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First Year Seminar Ambassador Speaker Series Focuses on Transformative Justice

Haley Charlton
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First Year Seminar Ambassador Speaker Series Focuses on Transformative Justice

Every year, Belmont freshmen spend their first semester working through a common anthology as they take the required First Year Seminar (FYS) course that addresses “ways of knowing,” helping them transition to college life by engaging in challenging readings, ideas and opportunities to practice critical thinking. 

To accompany this year’s FYS classes, an ambassador speaker series is lined up for the fall that will look at the theme of Transformative Justice.

Author of “The Sun Does Shine,” series Keynote Anthony Ray Hinton spent 30 years on death row before the Supreme Court unanimously decided in his favor. Hinton will share his story of hope at Belmont on September 25 at 7 p.m. in the Curb Event Center, open to the public.

Hinton spent 30 years enduring false accusations, a wrongful conviction and an entire community of people who tagged him with a crime he did not commit. The Equal Justice Initiative took on the job of representing Hinton legally, with the goal of reducing his death sentence to a life sentence, but Hinton refused to settle. He wanted the truth to be known. With the help of civil rights attorney and bestselling author of “Just Mercy” Bryan Stevenson, Hinton won his release in 2015.

Associate Professor of Religion and the Arts Dr. David Dark, who is serving as this year’s FYS ambassador, said Hinton appears among us as a pioneer of moral seriousness, taking on the work of lifting his own voice, knowing his own moral power and somehow accessing a human future despite the dire circumstances in front of him.

“Hinton is the perfect example of a Socratic thinker, an activist, an ally to the community he was in. He started a book club and committed himself to being a teacher, a co-learner and a partner in seeking flourishing in a tortuous, impossible situation,” Dark said. “Bringing him in as this year’s keynote speaker places before students, their families and the watching world the call to transformative justice.”

“Hinton, in a very moving way, insisted on trying to love and pray for and prophetically confront the system as well as the people who were behaving villainously toward him. His story invites us to think harder about justice in our own world,” Dark continued. “My hope is that students will recognize Anthony Ray Hinton as a primary living agent of hope and as a figure who both insisted on asking questions about the way the world is ordered and on being an advocate for those who have been crushed, himself included, by a system that does not serve everyone equally.”

Dark’s review of Hinton’s book was recently published in Chapter Sixteen, a Tennessee Book Review. Read his review of “The Sun Does Shine” here.

A full list of speakers and their descriptions can be found below. All events are open to the public, and all events will present an opportunity for students to submit questions for the speakers.

Justin Jones

September 16 at 10 a.m., Fourth Floor Conference Room of the Janet Ayers Academic Building

Justin Jones is author of “The People’s Plaza,” activist and candidate for Tennessee’s House of Representatives. A leader of the Free the Plaza movement, he organizes for the expansion of healthcare in Tennessee, the repeal of restrictive state voter ID laws, the removal of confederate monuments and community accountability in cases of police violence.

Keynote address: Anthony Ray Hinton

September 25 at 7 p.m., Curb Event Center

Hinton was exonerated after spending nearly three decades on death row in Alabama. He will share his story of hope and justice.

Public Conversation with Anthony Ray Hinton

September 26 at 10 a.m., Massey Performing Arts Center

Conversation facilitated by Dr. David Dark and open to all students.

Rahim Buford

October 7 at 10 a.m., Massey Performing Arts Center

Mr. Buford spent 26 years in Tennessee prisons, is the founder of Unheard Voices and facilitates classes and workshops at juvenile detention centers which assist incarcerated Tennesseans in their transition back into the civic, economic and technological communities.

Public lecture by David Dark: “Candor, Courage, and Conscience: The Moral Witness of Reality Winner”

October 19 at 10 a.m., Fourth Floor Conference Room of the Janet Ayers Academic Building

Prior to the event with Reality Winner on Friday, Dr. David Dark will give a public lecture on Winner’s story and the concepts of whistleblowing and conscience.

Reality Winner

October 21 at 10 a.m., Massey Performing Arts Center, Live video conversation

While serving in the Air Force, Winner released classified info on Russian interference in the 2016 elections and received the longest sentence ever given to a civilian for such a leak. She was placed in solitary confinement for four years, losing contact with her family, unallowed to speak to the press, unable to even read her Bible. Having been released now, Winner will share details about her experience.

Larycia Hawkins

October 28 at 10 a.m., Massey Performing Arts Center

Hawkins was fired from her teaching position at Wheaton College for affirming solidarity between Muslims and Christians. She is currently a professor at the University of Virginia where she teaches politics and religious studies.

“Same God” Film

October 28 at 6 p.m., Johnson Center Theater

The film “Same God” explores the story and broader issue of solidarity.

Belmont University Hosts Events for Suicide Prevention and Awareness Week  

Allison Fomby
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Belmont University Hosts Events for Suicide Prevention and Awareness Week  

Belmont University held its first-ever Suicide Prevention & Awareness Week Tuesday, September 6 through Saturday, September 10. Hosted by Belmont University Counseling Services, the week of events was coordinated with the intent to save lives and bring hope to those affected by suicide, including those who have experienced a loss. 

“We realize that so many in our community have been touched by mental health-related struggles, and more specifically suicide,” said Katherine Cornelius, Belmont director of counseling services. “Our hope for this week is that we come together as a community and join forces to break the silence around suicide and change the conversation around mental health.” 

This year’s events included: 

Send Silence Packing – Suicide Prevention and Awareness Week at Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee, September 7, 2022. Photo by Sam Simpkins

Send Silence Packing on Wednesday, September 7 in partnership with Active Minds: This event featured a powerful interactive exhibit of 1,000 backpacks set up on McWhorter Lawn and Freedom Plaza that included personal stories from individuals who have all been personally touched by suicide. The all-day display inspired action for suicide prevention and connected participants with local and national mental health resources. 

Each and Every Day on Thursday, September 8 in partnership with Mike Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business: The Belmont community gathered for a viewing and discussion of a film created in partnership with MTV and The Jed Foundation (JED). The documentary explores youth mental health through the eyes of young people who have attempted suicide or have struggled with suicidal thoughts. 

Sharde Curry’s Story on Friday, September 9 in partnership with University Ministries and Active Minds: Curry navigated the loss of a family member to suicide and shared her journey to help the campus community learn, understand, and deepen the understanding of a topic that has affected so many lives.  

Out of the Darkness Walk on Saturday, September 10 in partnership with Campus Security, Event Services, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention  (AFSP), Metro Police, and Active Minds: This event was designed to raise awareness and much-needed funds for AFSP while strongly sending the message of hope that suicide is preventable, and that no one is alone. 

Belmont Counseling Services is committed to providing free, convenient access to professional mental health assessment, emergent care, short-term treatment, and wellness education to aid students in managing life transitions and serious emotional issues. These collaborative efforts across campus and within the larger mental health community of Nashville ensure that Belmont students directly experience a sense of community that values safety, personal integrity, and care. 

Washington Monthly Ranks Belmont Among Best Colleges for Student Voting for 2022

Jasmine Simmons
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Washington Monthly Ranks Belmont Among Best Colleges for Student Voting for 2022

Belmont University was placed on the Washington Monthly magazine’s list of Best Colleges for Student Voting. This adds to the achievements Belmont has earned as a campus committed to championing student body voting participation. 

The University was designated as a “Voter Friendly Campus” in the spring of 2021 as a result of its strategic efforts to motivate and mobilize the student body to vote amidst a challenging voting season that was impacted by restrictions from the COVID-19 pandemic. The campus was announced the winner of the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge Award later the same year in November.   

“Part of the credit goes to the work of student voting organizers, who mobilized young Americans to register and cast ballots despite the pandemic and restrictive voting laws,” Washington Monthly stated in its rankings release. “This includes small, student-led groups that work to get their peers to the polls, as well as national organizations like the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge, which helps colleges develop registration and turnout plans.”

The young adult population has historically been criticized for its lack of voter turnout, but trends are improving as concerted efforts like the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge and Rock the Vote events aim to keep the 18-to-29-year-old population active at the polls.  

The Washington Monthly added a student voting measure to its annual college rankings in 2018 to incentivize support from college administration toward student voting efforts. Since 2019, the monthly has published an honor roll of colleges based on self-reported voting data. Belmont’s voter registration rate is above 85 percent and made the honor roll this year. 

With Constitution Day on Sept. 17 and National Voter Registration Day on Sept. 20, the month of September marks a significant opportunity to employ continued voting efforts. Belmont’s Student Government Association plans to roll out new voter registration and education initiatives during the month of September with a strong desire to maintain its “Voter Friendly Campus” status.  

“Civic engagement and voter education will be a top priority for our Student Government this fall,” senior psychology major and SGA parliamentarian Jada Ralston said. “With important civic holidays, such as National Voter Registration Day just around the corner, we plan to host a number of events to promote the significance of voting. Specifically, we will be focusing on voter registration and turnout. Our committee will act as a catalyst for the student body’s civic engagement.”

Dr. Darrell Gwaltney, Dean of Belmont’s College of Theology and Christian Ministry, Announces Retirement 

Hope Buckner
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Dr. Darrell Gwaltney, Dean of Belmont’s College of Theology and Christian Ministry, Announces Retirement 
Dr. Darrell Gwaltney
Dr. Darrell Gwaltney at Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee, September 30, 2021.

Dr. Darrell Gwaltney has announced his plan to retire as Dean of Belmont University’s College of Theology and Christian Ministry (CTCM), effective the end of the Fall 2022 semester. Gwaltney came to Belmont in May 2004 when the University had just under 4,000 students and the School of Religion served about 1,900 students. Today, Belmont’s student body has grown to 8,995 and CTCM serves more than 4,000 students each year, underscoring Gwaltney’s leadership throughout the more than 18 years since he joined Belmont. 

Belmont President Dr. Greg Jones said, “Over the years as he has served Belmont, Darrell Gwaltney has made countless contributions to our campus community, the College of Theology and Christian Ministry and in the lives of hundreds of students. The nearly two decades of commitment and devoted attention that Dr. Gwaltney has graciously invested as dean have been instrumental to the growth of the College, its programs and our goal of forming Christ-centered leaders.”

Under Gwaltney’s leadership, Belmont’s School of Religion became the College of Theology and Christian Ministry and has grown its programs significantly. With 10 undergraduate programs and two graduate programs—including an M.A and a Ph.D. in Mental Health Counseling—the College continues to thrive. Most recently, the newly established Ph.D. in Mental Health Counseling earned full accreditation through the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), Belmont’s accrediting body. 

“I have been deeply changed by my students and those with whom I have worked,” Gwaltney said. “My faith and understanding of who I am vocationally has been enriched, deepened and improved by my colleagues’ profound faithfulness, kindness and creativity. As I move into a season of life where I am able to reflect on the work with which I have been privileged to participate, I look to each memory and each person with gratitude, wonder and grace.” 

Gwaltney will be on the sabbatical for the Spring semester and will return to campus in Fall 2023 as a faculty member, teaching courses in Religion, Honors and Mental Health Counseling. He will also continue his work leading Project Thrive, the Moench Center for Church Leadership and the Academy of Preachers. 

Belmont Interim Provost Dr. David Gregory added, “Although the role he will serve on our campus will look different in the coming months, I am so grateful that Dr. Gwaltney will be staying at Belmont as a member of our exceptional faculty. The impact he has made on our campus is immense, and I look forward to the continued impact he will make in the lives of our students moving forward.” 

Belmont University Board of Trustees Adds Five New Members

Jasmine Simmons
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Belmont University Board of Trustees Adds Five New Members

The Belmont University Board of Trustees added five new individuals for the start of the 2022-23 academic year: Dr. Agenia Clark, Rusty Gaston, Rev. Dr. Gabriel Salguero, Rev. Dr. Clay Stauffer and Kimberly Williams-Paisley.

Board of Trustees Chair Milton Johnson, a Belmont alumnus and retired CEO/Chairman of HCA Healthcare, said, “Each of our new Trustees brings unique perspective and insight to the work of Belmont University, and I’m grateful for their willingness to serve. These new members join a strong group of individuals who are fully committed to supporting Belmont’s vision, mission and Strategic Trajectory.”

“I am honored to have these influential leaders join Belmont’s Board of Trustees,” Belmont President Dr. Greg Jones said. “Each one of them clearly serves as an agent of hope for their communities, and I’m delighted to have them contributing their passion, ideas and energy to our Board.” 

Dr. Agenia Clark, named Nashvillian of the year in 2021, is the president and CEO of the Girl Scouts of Middle Tennessee. Clark is highly recognized in Music City, making the list of Nashville’s 100 Most Powerful People in the Nashville Business Journal for 2018, 2017, 2016 and 2015.

Belmont alumnus Rusty Gaston (‘98) is the CEO of Sony Music Publishing Nashville. Driven by his love of country music, Gaston went from the small town of Van, TX and rose through the country music ranks first as an amusement park performer, to a music production intern, to co-founding the highly successful THiS Music publishing company, all before receiving the call in 2019 to serve in his role at Sony. 

Rev. Dr. Gabriel Salguero is the president and founder of the National Latino Evangelical Coalition (NaLEC) and pastor of The Gathering Place, a Latino-led, multi-ethnic church in Orlando, Fl. Salguero has been named as one of the nation’s most prominent Latino evangelical leaders and has written extensively on Latino evangelicalism, immigration, racism and multicultural congregations. Salguero also spoke on campus last fall during the inauguration celebration for Dr. Jones.

Rev. Dr. Clay Stauffer is senior minister at Woodmont Christian Church in Nashville and a regular columnist for the Faith and Values section of The Tennessean. Stauffer’s primary research interests include the intersection of faith and politics within American culture, moral foundations of liberals and conservatives, polarization and the formation of character.

A well-known actress and New York Times best-selling author, Kimberly Williams-Paisley co-founded with her husband Brad Paisley (a Belmont alumnus) The Store, a free, referral-based grocery store with the aim of empowering low-income individuals and families in the Nashville area. The Paisleys partnered with Belmont on The Store’s campus location, and through a “2-Gen Grant,” the University provides services at the center to eligible families. Williams-Paisley is a long-standing supporter of Belmont, having set up an endowed scholarship for its students in 2012 with her husband. Belmont dedicated a ballroom in the Fisher Center for the Performing Arts as the Brad Paisley and Kimberly Williams-Paisley Ballroom in 2021. 

Belmont Partners with Conexión Américas to Open Mesa Komal Café on Campus

Haley Charlton
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Belmont Partners with Conexión Américas to Open Mesa Komal Café on Campus

Belmont University today opened Mesa Komal Café in partnership with Sodexo and Conexión Américas, a Nashville-based nonprofit organization on a mission to build a welcoming community and create opportunities where Latino families can belong, contribute and succeed. The first dining outlet of its kind, the restaurant will house local, minority entrepreneurs from the Conexión Américas Mesa Komal culinary incubator program on rotation as they gain experience operating their culinary ventures. 

Belmont Assistant Professor of Entrepreneurship and Management Dr. Jose Gonzalez said the café blends the opportunity for entrepreneurs to expand, grow, learn and experiment with new ideas with another dream to strengthen Belmont and Sodexo’s connections with the broader community in a real and tangible way. 

Dr. Jose Gonzalez
Dr. Jose Gonzalez speaks at ribbon cutting ceremony

“Mesa Komal Café will be an outlet to amplify the vibrancy of the culinary scene of the immigrant and the refugee communities. I can’t wait for my Belmont family to experience the vision of Mesa Komal as these amazing chefs bring that vision to life,” said Gonzalez. “Over time we will see different types of food in the restaurant, representing the talent and the diversity of food entrepreneurs who have made Nashville home from all over the world.”

Entrepreneur Karla Ruiz and her team will be the first business to utilize the space with Viva la Vida, a restaurant serving various tacos, salads, chips, dips and desserts. Entrepreneurs will also feature items from other Mesa Komal partners during their rotations.

Co-Executive Director of Conexión Américas Martha Silva said opening the café has been a longtime vision of Conexión Américas. “So many Latino immigrants and entrepreneurs will be exposed to the experience of what it is to have their own restaurant. They can build skills and income for their next steps and dream big,” she said. “People like Karla are remarkable examples of what talent, hard work and persistence can achieve.”

Karla Ruiz
Chef Karla Ruiz shares her gratitude for the opportunity.

Ruiz expressed how thankful she is for the team supporting her and her business. “I think about my small business getting to work with big organizations like Belmont and Sodexo and think of them as my wings – they help cover me and help me to grow,” she said. “I am so thankful for them to open their doors to these small businesses so we can grow and provide for our families and our communities. I love people and I love to cook – that’s my way to show love. I have no other choice but to be successful so I can pave the way for the next vendor, and the next and the next and the next.”

Dr. Susan West, executive vice president for administration & chief of staff at Belmont, opened the ribbon cutting ceremony by explaining that this partnership is an opportunity for those in the Belmont community to be catalysts for helping their neighbors thrive. “I am thrilled that many minority-owned businesses will become a part of our campus and that our students, staff and faculty will be able to directly support them, get to know them, and watch them grow and succeed, all while enjoying their delicious food,” she said. “We want these entrepreneurs to feel they belong here on this campus, and I know they will feel that warm Belmont welcome from all who patronize their businesses.”

The Café is officially open for business Sunday – Friday from 11 a.m. – 8 p.m.

Belmont University’s Mental Health Counseling Ph.D. Receives Full Accreditation

Julia Couch
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Belmont University’s Mental Health Counseling Ph.D. Receives Full Accreditation

Belmont University’s Mental Health Counseling Ph.D. program has earned full accreditation through the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), Belmont’s accrediting body. The program, housed in College of Theology and Christian Ministry, trains master’s level mental health professionals who are interested in becoming doctoral-level professors ready to train tomorrow’s mental health professionals, or highly skilled clinicians who work with clients in a variety of settings across the mental health care continuum.

Belmont’s program offers two specialty tracks—Advanced Clinical Practice and Counselor Education & Supervision—to equip mental health professionals with enhanced counseling and research skills and stronger treatment efficacy while exploring connections between personal spiritual beliefs, biases and client diversity.

“We are filling a gap within doctoral degree counseling programs in Tennessee through our unique teaching approach,” said Associate Director of Mental Health Counseling Dr. Tom Knowles-Bagwell. “Spiritually-guided and research-informed curriculum will train students to provide excellent care to those seeking support and address the depth and complexity of human suffering.”

The doctoral program utilizes a hybrid of online and face-to-face instruction each term. Applications are accepted throughout the calendar year, and admissions decisions are made as applications are submitted.
Courses include spiritual development, mental health care in contemporary societies, theories of change, vocational discernment and global spiritual traditions.

Hope-Inspiring Enrollment Numbers Set for Belmont University’s First Week of Classes 

Jasmine Simmons
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Hope-Inspiring Enrollment Numbers Set for Belmont University’s First Week of Classes 

Enrollment at Belmont University continues making positive trends with total student enrollment reaching 8,995 for Fall 2022. New student registrations surpassed the admissions office goal with 1,939 new Bruins registering for classes. The year-over-year record for the undergraduate cohort amidst a struggling higher education climate demonstrates Belmont President Dr. Greg Jones’ vision for the University to “Let Hope Abound.”  

Dr. Jones said, “Our increased student interest at the undergraduate and graduate levels shows that new students are attracted to Belmont University’s propensity to shine as a beacon of hope for the good of our community and beyond. I look forward to this new year and new opportunities to develop leaders of purpose and character who are eager and equipped to make the world a better place.” 

As enrollment numbers rise, so do new structures. In an effort to meet the increasing demand for on-campus housing, Caldwell Hall opens its doors to 606 upperclassmen this semester. The addition of Caldwell Hall increases Belmont’s total housing capacity to 4,294 throughout a total of nine residence halls. The new addition features apartment-style living where residents will enjoy numerous amenities such as a fitness center, incredible views of downtown Nashville, and a unique two-story lobby featuring study and gathering areas. 

The University’s vast portfolio of more than 169 programs of study grows with the additions of Public Advocacy and Special Education. Four new accelerated programs in Music Business (3 + 3 JD), Biology (3+3 OT/PT), and Pharmaceutical Studies (3+4 PharmD) will be added to the catalog. Students participating in these accelerated programs will receive two degrees in an abbreviated timeframe.  

New graduate registration opened August 19 and is at 589. A number that is anticipated to increase as some programs delay registration until students show up to campus. Strategic Leadership in Education, PhD. and Mental Health Counseling, PhD. are two new career-focused programs available among the graduate programs.  

Belmont continues making strides with the goal of being a University with a stronger representation of diverse perspectives as 23.9 percent of the undergraduate freshman class come from underrepresented populations and 26.1 percent from underrepresented populations on the graduate side. Registration for transfer students remains open and currently has 401 students registered to join Belmont from 37 different states.  

Vice President for Enrollment Services Dr. Chris Gage noted, “The freshman class is Belmont’s most diverse ever. The enrollment team also maintained Belmont’s rigorous academic profile and the cohort is just as geographically diverse as last year with 46 states and the District of Columbia represented. There’s just unbelievable momentum going into the Fall of 2023 recruitment cycle.” 

First-time freshmen students moved into campus housing on August 18 with the first day of classes held Wednesday, August 24. Final enrollment numbers will be available in late-September following the University’s official census. 

Applications for admission for the Fall 2023 cycle opened on August 1. The University’s first fall Preview Day, which occurs in September, is currently open for registration. 

More Than 400 Student Leaders Pitch In to Make Move In Weekend a Success

Haley Charlton
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More Than 400 Student Leaders Pitch In to Make Move In Weekend a Success

During LEAD Week, leading up to Move-In Weekend, students and staff diligently prepared for the huge undertaking of helping more than 4,200 student and families come home to Belmont. There were more than 400 student leaders who cheered and supported new and returning residential Belmont students as they returned to campus.

Student leaders engaged in a variety of leadership development sessions and training workshops led by the Division of Student Formation staff in University Ministries, the Belmont Office of Leadership Development (BOLD), Residence Life, New Student Orientation, the Office of Student Engagement, Counseling Services and Student Support Services. 

Trainings included topics like creating belonging and inclusion, understanding and putting personal and shared values into action, identity and diversity, along with a host of other fun and collaborative experiences. Belmont President Dr. Greg Jones and other staff also shared with student leaders during the annual Leadership Launch for all student leaders.

Supporting students and families is more than lifting hundreds of mini-fridges, loading in futons, cheering on Belmont moms or dads or walking shelves up ten flights of stairs. The experience is about helping student leaders and staff serve and lead well. It’s about student leaders aligning their shared values consistently to help realize the Belmont mission. 

For resident assistants, BOLD students, student organizations, Towering Traditions, Orientation Council, athletes, spiritual life assistants and service year leaders, LEAD Week and Move-In experiences are about helping people make connections and find a home away from home. Even more importantly, the experiences are about being radical champions for all.

The Division of Student Formation will continue to help form diverse leaders of characters through relationship building, programs, experiences and engagement opportunities for all Belmont students. 

Click here and here to see more pictures from 2022 LEAD Week and Move-In Weekend.

Service-Learning Program at Belmont Set to Donate $1 Million in Community Service in 2023

Cara Baker Davis
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Service-Learning Program at Belmont Set to Donate $1 Million in Community Service in 2023

Service-learning is a Belmont distinctive. Ranked 20th nationally by U.S. News and World Report in this category, between 20 and 30 classes include a service-learning component, often requiring 10-20 hours of community service directly tied to learning objectives.

But community service spans beyond coursework. The wider Belmont community participates in community service across dozens of agencies locally and nationally. The top three areas of impact include: education, healthcare and the environment.  

It’s part of the culture to be others-focused and hands-on. And while it’s nothing new, the trajectory and scope are reaching historic levels. “Service-learning’s been around for a long time,” said Tim Stewart, Director for Belmont’s Office of Service-Learning. “It’s not a new concept by any means, but it’s had renewed emphasis in the last 20, 25 years.”

In the last year, the Belmont community logged 32,033 hours representing a value of over $833,500 based on the Tennessee volunteer rate of $26.02 per hour. Based on the trajectory of the past five years, that number will top $1 million in the coming year.

Belmont OT student Danielle Huynh serves a program participant at FiftyForward near Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee, August 23, 2022. Click here to see a full gallery of photos from this event.

The Rev. Keller Hawkins was named Assistant Director for the Office of Service-Learning in the spring. She explained that service opportunities range from literacy, job skills, English language lessons, recovery from addictions, transitions from incarceration, food, clothing, licensing, health care, self-care, mental health counseling, foster care and more. And increasingly, these opportunities are virtual, which makes it possible for more people to participate.

“Virtual volunteering has skyrocketed since COVID, so you don’t even have to leave your dorm room to serve,” Hawkins said. “So there’s a lot of virtual mentoring and tutoring opportunities. We can make this work for whatever your ability, whatever you’re interested in.”

One of those volunteer projects included writing letters to seniors in local communities to combat social isolation. Students donated 1,910 hours of volunteer service to GNRC (Greater Nashville Regional Council) in 2021, which equated to more than a thousand letters. The GNRC is an association representing 13 area counties that provides aging and disability resources. Belmont was recognized with GNRC’s Outstanding Team Award for 2021 for these efforts.

Students hold up Christmas cards they've handwritten and will send to seniors to combat social isolation.
Students participate in the senior letter writing campaign in 2021 for the GNRC.

“The intention is to write uplifting letters and just show the seniors that we care about them,” said Rebecca Nofi, the GNRC’s Volunteer and Community Engagement Manager. “Our goal is to send one letter to each resident at each facility we work with monthly.… For us, this has really been a phenomenal volunteer opportunity that can be done from anywhere and has brought so much joy during the hard times of COVID isolation and restrictions in the nursing homes and assisted living facilities.”

Everyone in the Belmont community is encouraged to participate in community service–students, faculty, staff and alumni. In fact, several alumni (18 at last count) now work at the agency partners they first encountered as a student on campus–or started a nonprofit themselves. A nonprofit fair during Homecoming 2022 that was specifically open to Belmont alums who are working in the nonprofit sector featured these agencies.

The History

Community service has a long, unofficial history at Belmont. “There were a number of faculty here on campus who were doing service-learning [decades ago],” Stewart said. “They were early pioneers with service-learning here on campus, getting their students involved in the community as a part of their coursework, which is kind of the definition of service-learning.”

Stewart joined the staff in 2002 after many years of helping organize Belmont student volunteers as a community member. In 2008, Belmont started the social entrepreneurship major for undergraduates. “We were the first, as far as we can tell, in the country to have an undergraduate degree in social entrepreneurship,” Stewart said.

The Purpose

And while the concept is growing in popularity, Stewart is most proud of how students are approaching service and what they’re taking away from it. “When I asked them questions about their experience, they shared things that indicated they had a really clear understanding of why they were doing what they were doing, what they got out of the experience, what we hope they get out of it,” he said. “They talked about how it impacted them, how it fit in with what they were studying in the class.”

Ultimately, the goal is to make those who participate aware that “we’re related to one another in a reciprocal, mutually beneficial relationship,” Stewart said. “And it’s about giving and receiving and just being in community together. And I think our students are getting that, [and] love that.”

Top 12 Agencies

The following nonprofits receive the most volunteer hours from the Belmont community:

Get Involved

Want to get involved? Register on the Get Connected tab in MyBelmont and attend the upcoming Community Connections Fair Sept. 26 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Maddox Grand Atrium. This annual event provides an opportunity for community agencies and nonprofits to introduce themselves to our students and the greater Belmont community. More than 90 agencies, many of whom Belmont alumni work for, will be present.

–additional reporting by Jennifer Justus

Belmont service learning program set to top $1M in volunteer hours
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