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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Julia Michaels, Alumna Beka Tischker, Keith Urban Share Wisdom, Songs on Campus

Republic recording artist Julia Michaels was recently a guest speaker on campus for Curb College students, offering stories from her career along with performing a few songs for a packed house in the Johnson Theater. Michaels was joined by her manager and Belmont alumna Beka Tischker (2000, music business) for a Q&A, and her good friend Keith Urban also came by the event for a surprise duet of Michaels’ hit song “Issues.”

Julia Michaels and Beka talk at Belmont University in Nashville, Tenn. October 19, 2017
Julia Michaels and Beka Tischker talk at Belmont University in Nashville, Tenn. October 19, 2017

Tischker encouraged many of the young women in the audience who aspire to be in the entertainment business to keep moving forward in their careers. “If you’re doing what you’re supposed to do, everything will work out… I don’t focus on my gender. I focus on being the best that I can be.”

She also commented on the importance of mentoring other women and always keeping her focus on what is best for her clients, like Michaels, who she believes “…says things that people want to say, but don’t have the courage to.”

Michaels added,I find that I feel better when people sing with me. It’s a really humbling thing when people sing with you and relate to your words… Don’t be apologetic. You’re here for a reason and your words matter.”

Julia Michaels and Beka Tischker talk at Belmont University in Nashville, Tenn. October 19, 2017

Michaels has solidified herself as an in-demand songwriters=, co-writing a string of Billboard Hot 100 hits alongside Justin Tranter—including Justin Bieber’s “Sorry,” Selena Gomez’s “Good for You” [feat. A$AP Rocky], Hailee Steinfeld’s “Love Myself,” and more. Michaels signed with Republic Records and released her debut solo single in 2017, “Issues,” which peaked at No. 11 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States and was certified double-platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Her debut extended play, Nervous System, released in July 2017.

Science Students Celebrate National Chemistry Week

The Women in Science (WIS) club recently teamed up with Student Members of the American Chemical Society (SMACS) to celebrate National Chemistry Week with a number of events across campus. The week’s festivities included a Mole Day Celebration, “Awesome Science,” “Chemistry Colors the World: The Art and Science of Tie-Die,” a chemistry and physics faculty picnic and “Spa Day Science.” The Spa Day event featured opportunities for students to experience science in a physical way as student officers led three teams of students in creating sugar scrubs, lip scrubs and activated charcoal face masks.

two female students laughing while mixing ingredients in a cup

National Chemistry Week aims to share the relevance of the subject in every day life. Professor in the Department of Chemistry and Physics Dr. Rachel Rigsby said, “There are all kinds of chemistry in places where we don’t necessarily expect it. These events are designed to teach students more about them.”

Additionally, the Department is scheduled to host a birthday celebration for Marie Curie, a 19th century female physicist and chemist who conducted pioneering research on radioactivity, on Monday, November 6. Attendees will hear from guest speaker Dr. Judith Iriarte-Gross, director of the Women in STEM Center at Middle Tennessee State University, enjoy birthday cake and learn about current research projects at Belmont. 

 

 

 

Ambrefe Recognized as Jonas Scholar

Paul Ambrefe, an instructor in the School of Nursing and a current Ph.D. student at the Vanderbilt University School of Nursing, has been named one of twelve Jonas Nurse Scholars.

The Jonas Nurse Scholar Program supports nursing scholars to increase the number of U.S. nursing school faculty with doctorates.

Ambrefe was also distinguished as a Donald Jonas Legacy Fellow, a new honor for professionals interested in research related to school and prison health, as well as autism and other areas of interest to the co-founder of the program Donald Jonas.

Ambrefe currently leads the Adult Health II clinical experience at Belmont, in addition to his studies.

 

 

Hall of Fame Songwriters Share Expertise with Curb College Students

Hall of Fame Songwriters with Faculty
Pictured (l-r): Dickie Lee, Jim McBride, Pat Alger, Tim Nichols (all Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame members) James I. Elliott (SNG Chair), and Drew Ramsey (SNG faculty).

Hit songwriters Jim McBride and Tim Nichols were inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame this week, and then spent an evening sharing stories and songs two night later with Belmont songwriting students at an Oct. 25 event at Belmont’s Columbia Studio A on Music Row. Hall of Fame writer Pat Alger, a Belmont songwriting faculty member, moderated the event.

Nichols has written “Heads Carolina, Tails California” (JoDee Messina), “I’ll Think of a Reason Later” (Lee Ann Womack) and “That’d Be Alright’ (Alan Jackson), but he may be best known for writing the 2005 hit “Live Like You Were Dying,” recorded by Tim McGraw. Nichols is also co-owner of publishing company This Music with Belmont alumnus Rusty Gaston, and the company publishes successful Belmont songwriting graduate Emily Weisband, who won a Grammy this year.

McBride is responsible for a number of hit songs for Johnny Lee and Waylon Jennings and had many songs featured on the 1970s show “Hee Haw.” In the ’90s, he collaborated with Alan Jackson to write No. 1 hits “Chasing That Neon Rainbow,” “(Who Says) You Can’t Have It All,” “Someday” and “Chattahoochee.”

The special seminar is one of many events this year as part of Belmont Songwriting’s 10th anniversary celebration. Student media outlet the Belmont Vision did a recap of the event which can be read here.

 

Milton and Denice Johnson Center Awarded for Innovative Design, New Construction

Belmont University’s Milton and Denice Johnson Center was recently celebrated at the 2017 IMPACT Tennessee: Build Green, Be Well conference, the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) Tennessee’s first statewide conference. The Johnson Center received the Innovative Design, New Construction award for its use of new technologies and strategies that surpass expectations of a green design and meet project challenges with innovation.

In response to the award, Belmont President Dr. Bob Fisher said, “Belmont is always honored to be recognized for our commitment to our Conservation Covenant – ‘And God saw everything that He had made, and, behold, it was very good.’ Genesis 1:31. We want to be partners in creating a thriving and environmentally sustainable world.”

Trophy, second from the left, reads “USGBC Innovative Design, New Construction Award, Tennessee, Belmont University Johnson Center, 2017” Photo Credit: Peter J. Meadows

USGBC aims to “transform the way buildings and communities are designed, built and operated, enabling an environmentally and socially responsible, healthy and prosperous environment that improves the quality of life.” USGBC spearheads the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification program, which provides a framework for identifying and implementing practical and measurable green building strategies. A selections committee representing Middle Tennessee, East Tennessee and West Tennessee reviewed the recent LEED projects in the region and identified recognized those that exceeded the LEED standard. These LEED-certified spaces use less energy, reduce carbon emissions and contribute to a healthier environment for residents, workers and the larger community.

According to Fisher, “The Milton and Denice Johnson Center is a great example of that effort with 120 geothermal wells for heating and cooling, an extensive green roof, a composting system for cafeteria waste and numerous other features that resulted in this building being certified as LEED Gold.”

Pictured (l-r) in the top photo are Darrell Lambert (ESa), Hannah Walter (Smith Seckman Reid, SSR), Alan Sparkman (USGBC Tennessee Market Leadership Advisory Board Chair), Judy Fisher, Belmont President Dr. Bob Fisher. Photo credit: Peter J. Meadows.

Anderson Publishes Chapter on Melville’s Engagement with Philosophy

Dr. Mark Anderson's headshotDr. Mark Anderson, chair of the philosophy department, recently published a chapter in a collection of essays on Herman Melville’s engagement with philosophy. “Platonic and Nietzschean Themes of Transformation in Moby-Dick” was published in Melville Among the Philosophers (Lexington 2017).

 

AET, Computer Science Alumnus Featured on Company Website

Phil Knock standing, holding a FaberPort16Alumnus Phil Knock (’16), currently working at PreSonus, was recently featured on his employer’s website. Knock has worked at PreSonus for almost a year as a software engineer, where he puts his computer science and audio engineering degrees to work. He said that PreSonus, an audio electronics manufacturing company, “offers a perfect balance of these two pursuits.”

Knock has been immersed in music since he was young, as a cellist in the Colorado Springs Youth Symphony, and he began working in studios in high school.  He said that his favorite thing about working for PreSonus is his ability to “work on intellectually stimulating computer science problems, while at the same time being able to talk shop with the incredibly talented musicians and audio engineers around the office.”

Global Leadership Studies Class Visits Thistle Farms

Recently, students in Dr. Mary Ellen Pethel’s Introduction to Global Leadership Studies class visited Thistle Farms, an organization designed to heal, empower and employ women survivors of trafficking, prostitution and addiction. Students listened to the stories of leaders at Thistle Farms and toured the new facilities. They learned about the complex worlds of NGOs, social enterprise, spiritual development, legal realities, financial sustainability, marketing, education and service.

Global Leadership Studies is a new interdisciplinary course and major at Belmont. According to Pethel, it draws upon liberal arts and professional courses in leadership, communication, business, political science, history, religion and language from across the campus to prepare “future global leaders for the challenges of today’s world.”

Peppe Publishes in ‘Entertainment Law & Finance’

vincent peppe headshotDr. Vincent Peppe, lecturer in music business, recently published an article titled  “Children’s Book Versions of Classic Novels Not Fair Use” in “Entertainment Law & Finance.” The article discusses the dispute between owners of copyrighted novels and the authors of “KinderGuides,” children’s books that summarize these great novels in terms suitable for younger readers.

Peppe is an entertainment and intellectual property attorney with extensive experience in the music industry. His law practice is focused on transactions and disputes involving business, media and technology. He is the recipient of the ASCAP Nathan Burkan Award for excellence in copyright law.

PR, Publishing Double-Major Releases Third Novel

Caroline George, seated, leaning on elbow with hand in hair, smilingCaroline George always knew she loved to tell stories. Now, as a senior public relations and publishing double major, she is the published author of three young adult novels. Her most recent, “The Vestige,” released in July. George said that “stories have been my passion since I was a toddler. Before I could hold a pencil, I told my mom stories, she’d write them down and let me illustrate the pages. In middle school, I made it a goal to be published by my sixteenth birthday.” And publish she did.

Her novels, “The Prime Way Program: Be the Victor,” “The Prime Way Program: Just Strength” and “The Vestige,” are her messages to the world. Her stories are her “lifelong passion,” and writing is her way of sharing them.

George plans to continue writing after she graduates. She has pursued a career as an author over the last five years and has no plans of quitting. “A successful career in the book world requires time, tenacity and consistency,” she added. Her double major is setting her up for success. She said, “When I first considered my options for a major, I decided to specialize in the business aspect of publishing because if I know how to sell, I can sell any kind of book. On the flip side, if I learn how to craft a brilliant novel, but do not know how to sell it, I won’t be a successful author.”"The Vestige" book cover, by Caroline George

However, being a full-time student, intern, author, blogger and small-group leader has not always been easy for George. She describes her calendar as an “artistic display of deadlines.” She gets through her busy times by remembering this: “There are seasons for everything. Certain semesters allow me the flexibility to pump out novels, while others draw my attention to different tasks. I’ve learned to set realistic goals for myself, work hard and give myself grace when I don’t meet my own expectations.”

And she advises other aspiring authors to do the same. “Sit down and write,” she said. “There will never be a perfect moment to start your blog, novel or whatever project is on your heart. The best time to start writing is the time you start writing.” And, “Write with your message in mind. You have the attention of each person who reads your work. They give you their time, so say something worthwhile. ”

George has been nominated for Georgia Author of the Year Award twice. Her blog, “Girl Meets Publishing World,” is a writing-focused blog for millennial creatives that focuses on different aspects of writing and publishing.

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