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 Students Bring Musical Talents to Vanderbilt Marching Band

Staff Writer
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Belmont Students Bring Musical Talents to Vanderbilt Marching Band

Focused on giving students as many opportunities as possible, Belmont University has countless partnerships with different groups and organizations around Nashville. For 38 Belmont students, these unique opportunities mean marching alongside students who attend school just across Wedgewood Ave. as they suit up as members of the Vanderbilt University Marching Band.

Standing at 125 people strong, the band is made up of a significant number of students who do not call Vanderbilt home. In fact, 54 (or 42 percent) of the program’s participants attend Belmont, Lipscomb and Trevecca.

According to Vanderbilt’s student newspaper, the Vanderbilt Hustler, the band is a big part of boosting spirit and morale at football games throughout the fall. Called The Spirit of Gold, Belmont students who make up the band feel a sense of fellowship with the other students involved.

In a Vanderbilt Hustler article, Belmont audio engineering technology major Matthew Bligh said that joining the Vanderbilt band gave him a strong sense of community in Nashville. He also said that he thoroughly enjoys being in the band and plans to continue his involvement. Both Belmont and Vanderbilt students said that being in the marching band is about coming together and playing music and not about if you go to a different school.

“I love being a part of the band program,” Bligh said. “It’s definitely made college a lot more enjoyable.”

Students interested in joining the Vanderbilt marching band can visit their website to learn more here.

Fortune 500 Company CEO Gives Leadership Advice to Students

Staff Writer
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Fortune 500 Company CEO Gives Leadership Advice to Students

Dennis Cooke has gone through many different stages in his career, and some of them came as a surprise, even to him. Now the CEO of Ryder Systems, Inc. and President of Fleet Management Solutions, Cooke shared some personal tips for success with students. At a recent convocation event on Belmont University’s campus that was sponsored by the Student Center for Public Trust, he reflected on his path to success and what got he there.

Cooke, the father of a current Belmont student and a recent alumna, has worked in various leadership positions for large companies that have allowed him to develop his own concept of his four Cs of leadership. But before he shared his four Cs with students, Cooke encouraged them to “take the complex and make it simple, you need to be inquisitive and ask why.” He also stressed to students the importance of having mentors, especially informal ones like professors, that can help develop students through critical early years.

Cooke’s four Cs of leadership are customer focus, collaboration, change and courage. He related each of these to different functions within his position at Ryder and how the company is evolving. “You have to embrace change,” he said.

While all the elements of leadership are important to Cooke, he often went back to the theme of collaboration. He stressed several times to students the importance of being able to work together in a team well. “Business is a team sport,” he said before explaining how he feels energized after working with functional teams.

After graduating from Purdue University for undergraduate, Cooke surprised himself when he went back to school for graduate degrees. Obtaining two masters from Purdue and the University of Chicago, Cooke never anticipated going that route. “I love to learn, and I didn’t know I’d get a graduate degree,” Cooke said.

Cooke closed his time with students by saying, “Belmont University is a launch pad, you’ve learned to learn. Now take the skills you’ve learned, and apply them. You have got to be willing to take risks and learn from it.”

Afshin Molavi Encourages Students to See the World With a ‘Macro Horizon’

Staff Writer
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Afshin Molavi Encourages Students to See the World With a ‘Macro Horizon’

According to Afshin Molavi, “Wherever we are going, we are going there fast.” In a recent talk Molavi gave on Belmont University’s campus to students, he encouraged them to be aware of how fast the world is changing and know that “we are living in an age of acceleration.” Molavi, who is a senior research fellow at the Foreign Policy Institute at Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies, spoke to students about his work in global economics, how he see’s the world changing and how important it is to be aware of the world around us.

Molavi works in geo-political risk and economics and focused on relating information he has learned to students while advising them on how to make business choices and navigate the growing world. He shared five key trends he sees in the world that will shape our society in the future. One trend is that 85 percent of the world lives outside of what is commonly considered the West or western world. The realization of this trend led Molavi to co-found the emerge85 Lab that focuses on the markets in under-served populations.

Another significant trend Molavi explained was that 1.5 million people per week are moving to urban areas. He related this to Nashville and Tennessee specifically by explaining how Nashville is responsible for half of the gross domestic product of the state. He emphasized to students the importance of being aware of these trends, and more, and the implications they can have on our world.

Afshin Molavi speaks with a studentSome advice Molavi had for students surrounded the Mike Tyson quote, “Everybody has a plan until they get punched in the mouth.” Molavi told students to “be resilient because punches will come no matter what you do. You have to be nimble in this world.”

Molavi also encouraged students to not get pigeonholed in whatever they are specializing in. “Try to have as macro of a horizon as you can, even if you specialize in something. Do the work, don’t fake it and be humble in what you don’t know.”

Molavi was brought to campus by the Center for International Business at Belmont University as a part of the International Executive Spotlight Series.

Faculty Members Attend, Present at 2018 Lilly Conference

Hope Buckner
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Faculty Members Attend, Present at 2018 Lilly Conference

Belmont University was, again, well-represented at the 2018 Lilly Conference on College Teaching held at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio earlier this month. Eight Belmont faculty participants from religion, media studies, biology, English, psychological science, sport science and the Teaching Center attended the event.

Faculty member attendees contributed four presentations for the Evidence-Based Learning and Teaching conference theme. Dr. Hyangsook Lee (media studies) provided a poster entitled “Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Higher Education: Latest Developments in AI-Based Education and Their Implications for Teaching and Learning” during the interactive poster session. Her poster considered the latest research studies regarding the impact of AI on teaching and learning and associated implications for the traditional paradigm of teaching and learning.

Drs. Jason Lovvorn (English) and Sue Trout (English) proposed a connection between civility in the college classroom and the typical behaviors people bring to situations in their presentation entitled “Avoiding Genre Trouble: Best Practices to Promote Civility in College Classrooms. ” Their session offered participants novel insights for promoting civility in their own classrooms. Dr. Pete Giordano (psychological science) and Mike Pinter (The Teaching Center and mathematics) delivered an invited presentation entitled “Slow It Down: Strategies for Engaged Learning (including “winging it” once in a while)” in which they discussed activities–including mindfulness, questioning techniques, storytelling and dealing with uncertainty–based on key teaching and learning ideas from a variety of pedagogical experts, including several who have led workshops at Belmont.

Dr. Marnie Vanden Noven (sport science) provided an encore presentation version of “The Elephant in the Classroom: Addressing Sensitive Topics With Skill and Courage” which she initially developed with Julie Hunt (social work) for the 2017 Lilly Conference. She explored the teacher’s role in fostering an environment where students are included and feel safe to discuss potentially taboo topics in meaningful, productive and transformative ways. Andy Watts (religion) and Matt Heard (biology; Faculty Inclusion, Diversity and Equity Committee) also participated in conference sessions and activities.

Fyke and Webb Present at National Communication Association Convention

Hope Buckner
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Fyke and Webb Present at National Communication Association Convention

Drs. Jeremy Fyke and Nathan Webb, faculty in the Department of Communication Studies, recently presented at the National Communication Association annual convention in Salt Lake City, UT. Drs. Fyke and Webb co-presented a paper titled “’Field’ Research: Letting Corporate Communication Professionals’ Stories Inform Curriculum Development,” based on research conducted in collaboration with Drs. Mary Vaughn and Jimmy Davis, also of the Communication Studies Department.

Fyke also chaired a panel titled “Match-Point: Corporate Social Responsibility, Tensions, and Organizations Engaging Their Constituents” and presented on a panel titled “Using LEGO Playgroups to Address Current Issues and Future Directions in Organizational Communication: Meta-theoretical, Conceptual and Intergenerational Play.”

Students Win Awards at Mock Legislative Session

Hope Buckner
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Students Win Awards at Mock Legislative Session

Belmont’s Intercollegiate State Legislature Team recently attended a Mock Legislative Session and competed with teams from across the country. The group brought home a number of awards including Best Senator, Grace Friedman; Best Representative, Gavin Mummert and Best Lobbyist (Healthcare Firm), Kristin Callahan.

The Tennessee Intercollegiate State Legislature is a forum for the top echelon of the state’s campus leaders to exchange ideas, express their opinions and learn how government works. TISL’s Senate and House of Representatives, which first convened in 1966, meet in the legislative chambers of the State Capitol each November.  

Murray Installed as SEALSB President

Hope Buckner
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Murray Installed as SEALSB President

Haskell Murray, associate professor of management and business law in the Jack C. Massey College of Business, has been installed as the president of the Southeastern Academy of Legal Studies in Business (SEALSB) for 2018-2019 year. SEALSB in the preeminent academic organization for legal scholars who teach in business schools in the southeastern United States.

The organization covers colleges and universities in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee. Recent past SEALSB presidents include professors from Florida State University, Georgia State University, Elon University and University of Georgia.

Carr Presents at Legal Studies in Business and AACSB Conferences

Hope Buckner
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Carr Presents at Legal Studies in Business and AACSB Conferences

Cheryl Slay CarrCheryl Carr, associate dean of the Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business, recently presented “Too Much, Too Little, or Just Right? Rigor and Copyright Law in the Undergraduate Music Business Curriculum” to the Southeastern Academy of Legal Studies in Business Conference in Chattanooga, TN.

Carr also participated as a panelist presenting on associate dean networks for the AACSB Associate Deans Annual Conference in Phoenix, AZ.

Jellissen Leads Group of Students to Model UN Conference

Hope Buckner
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Jellissen Leads Group of Students to Model UN Conference

Dr. Susan Jellissen, associate professor of political science, led a team of students to the 2018 American Model United Nations Conference, recently held in Chicago. Belmont students represented New Zealand and engaged in debate and discussion with students from across the country.

Simulating the actual United Nations, these students were able to pass resolutions on issues ranging from the stockpiling of biological weapons to women in the developing world.

Commercial Music Student Performs Background Vocals on Katy Perry Single

Hope Buckner
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0
Commercial Music Student Performs Background Vocals on Katy Perry Single

Belmont University commercial music major Caroline Kasay was recently selected to provide background vocals (BGVs) on Katy Perry’s Christmas single, “Cozy Little Christmas,” an opportunity she received from a Belmont connection. This fall, the School of Music received two student scholarships for TenTwoSix Music Group’s InSession Class from the organization. Kasay received one of those scholarships, and thanks to the connections made there, she was asked to sing on Perry’s single.

For Kasay, the opportunity to continue learning her craft in this way was incredibly significant. “It was an absolute blast,” she said. “Everyone was so kind, focused and welcoming that we still meet up for fun sometimes just to spend time together. It’s a job, so we never wasted time, and everyone came prepared, making it a remarkable experience.”

Longterm, Kasay hopes to make music that changes people’s lives. “I would love to someday be the voice of a Disney princess or perform on Broadway while writing and recording my own music,” she said. “More than anything, I want to be a light for Jesus Christ in everything that I do.”

Looking towards the Christmas season, she is excited to hear the song in her car and with her family. “I smile every time I hear it,” she said. “I can’t help but dance along when it comes on. I thank God every time I hear it for the incredible gifts He has blessed me with in Nashville and the amazing people that He has brought into my life.”

Co-Founder of TenTwoSix Music Group Laura Cooksey spoke highly of Kasay and her talents, calling her a “gem.” “She’s incredibly gifted, she has a very strong work ethic and her willing, warm spirit is really the icing on the cake,” Cooksey said. “Our goal in offering scholarships for our In Session class to local college students was really two fold. It was a way for us to invest in students pursuing a professional singing career, but it was also, in part, for the purpose of identifying great singers and she is certainly that…We look forward to working with her more in the future. She has an incredibly bright future ahead of her.”

 

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