Belmont junior Wesley Ware won the Miss Tennessee United States Pageant in May. Ware, who is studying communications, went on to place in the top 15, out of 54 contestants, at the Miss United States National Pageant in Washington, D.C. in July.
Student Earns Pageant Title
Sullenberger New Social Work Department Chairwoman
Dr. Sabrina Sullenberger has joined the Gordon E. Inman College of Health Sciences faculty as chairwoman of the Social Work Department.
“We’re so glad to welcome Dr. Sullenberger,” said Dr. Cathy Taylor, dean of the college. “Sabrina has a wealth of experience and qualifications for her new role, and a commitment to mentoring students in a Christian environment. I look forward to working together in the days ahead.”
Sullenberger comes to Belmont from Indiana University where she was an associate professor and interim associate dean for the School of Social Work. While at Indiana University, Sullenberger twice received the Trustee’s Teaching Award and was named as College Adviser of the Year by Best Buddies Indiana.
Sullenberger’s research interest and experience are in the areas of child welfare and poverty and the role of the faith community in addressing social issues. She is a contributor to several books, has had articles published in over a half dozen journals and has presented numerous times at professional meetings for social workers and educators. Her professional service includes consultation to Bloomington Hospital and the Indiana University Police Department, training Court Appointed Special Advocates for the Family Service Association and serving on various community advising panels for housing, domestic violence, hunger and homelessness and legislative advocacy.
Sullenberger earned her Ph.D. in social work from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and holds a master’s in social work from the University of Tennessee and a bachelor’s in social work from the University of Memphis. She has experience as a family counselor for Youth Villages and as a social worker for Mid-South Christian Nursing Home, both located in Memphis, Tenn. She also served for two years as coordinator of the RISE Project at the University of Memphis which assists local schools in becoming an inclusive educational environment.
Byrne Publishes Third Volume
Honors Professor Joe Byrne’s “Health and Wellness in Daily Life during the Renaissance and Enlightenment” was published by Greenwood Press in July. It is the third volume to appear in a seven-volume set for which Byrne serves as the series editor. Each volume covers a wide range of topics, including medicine, drugs, childhood, war, occupational hazards, and Byrne’s work does this for Europe, the Islamic world, West Africa and the Caribbean diaspora, China and Mexico over the period 1500 to 1800. After publishing five books on medical history, Byrne is currently on sabbatical writing the two-volume “Encyclopedia of Daily Life during the Italian Renaissance” under contract with Greenwood Press.
Makemson Defends Dissertation, Earns Doctorate
Dr. Justin Makemson, assistant professor and art education program coordinator in the Department of Art, completed his dissertation defense on Aug. 19. His dissertation research was titled “Seven Portraits of Artistic Self: A Qualitative Examination of Self in the Reflexive Narratives and Artwork Portfolios of Postsecondary Art Students,” and explored the implications of selective artistic self-identification for appropriate practices and art education pedagogy.
Makemson holds a B.A. in fine art from William Jewell College, an M.S. in art education from Indiana University and a Ph.D. in currirulum and instruction art education from Indiana University.
School of Physical Therapy Presents Distinguished Alumni Award
Belmont University School of Physical Therapy honored Dr. Terry Grindstaff (’04) with its Distinguished Alumni Award at the August graduation ceremony for the Doctor of Physical Therapy Class of 2013. Grindstaff addressed the graduates at the school’s annual hooding ceremony prior to commencement.
In his address, Grindstaff reminded graduates that their accomplishments were not achieved alone but through contributions of many others including family, friends, faculty and fellow students. He encouraged them to continue to surround themselves with people that will provide guidance, boundaries, motivation and support in future endeavors. He challenged the graduates to pursue their passion and approach each task with an optimism that reflects that passion and to embrace the opportunity to make an impact on the world through the patients they treat.
Grindstaff attained a master’s degree from Middle Tennessee State University in Health and Physical Education. Following his time at Belmont, he continued his education at the University of Virginia where he earned a Ph.D. in kinesiology. While at Virginia, he worked as an athletic trainer and, upon graduation, as an assistant professor.
Grindstaff serves as an assistant professor in the School of Pharmacy and Health Professions at Creighton University in Omaha, Neb. He is a certified sports clinical specialist, strength and conditioning specialist and golf fitness instructor (Level II). He has published nearly 40 peer reviewed articles and has presented at many national professional conferences. He received an award from the American Academy of Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapists for best poster presentation in 2009. Grindstaff is involved with several research grants and serves as a grant reviewer for two professional organizations. In 2008, he received the new Horizon Award from the Sports Physical Therapy Section of the APTA, and in 2007 was first runner up for the Kenneth L. Knight Award for Outstanding Research Manuscript from the Journal of Athletic Training.
Thirty-five students were awarded the DPT degree at the August graduation. Faculty and clinical partners honored two of the graduates with presentations at the hooding ceremony. Stacey Lindsley received the Academic Excellence Award and was recognized as recipient of the David G. Greathouse Scholarship sponsored by STAR Physical Therapy. Kyle Mundhenke received the Results Physiotherapy Orthopedic Clinical Excellence Award.
Hogan Appointed Chairman of Department of Education
Dr. Mark Hogan has been appointed the chairman of Belmont University’s Department of Education. He will join the University on Jan. 1, 2014.
Belmont Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences Bryce F. Sullivan said, “We are excited that Dr. Mark Hogan is coming to Belmont to lead our Education Department. He is the consummate teacher educator having served as the Director of Williamson County Teacher Center early in his career followed by serving as Department Chair and professor at universities with excellent education programs. We believe that Dr. Hogan’s experiences and qualities make him just the perfect person to lead our undergraduate and graduate education programs as well as our STEM Education Initiative.”
Hogan has served as chairman and director of Teacher Education at Bridgewater College since 2012 and was coordinator of Secondary Education at Bridgewater since 2006. Prior to his work at Bridgewater, he was coordinator of Secondary Education and director of the M.Ed. program at Eastern Mennonite University.
He received his doctorate in education & human development from Vanderbilt University, his , master’s in English from the University of Iowa and Bachelor of Arts in English from Greenville College in Greenville, Ill.
Belmont University is pursuing a multi-pronged Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Education Initiative involving the Department of Education, departments in the School of Sciences, and faculty in other areas in the College. The STEM initiative is expected to lead to enrollment growth in Belmont’s education programs, increased connections with area schools, and expanded community/industry linkages.
In his new role at Belmont, Hogan will provide visionary leadership in developing, implementing and evaluating the goals of Belmont’s Department of Education. Hogan will lead the University’s undergraduate and graduate education programs, manage assessment and accreditation efforts and manage the University’s STEM Education Initiative.
CCSA Students Visit Downton Abbey Site
The Cooperative Center for Study Abroad, which is housed at Belmont, offered “The Road to Downton Abbey: The English Country House in Fact & Fiction” class in London for the first time this summer, taught by Belmont faculty member Dr. Doug Murray. The class read poems and novels centering on country houses while touring some of the most famous ones found in literature. This literature included Ian McEwan’s “Atonement,” E. M. Foster’s “Howard’s End” and Jane Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice.”
Another site the class visited was Austen’s brother’s Chawton and Highclere Castle where the “Downton Abbey” TV series is filmed. The series follows the fortunes of the fictional Grantham family, hereditary owners of Downton Abbey. This series is the most recent chapter in a conversation about the stately homes of England, places which have been depicted as sites of hospitality, beauty and the responsible use of wealth as well as reminders of social satisfaction and injustice.
“Taking the Road to Downton Abbey class was my neatest collegiate experience to date. It was amazing to visit the various country houses of England while studying them,” said senior Katie Mulrain. “We were so lucky to be able to visit Highclere Castle, where the show was filmed, as tickets are sold out throughout the next year.”
Alumnus Continues Education Project For Orphan Children
Alumnus and former employee Samuel Kabia now lives in Freetown, Sierra Leone in West Africa where he has begun Rufiondu Education Project for Orphan Children.
While at Belmont, Kabia earned his master’s in education and worked in the landscaping.
“The Belmont community has been my savior and main supporter of my nonprofit organization Rufiondu Education Project for Orphan Children whose mission is to provide functional Literacy Programs and Educational Resources for street children, less privilege girls, children of beggars, orphan children and their communities in Africa,” he said.
The project’s main aim is to equip the community members with the knowledge and skills necessary to create a sustaining environment able to provide the basic necessities of life.
The University has donated more than 100 computers to Sierra Leone, which helped with the establishment of the Belmont Rufoindu Computer Literacy Program in three schools. More than 600 students been trained and have graduated from the program, and 90 percent of graduates have gained employment with government and private institutions i.
Belmont Rufiondu Education project is now in its second phase of construction and development. As a continuation of the projects educational initiative programs, a Belmont Rufoindu Orphanage School has opened with 120 students enrolled. Many of them are orphans.
To learn about how you can help Belmont Rufoindu Orphanage School, contact Kabia at kabiasamuel13@yahoo.com.
Belmont Enrollment Approaches 7,000
University hits 6,918 students as classes begin
With classes beginning today for the Fall 2013 semester, Belmont University reached its largest enrollment to date, this time with a total of 6,918 students. This is the thirteenth consecutive year the University has topped its previous enrollment.
Belmont President Dr. Bob Fisher said, “In 2009, Belmont announced in its Vision 2015 statement an enrollment goal of 7,000 students, and at the time, that number appeared quite lofty and difficult to attain. But young people in record-breaking numbers are embracing Belmont’s mission to match their purpose, gifts and talents to the world’s needs. It’s an honor to welcome all of our students home to Belmont to start a new academic year.”
New students have been engaged the past several days in a number of annual “Welcome Week” activities designed to acclimate them to both the campus and the community. In addition to a variety of orientation sessions and social activities, 1,800 students—consisting primarily of new freshmen and transfers—spent Monday afternoon volunteering with several Metro Beautification sites, five Metro Nashville Public Schools and 16 non-profit organizations during an annual event called SERVE.
This year’s total enrollment marks an increase of 253 students from last year and includes 26 members of the charter Bridges to Belmont class. In addition, Belmont’s new Motion Pictures program anticipates that approximately 20 new and returning students will join the major in its inaugural year. The Belmont student body currently consists of 5,518 undergraduates and 1,400 graduate and professional students, representing a record for total enrollment.
Incoming Belmont Students Volunteer in Annual SERVE Project
Following an inspirational message from State Rep. Brenda Gilmore and charge to serve their new hometown from Belmont President Dr. Bob Fisher, Belmont’s Class of 2017 along with new graduate and transfer students volunteered throughout Nashville through the University’s annual SERVE Project on Monday afternoon.
“There’s a lot of work to be done in our community,” Fisher said. “I am grateful for a city like Nashville that gives us so many opportunities to serve,” Fisher told the 1,800 students before they departed campus for several Metro Beautification sites, five Metro Nashville Public Schools and 16 non-profit organizations, including the Hands On Nashville Urban Farm and Bridges for Deaf and Hard of Hearing.
An annual “Welcome Week” tradition for more than a decade, SERVE provides a perfect tie-in to Belmont’s ongoing commitment to engage students in their community and encourage the values of service on both a local and global level.
At a West Nashville home, 50 Belmont students helped nonprofit organization Music City Hounds Unbound install a fence for Baby, a 2-year-old pit bull, who has lived most of his life chained to a tree.
“The big thing about service is it is all about love. You don’t really know who needs to be shown love, but when you think about it, everyone needs love,” said Fia Binford, a freshman from Hudson, Ohio, while petting the dog.
Music City Hounds Unbound Director Amy Brown said, “It’s difficult to find a large group of volunteers especially that are capable of putting a fence up. (SERVE) enhances the volunteer experience because they get to see Baby get off the chain. It usually takes our group several weekends to complete a fence project.”
The new classmates also covered the mostly dirt back yard with hay, assembled an insulated dog house and shared toys and treats with Baby, providing a project and services worth $3,000 to the dog’s owner, Brown said.
Sophomore Neal Buckley, a Towering Traditions orientation leader, added, “This is all about team work and making new friends. This project is all about working together and requires communicating and connecting. It’s great for freshmen to let the community know that Belmont is here for them. We are here to learn and grow but also here to serve others.”
At other sites across the city, the new students packed food, toiletries and cleaning supplies for needy families, cleaned facilities, removed graffiti, painted walls and gardened vegetables, among other community service projects.
“SERVE Day is a very important day for Belmont and our students. It sets the tone for our new students because it helps them know that being a part of Belmont means to serve,” said Director of Service-Learning Tim Stewart. “In addition to learning about places in the community where they can volunteer, many of the students will see these agencies again as they engage in service-learning courses during their time at Belmont.”
