Belmont’s Virginia Lamothe recently authored a paper, “Towards a Better Understanding of Martyr Tragedies in Seventeenth-Century Rome: A Case for the Barberini Court,” that was selected for the annual meeting of the American Musicological Society South-Central Chapter. Lamothe’s paper will be presented on March 18 at the University of Georgia.
Lamothe’s Paper Selected for American Musicological Society
Schneller, Minardi and Lake Publish Article in Assessment Update
Associate Provost for Academic Affairs Beverly Schneller, Ministry Program Advisor Martha Minardi and Vice President of Spiritual Development Todd Lake’s article “Assessing Spiritual Growth and Development at Belmont University” opened the Jan-Feb 2016 issue of Assessment Update: Progress, Trends and Practices in Higher Education.
The article describes efforts to evaluate the impact of the Maymester mission trip to Haiti Minardi leads on students’ global and cultural awareness surrounding Christian faith development. The Belmont team surveyed the students over two years and found that they experienced an increased ability to articulate their beliefs interculturally and grew awareness of themselves as leaders in spiritual development, both personally and in groups.
King’s Band Wins Grammy for Best Bluegrass Album
Adjunct Instructor of Music Tammy Rogers King‘s band The SteelDrivers took home the Grammy Award for Best Bluegrass Album Monday night for their album The Muscle Shoals Recordings. The band has been nominated three times in the past, but this is their first win.
The Muscle Shoals Recordings is the fifth release from The SteelDrivers, made up of Richard Bailey, Mike Fleming, Gary Nichols, Tammy Rogers and Brent Truitt. Fiddle player, vocalist and songwriter Rogers said on the SteelDrivers website, “It is a great year to be sharing awards with Jason Isbell, Chris Stapleton and Alabama Shakes — it just feels like the right time for all of us!”
Belmont Hosts Annual Faith and Culture Symposium Feb. 22-26
In line with the annual Faith and Culture Symposium, Belmont will host “Living in a Global Community: Faith in Dialogue” February 22-26. Hosted and developed by the faculty of the College of Theology and Christian Ministry (CTCM) , the symposium seeks to create campus-wide conversations about the intersections of faith and the world. Dr. Andy Watts served as chair of a faculty committee composed of Drs. Sally Holt, Mark McEntire and Beth Ritter-Conn that prepared this extensive week-long series of events.
Watts said, “Each of the seven presenters scheduled during the week will bring unique and diverse perspectives on the very important relationships existing between community, faith and culture–relationships looming larger and larger as people of faith seek to foster good will, embrace beauty and create peace in an ever-shrinking and idea-competitive world.”
CTCM Dean Dr. Darrell Gwaltney added, “What we believe, and how we live it out, matters to the world in which we live. We hope to create conversations that will help us engage our culture and live out our faith more effectively.”
The symposium seeks to create conversations about the way religion and faith impact culture. From a discussion on the state of religion in America to the role of hymns in worship, the events will offer something for everyone. Chapel presentations include national authors such as Diana Butler Bass who will discuss her new book, Grounded: Finding God in the World; Rev. Ali Lutz, an Episcopal priest who has served parishes in Haiti, Phoenix, Arizona and Nashville; Dr. Johnny Hill, associate professor of religion and philosophy at Claflin University and author of Prophetic Rage: A Postcolonial Theology of Liberation.
All events are free and open to the public, and Belmont students will receive Christian Faith Development convocation credit. Please see below for specific event, details, times and locations, or visit the Symposium website.
Monday, February 22
Diana Butler Bass – “A Spiritual Revolution”
10 a.m. – Chapel in Wedgewood Academic Center
Diana Butler Bass is one of the leading observers of religion and its place in American culture. Her new book, “Grounded: Finding God in the World” describes a new sense of spirituality she sees emerging in American culture that is not defined by the institutional church as in past generations.
Screening of the film He Named Me Malala based on the actions of Nobel Prize winner Malala Yousafzai
6 p.m. – Johnson Center Theater
This film looks at the events leading up to the Taliban’s attack on Pakistani schoolgirl, Malala Yousafzai, for speaking out on girls’ education. She eventually speaks to the United Nations and later is awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. There will be a question and answer session following the film, led by Dr. Beth Ritter-Conn.
Tuesday, February 23
Faith in Dialogue: Being Human Together
7 p.m. – Vince Gill Room in the Curb Event Center
Dean of the College of Theology and Christian Ministry Dr. Darrell Gwaltney will host a panel discussion with Dr. Ossama Bahloul, Imam of The Islamic Center of Murfreesboro, and Rabbi Philip “Flip” Rice of Congregation Micah in Nashville. They will reflect on creation, scripture and living ethically.
Wednesday, February 24
Rev. Ali Lutz: “Bearing Witness to Resurrection in Haiti”
10 a.m. – Chapel in Wedgewood Academic Center
Rev. Lutz is an Episcopal priest pursuing a doctorate in Ethics and Society at Vanderbilt University’s Graduate Department of Religion. Her scholarship grows out of her experience working for many years in rural Haiti with a global health organization called Partners In Health.
Student Panel discussion on Diana Butler Bass’ newest book, Grounded: Finding God in the World
3 p.m. – McWhorter 102
Diana Butler Bass’ new book, Grounded: Finding God in the World, describes a new sense of spirituality Bass sees emerging in American culture that is not defined by the institutional church as in past generations. Diana Butler Bass is one of the leading observers of religion and its place in American culture.
Thursday, February 25
Jane A. Hinshaw Distinguished Lecture on Faith and Culture – “Hymns, Worship and the Christian Life: A conversation with Keith Getty”
7 p.m – Chapel in the Wedgewood Academic Center
Keith and Kristyn Getty occupy a unique space in the world of music today as preeminent modern hymn writers. In reinventing the traditional hymn form, they have created a distinguished catalogue of teaching Christian doctrine and crossing genres by connecting the world of traditional and classic composition with contemporary and globally-accessible melodies.
Friday, February 26
Dr. Johnny Hill: “The World House: Building Communities of Justice and Reconciliation in the Global Age”
10 a.m – Chapel in the Wedgewood Academic Center
Dr. Johnny Hill is author of the new book, “Prophetic Rage: A Postcolonial Theology of Liberation” as well as “The First Black President: Barack Obama, Race, Politics, and the American Dream.” He is Founder and President of The World House, an interfaith coalition of faith leaders from diverse religious and cultural traditions working together to continue Dr. King’s dream of racial and economic justice.
College of Law Moot Court Team Wows at National Competition
Belmont College of Law’s National Moot Court Competition Team recently participated in the National Moot Court competition, an annual inter-law school event co-sponsored by New York City Bar Association’s National Moot Court Competition Committee and the American College of Trial Lawyers in New York City. The team, comprised of Heath Henley (3L), Jordan Kennamer (3L) and Tyler Sanders (2L), advanced to the octofinal round and were seeded at No. 13.
More than 120 law schools compete in this annual event. At the national finals, Belmont’s rank placed the team higher than many other participants including the University of Alabama, Arizona State, Case Western, Chicago Kent, Cleveland Marshall, Emory, Loyola Chicago, McGeorge, Montana, Southwestern, Suffolk, UC Chapman, UC Hasings, Villanova, Wake Forest, Washington, Washington & Lee and many others.
Gonzales Published in USA Today
Alberto Gonzales, dean of the College of Law, was recently published in USA Today. Gonzales’s column, “A GOP President Would Nominate a Justice,” was published on Feb. 14, the day after Supreme Court Justice Scalia passed away.
For more information, click here.
Inaugural NAC&U Science Summit Held at Belmont
Forty faculty and staff in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) and related fields convened on Belmont’s campus this week for the first ever Science Summit put together by the New American Colleges and Universities (NAC&U) consortium of which Belmont is a member.
The purpose of the Science Summit was to bring together a group of NAC&U science or science-related faculty to discuss possible cross- institutional research collaboration and proposal development. The experience afforded participants the opportunity to discuss potential grant collaborations while networking with other science faculty at like-minded institutions.
Science and science-related faculty discussed their current research and explored multi-disciplinary, multi-campus teams that could potentially apply for NSF or other foundation-supported grants. Jim Gentile, past president of the Research Corporation for Science Advancement and former dean for the Natural and Applied Sciences at Hope College, served as facilitator for the summit, which also included tours of the science labs in Belmont’s Wedgewood Academic Center.
Participating campuses included Belmont, John Carroll University, Manhattan College, Nazareth College, Ohio Northern University, Roger Williams University, Samford University, St. Edward’s University, University of Evansville, University of New Haven, Valparaiso University, Wagner College and Widener University.
Theatre Department Earns High Marks at American College Theatre Festival
Belmont’s Department of Theatre and Dance recently participated in The Kennedy Center’s 2016 American College Theatre Festival 48 (KCACTF) Region IV with their production of Alice, an original adaption of Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland by theatre major Ara Vito.
KCACTF is a national theater program involving students from colleges and universities nationwide. More than 1,300 productions and 200,000 college students from across the country participate in the annual festival. Belmont was one of six colleges in the southeast region selected to participate in the festival recently held in Charleston, South Carolina.
Vito received the highest recognition for playwriting with the Region IV National Partners to the American Theatre Award. This award is given for the best-written, best-crafted script, with the strongest writer’s “voice.” The final award recipient will be selected by a reading panel named by the National Partners of the American Theatre, and winners will be announced at the KCACTF National Festival in April.
Students Austin Williams and Morgan Conder were selected to participate in the Irene Ryan Acting Competition. Kyle Odum received an honorable mention in the sound design category. The cast and crew of Alice also received the Golden Hardhat Award for the most professional load-in/out and technical process among the universities performing at the festival. Further recognition was given to Assistant Professor and Chair of the Theatre and Dance Department Paul Gatrell for “Excellence in Design” and Associate Professor of Theatre and Dance Brent Maddox for “Excellence in Direction.”
Alice was developed through a process grounded in ensemble and collaboration and fulfilled Belmont’s senior capstone requirement for the writer and seven actor ensemble including Williams, Conder, Madeline Marconi, Nyazia Martin, Johnna McCarthy, Caitlyn Weaver and Kristen Ladd. This capstone is the culminating experience of their theatre training.
The student designers for Alice included Maggie Jackson for lights, Sam Lowry for projections, Caroline Knott for costumes and Kyle Odum for sound. The technical team for the KCACTF Region IV production consisted of JB Bridge, Taylor Thomas, Amanda Bell, Jake Wallace, Andrew Timms and the theatre department’s Technical Director Jerry Stratton.
For Alice’s full review at KCACTF, click here.
Robinson Named ‘Woman of Influence’
Director of External Relations and Executive Learning Network for the Jack C. Massey College of Business Jill Robinson was recently named as a “Woman of Influence” in the Nonprofit Leader category by the Nashville Business Journal.
For more information, click here.
Belmont Hosts Neighbors for 8th Annual Community Day
Belmont’s Curb Event Center was humming with fans on Wednesday, Feb. 10 as the university’s Office of Community Relations hosted its 8th annual Community Day and welcomed 680 community members to campus for a complimentary dinner and men’s basketball game against OVC competitor Jacksonville State. This year’s event was sponsored by Google.
As a showing of gratitude to surrounding neighbors, the annual event featured a balloon artist, face painter, photo booth, dance competition and more. In honor of Belmont’s 125th anniversary, dinner featured a birthday cake for the university and Eakin Elementary won a $500 birthday prize for bringing the most attendees to the game–160. Rose Park Elementary brought 100 attendees and Kipp Nashville was the third largest with 81 attendees. All three schools received a Chromecast from Google in recognition of their participation.
Nashville’s Mayor Megan Barry attended the event and presented the officials with the game ball prior to the men’s basketball game. The women’s team, who played before the men and won against Jacksonville State with a final score of 56-42, presented the mayor with a signed basketball.
Keeping in line with the night’s festivities, the Bruins (18-8, 10-2 OVC) were happy to bring home a win against the Jacksonville State Gamecocks (8-19, 4-8 OVC). With a final score of 81 to 73, Community Day attendees kept energy high in the arena and cheered the Bruins to another OVC victory.
Director of Community Relations Joyce Searcy said she is delighted to hold this event each year as the university provides an evening of fun for its neighbors. “As ‘Nashville’s University,’ Belmont is committed to the people who live in our community. This event is just one way of saying thank you to those who call Nashville home.”
Will Humphrey, event attendee and parent of Eakin Elementary students, said his family was very excited to attend the basketball game for a number of reasons. Haley Frye, Belmont alumna and past Belmont basketball player, teaches Humphrey’s child’s kindergarten class and encouraged the students and their families to attend the event. As Humphrey said, “Anything she asks us to do, we do. We’re all huge fans–and free food doesn’t hurt!”
A highlight and signature event on Belmont’s campus, Searcy said many people continue to look forward to attending–and planning–such a fun event every year. “Community Day is for everyone,” Searcy said. “The team enjoys planning, Belmont students enjoy running operations the night of and we continue to hear from community members that this event is one they are sure to attend. Each year gets bigger–more hot dogs, more balloon animals, more hugs from Bruiser, more guests coming through those doors–and Belmont is honored to serve as the host. Now that this year is over, it’s time to start thinking about next year!”
