultimately led him into his current position as Vice President of Stewardship at Ramsey Solutions.

Ramsey Solutions is a nation-wide, financial education organization that works to give hope and empowerment to people all over the country.

Neeley is originally from Cleveland, Tennessee, but moved to New York to attend the U.S. Military Academy at West Point after high school. After finishing his time there, Neeley was in search of a business school to follow his true passion.

After finding Belmont, Neeley became Student Government Association senior class president and homecoming king during his time on campus. With hopes to find a life outside of Nashville, he followed his passion for leadership and helping others and landed in South Sudan Africa working for Samaritan’s Purse International Relief. Neeley spent his time there building churches and managing employees in construction logistics and operations.

However, Neeley returned to Nashville to propose to Kristine Lang, another Belmont alum, and landed a job as a sales advisor in 2007 at Ramsey Solutions.

During his senior year at Belmont, Neeley was able to be a part of Belmont’s first Enactus team (then called SIFE, or Students in Free Enterprise). He quickly worked his way to the top of the team, helping to lead them to a win at the regional level and presenting at the national exhibition in Kansas City. Neeley even spent his post-graduation time mentoring and stewarding Belmont’s second year Enactus students — helping them develop and sustain community partnerships that were enabling area nonprofits to conceive and build social enterprises.

In all of his Belmont roles, Neeley found leadership to be a valuable experience. “Being involved with a group of peers who have a similar mindset and passion to grow in all aspects of their lives is a crucial part in developing your personal and professional strengths,” he said.

Neeley also believes his leadership opportunities at Belmont were what first allowed him to development his communication skills and taught him how to work well with others to achieve a common goal. Although he believes his business degree is what made his early transition into the professional world easier, he wants to make sure current students understand just how critical internships are to a successful future. It is in internships where students “are able to network, build referrals and gain hands on experience,” said Neeley.

Neeley considers his biggest mentor during his time here at Belmont to be Dr. John Gonas, associate professor of finance. “Cliff is a great example of the big heart, big brain student that successfully engages at Belmont and uses his tools and skills to bless and empower others,” said Gonas.

When asked the best advice he was ever given, Neeley answered, “Pray like it all depends on God, and work like it all depends on you.”

Neeley currently serves on Belmont’s Alumni Board of Directors. He says that if he could tell current Belmont students anything, he would tell them that “a positive attitude, an eagerness to learn and strong work ethic are three of the best traits you can have as a professional.”

Alumna Jeannette Ceja (’08) Achieves Dream of Being Travel Host, Travel Writer

Staff Writer
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Alumna Jeannette Ceja (’08) Achieves Dream of Being Travel Host, Travel Writer

Faces of Belmont : Alumni Impacting the World
This new series represents a collaboration between the Office of Communications and the Department of Public Relations, providing students practical experience in writing corporate bios and creating profiles of Belmont alumni.

Profile by Madeline Leesman

Jeannette Ceja is a bilingual travel journalist, travel host, travel expert and a global public speaker. Founder of Jet Set with Jeannette, she combined her love of media and travel into an internationally recognized brand. Ceja graduated from Belmont with a bachelor’s degree in journalism in 2008.

Since then, Ceja has contributed as a travel journalist and travel expert for various outlets, such as Fox 11 KKFX, Frequent Flyer Magazine, Hip Latina and Travel Talk. She has interviewed numerous celebrities, politicians, athletes and travel experts including Anthony Bourdain, Samantha Brown and Rick Steves.

Ceja’s calling to be a travel journalist began at age 12, when her family traveled through Europe for 10 days and visited eight countries. Ceja, who had never traveled outside of the United States and Mexico, felt determined to document everything she experienced on their journey.

“I got a notepad and pen and started writing everything down,” said Ceja. “I got a disposable camera and just started recording everything. My eyes were opened to the world. I felt compelled to tell everyone how amazing the world is.”

Years later, Ceja arrived at Belmont and began working towards her degree in journalism with the intention of becoming a travel reporter after graduation.

“I remember one of my first days at Belmont, I walked into Thom Storey’s office and told him I wanted to be a travel reporter,” said Ceja. “He told me exactly what I needed to do in college to be a travel reporter as my full-time job.”

Ceja credits much of her success at Belmont to the late Thom Storey, the founder of the the journalism program at Belmont and former chair of the media studies department. Ceja describes Storey as her “mentor,” “friend” and “biggest cheerleader.”

“Belmont had so many expectations for you but in a good way,” said Ceja. “If you didn’t do your best, they knew it. They always pushed me to do more than I thought I could do.”

Ceja distinctly remembers the journalism curriculum at Belmont as “convergent,” because students are required to learn how to write for news media, as well as photograph, create videos and understand journalism law and ethics.

In addition to the journalism curriculum, Ceja also gained valuable experience in the many forms of journalistic media offered at Belmont. She reported for the student-run television station, the school newspaper and the university’s radio station. Additionally, she balanced her jam-packed schedule with an internship at The Tennessean, where she pitched story ideas and wrote for the publication.

Post graduation, Ceja moved to Los Angeles, California to pursue her passion of working as a travel journalist. Although finding work as a travel reporter proved to be difficult, she never gave up on her dream. Ceja continued her education at UCLA to study in the professional film and television producing program and worked in production for Fox Sports. In the meantime, she pitched different job ideas to prominent travel publications to create her own portfolio to advance her career as a travel reporter.

“The travel industry is amazing but very hard,” said Ceja. “You have to do a lot of ground work and build yourself from the ground up. I never waited for any opportunities to fall into my lap. I went out and got my opportunities. And some of those seeds I planted years ago are helping me get opportunities now.”

Since then, Ceja has visited more than 50 countries to date and makes appearances at travel conferences and travel workshops across the globe. She speaks English, Spanish and Italian fluently. Most recently, Ceja attended the World Woman Summit 2018 at the Clinton Presidential Center in Little Rock, Arkansas, where she worked as the official Travel Host.

“I aspire to be a Latina woman in the travel industry who is paving the way for other women,” said Ceja. “Travel is the best gift you can give anyone – including yourself. I want more women to experience that.”

In the future, Ceja plans on hosting more travel workshops as well as attending more travel conferences. Additionally, Ceja aspires to write a book surrounding the themes of travel, self-love and women empowerment to add to her already impressive resume.

“I love Belmont’s saying, ‘from here to anywhere,’” said Ceja. “Because you never know who you are inspiring and what opportunities will come to you when you are truly passionate about something.”

York Named as Ronald McDonald House Charities of Nashville’s 2019 Board President

Hope Buckner
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York Named as Ronald McDonald House Charities of Nashville’s 2019 Board President

Dr. Stan York, associate dean and associate professor of management in the Jack C. Massey College of Business, has been named as the 2019-2020 Ronald McDonald House Charities of Nashville’s 2019 Board President.

Programs run by Ronald McDonald House Charities of Nashville, the 32-bedroom Ronald McDonald House and the Ronald McDonald Family Room on the 5th Floor of the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt offer a place for parents and family members to relax, refresh and experience the comforts of home while staying close to their sick child. Since 1991, Ronald McDonald House Charities of Nashville has been “keeping families close” by providing service and hospitality to more than 15,000 families from throughout the country and around the world.

The 11 officers and chair of the RMHC of Nashville Board serve voluntarily and will actively contribute to the development, management and growth of the organization by attending board meetings, participating on standing committees, providing consultation on matters related to their areas of expertise, assisting with and attending events, providing fiduciary and management oversight and contributing to the needs of the organization. Officers hold their positions for one year. The full board of directors comprises 65 members.

For more information about the RMHC of Nashville board of directors, click here.

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