Dr. Mike Pinter, director of the Teaching Center Director and professor of mathematics, has had an article published this summer in PRIMUS: Problems, Resources, and Issues in Mathematics Undergraduate Studies, Volume 24, Issue 7, 2014.  The article is entitled “Writing to Enhance Understanding in General Education Mathematics Courses.” This issue of PRIMUS is a Special Issue on Writing and Editing in the Mathematics Curriculum, is available online and will be printed this summer.

In the article, Pinter considers a variety of writing assignments he uses when teaching MTH 1020 and HON 3310.  The student writing ranges from brief informal pieces to more formal assignments that address the full scope of the course, with an emphasis on encouraging students to have a richer experience of mathematical people and ideas and of their own learning.  The assignments incorporate multiple media, including novels and films, and are spread throughout the course so that students have frequent and regular exposure to writing.  

Dr. Teresa Plummer, assistant professor of occupational therapy, was a presenter this spring at the Interdisciplinary Seating and Mobility Conference in Nottwil, Switzerland.  The conference was held at the Switzerland Paraplegic Center, a 150 bed facility dedicated to spinal cord injury rehab and research.  Plummer’s presentation was on the Relationship of Vision, Posture and Mobility.

Dr. Manuel A. Cruz, an assistant professor in the School of Religion, explored the spiritual implications of divine absence in “The Trace of God: Difference, Time, and the Absence of God,” a paper delivered at the Annual Convention of the Catholic Theological Society of America, which took place June 5 through 8 in San Diego, California.

Several Belmont students competed at the Miss Tennessee pageant this past weekend, where senior Hayley Lewis earned the highest score in the talent category on the night of the pageant and was crowned Miss Tennessee. Lewis will compete in the Miss America Pageant in Atlantic City, New Jersey on Sept. 14, which will be televised on ABC. She will defer from the University for one year to travel the state as Gov. Bill Haslam’s spokesperson for Character Education as well as the goodwill ambassador for Children’s Miracle Network before returning to campus in August 2015 to complete her studies in music business and classical vocal performance. While at Belmont, Lewis provided gameday support for basketball and baseball teams.

Kalleigh Bullard, Miss Nashville, was second runner up and talent and earned the highest score in swimsuit during preliminaries. Jaclyn Torrento, Miss Chattanooga, was fourth runner up and earned the Miss Tennessee Community Service Award. Other Belmont students who competed in the pageant were Brooke Hudgins, Miss Fall Fest; Racheal Turner, Miss Rocky Top, who tied in talent during preliminaries with Aria Stiles, Miss Queen City.

Dr. Douglas Murray, of the Department of English, performed twice at the biennial convention of the American Guild of Organists held in Boston, Massachusetts on June 22 through 27. He was named a semi-finalist in the National Competition for Organ Improvisation (NCOI), competed in the semi-final round on June 23 and won $2,000. He has also been invited to play in a public improvisation masterclass to be conducted by Thierry Escaich, professor of composition and improvisation at the Paris Conservatoire and and successor (at St. Etienne-du-Mont) of Maurice Durufle.

Belmont University’s Office of Communications and Office of University Marketing and Public Relations earned two 2014 Tennessee College Public Relations Association Awards during the association’s June meeting in Nashville, Tennessee.  The University earned a gold award in the low-budget publication category for the Community Engagement brochure produced for the Office of Community Relations to share with elected officials, neighborhood associations and nonprofit organizations. In the printed magazine category, Belmont was given a silver award for Circle, a biannual magazine distributed to parents, alumni and donors. Click here to read back issues of the magazine.

Erin L. Wikle, assistant to the dean in the College of Pharmacy, has published an article on new Tennessee legislation impacting women who use narcotic drugs while pregnant. The law, effective July 1, states that a woman can be prosecuted for assault if she takes a narcotic drug while pregnant and the baby is born addicted, is harmed or dies as a result. Wikle discusses services offered by The Salvation Army in Tennessee to support both the mother and effected family members. She also proposes key questions that result from the controversy of the legislation. Click here to read the article.

As an active member of The Salvation Army, Wikle has served as an opinions columnist for New Frontier Publications since 2004. Usually offering articles addressing controversial faith-related matters impacting the Evangelical church.  New Frontier Chronicle is the source of news and networking for The Salvation Army. With a circulation of more than 21,000 worldwide, it has set the standard among the organization’s publications for more than 30 years with a goal to empower readers to communicate the organization’s mission through actionable and applicable content.

Dr. Mark Anderson, a philosophy professor,  presented the paper “Melville and Nietzsche: Nihilism on the Mediterranean” to the First International Conference, entitled “Mediterranean Visions: Journeys, Itineraries, and Cultural Migrations,” hosted by the Sant’ Anna Institute in Sorrento, Italy on June 13 and 14.