Dr. Kelley Kiningham, assistant dean of student affairs and associate professor in the Pharmaceutical, Social and Administrative Sciences Department, coauthored an article accepted for publication in Cancer Research. The article, “KEAP1 is a Redox Sensitive Target That Arbitrates the Opposing Radiosensitive Effects of Parthenolide in Normal and Cancer Cells” identifies a mechanism by which differences in cellular redox status can be targeted to kill tumor cells, while protective of normal tissue when radiation is used as a therapeutic. Kiningham states that finding pharmacological approaches to protect normal tissue during treatment of patients with cancer is important to reduce side effects and improve compliance.
Mary Stairs Vaughn and Pam Parry, of the Communication Studies Department, co-authored an article published in the May 16 issue of Communication Teacher, a peer-reviewed journal published by the National Communication Association. Their article is titled “The Statement of Purpose Speech: Helping Students Navigate the ‘Sophomore Slump.'”
Belmont University Director of Athletics Mike Strickland announced Monday the hiring of Cameron Newbauer as the fourth head women’s basketball coach in program history.
“We could not be more pleased that Cameron has accepted our offer to lead our women’s basketball program,” Strickland said. “Throughout this process, Cameron has exceeded our expectations in every regard. His impressive background in both the women’s and men’s game speaks for itself. Yet Cameron’s character, sincerity and enthusiasm are unmistakable and ideally suited for Belmont University.”
With experience at every level, Newbauer spent this past season as an assistant coach at the University of Louisville, where he helped the Cardinals to a 29-9 record. Earning an NCAA Tournament No. 5 seed, Louisville won five consecutive games – including four over nationally-ranked opponents in Purdue, California, Tennessee and consensus No. 1 Baylor – to reach the National Championship game. It was the Cardinals’ second National Championship game appearance in five years.
The Tennessee Economic Council on Women (TECW) continued its statewide hearing series on the subject of violence against women with a public hearing on Belmont’s campus yesterday in the Massey Board Room. The “Public Hearing on the Economic Impact of Violence Against Women” is just one of the ways in which TECW is committed to providing unique, relevant information about women in the state.
The hearing, the fourth of nine, followed events in Chattanooga, Columbia and Crossville, which have identified millions in local costs and exposed a need for better prevention efforts and communication among local authorities, service providers and funding sources.
TECW Council Chair Yvonne Wood said, “We learned from our 2006 research that domestic violence was costing Tennessee millions every year from legal costs, healthcare costs, lost productivity and a tremendous burden on our social services system. The 2013 hearings are revealing that the trend is continuing and it erodes more than just the social fabric of our families, but also the economic strength of our state. ”
Thursday’s event was co-chaired by Dr. Mimi Barnard, Belmont’s assistant provost for interdisciplinary studies and global education, who also serves on TECW.
Belmont University was more than a venue for this important event; the university sees the issue as one of significance. “We are honored to host this important event at Belmont. Raising awareness of the impact of violence against women can save lives and prevent immeasurable heartbreak,” said Cathy R. Taylor, dean and professor, College of Health Sciences and Nursing at Belmont. Among other efforts in its continued commitment to understanding issue that impact women worldwide, Belmont also plans to host a local viewing of the film Girl Rising this fall.
Thanks to an initiative led by Facilities Management Services, Belmont University hosted a Shred Event on May 8 in the parking lot behind McAfee Concert Hall. Through a partnership with Cintas Document Management, documents were securely destroyed on-site with a mobile shredding vehicle, ensuring secure, confidential disposal of sensitive information.
Based on Cintas calculations, Belmont shredded about 6,200 pounds of paper or 3.1 tons–the equivalent of approximately 53 trees. The event also saved about 12,400 Energy Kilowatts, 775 Pounds of Carbon Dioxide equivalent, six barrels of oil and 21,700 barrels of water with the mobile shredding that was done over four hours.
In addition to the impact on the environment, the Shred Event was free and open to the public. A number of community organizations and local companies signed on to show their support for and participation in the event, including the Edgehill Family Resource Center, Belmont Heights Baptist Church, the Edgehill Village Neighborhood Association, R.C. Mathews Contractor, Enterprise Electric, Bloom Electric Supply, Neal’s Electric Supply, Consolidated Electrical Distributors, Councilwoman Sandra Moore (17th District), Councilwoman Megan Barry (At-Large), Councilwoman Burkley Allen (18th District), Councilwoman Erica Gilmore (19th District)and the Belmont-Hillsboro Neighborhood Association.
Dr. Renee Brown, professor of physical therapy, has been appointed as the new Physical Therapy Department Chairman as of June 1, according to Dr. Cathy Taylor, dean of the Gordon E. Inman College of Health Sciences & Nursing.
“We are indeed fortunate to have someone with Dr. Brown’s extensive academic preparation, and her notable teaching, clinical and administrative experience, assume this important position,” said Taylor. “I know you will join me in working to assure her a smooth transition and wish her the greatest success in this new leadership role.”
Brown takes the place of Dr. John Halle, who is returning to the classroom full-time.
Brown holds a B.S. in Physical Therapy from Daemen College in Amherst, N.Y.; the M.S. in Physical Therapy from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a Ph.D. in Neuroscience from the University of Texas, Dallas. Prior to arriving at Belmont, she served in administrative roles at the Vanderbilt Bill Wilkerson Center, as acting chairman for the Ithaca College Physical Therapy Department and as interim chairman at the UT Southwestern Allied Health Sciences School, Department of Physical Therapy.
Since joining the Physical Therapy faculty at Belmont in 2005, Brown has served the University, the college and the department in an exemplary fashion. She is active in the American Physical Therapy Association at the national level, is experienced with academic accreditation requirements and is the out-going University institutional review board chairman. Additionally, she has led several medical mission trips, working to establish numerous partnerships in order to support these efforts and to make the experience more meaningful for both students and patients.
Dr. Bill Hooper, professor of computer science, has been accepted to present his workshop titled “Easy as Pi: An Inexpensive Platform for Machine Language Instruction” at the 20th Annual Consortium for Computing Sciences in Colleges (CCSC) Midwest Conference.
The conference will be held Sept. 20-21, at The University of Findlay in Findlay, Ohio. This two-day conference has refereed papers, invited speakers, tutorials, panels, workshops and discussions on computing science education issues in smaller colleges and departments.
The Consortium for Computing Sciences and Colleges (CCSC) is a non-profit organization focused on promoting quality computer-oriented curricula as well as effective use of computing in smaller institutions of higher learning which are typically non-research in orientation. It supports activities which assist faculty in making appropriate judgments concerning computing resources and educational applications of computer technology.
As part of the Environmental Science Capstone course taught by Dr. Darlene Panvini, students hosted an Environment Fair on the last day of classes. The students presented posters on a variety of topics including fracking, community gardens, tree ordinances, exotic pest plant management in state parks, land protection in Tennessee and global climate change. The Our NaturalEnvironment (O.N.E.) club, Belmont’s Environmental Club, also hosted a bake sale and raised over $100 to donate to a local environmental organization.
Danny Smith (left), awards chairman of TPTA and Alan Meade (right), vice president of TPTA, recognize Dr. Michael Voight as TPTA Educator of the Year.
Dr. Michael Voight, professor of physical therapy, recently was named Educator of the Year by the Tennessee Physical Therapy Association (TPTA).
Voight was nominated for this honor by a former student, Dr. Ashley Campbell.
“In his life, Dr. Voight has educated thousands of students and clinicians, and I am lucky to be among that group,” said Campbell, “as a student, Dr. Voight guided, encouraged and challenged me to be the best. He taught me by example what it means to be great, and to never be satisfied with good. He never ceases to amaze me in his passion and dedication to the profession of physical therapy, especially the education of both future and current clinicians.”
Voight has taught orthopedics at Belmont since 1998, the year after the graduate program in physical therapy was initiated by the University. In addition to his full-time role as professor, Voight serves as editor-in-chief of the International Journal of Sports Physical Therapy, consults with a number of noted golf professionals for the Titleist Performance Institute on the prevention, evaluation and treatment of golf injuries, and lectures extensively at various conferences, symposiums, and congresses both nationally and internationally, having given over 600 professional presentations on a variety of orthopedic and sports medicine topics.
In years past Voight has worked or consulted with a number of professional sports organizations, including the Philadelphia Eagles, Miami Dolphins and Tennessee Titans of the National Football League (NFL), the Miami Heat of the National Basketball Association (NBA), and various teams in Major League Baseball (MLB), the National Hockey League (NHL), and Major League Soccer (MLS). Early in his career he became active within the United States Olympic Committee’s Sports Medicine Division. He has worked at the Olympic Training Center, Olympic Festivals, Pan Am Games, Olympic Games and has had the opportunity to travel to almost all of the different continents with various Olympic and national teams.
Most recently, Voight has worked with the Medical Commission for FIFA (the International governing body for soccer) and the Professional Golf Association (PGA). He was selected in 2011 as a Catherine Worthingham Fellow of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), the most prestigious honor granted by the organization which recognizes those who have made lasting and significant advances in the science, education and practice of the profession of physical therapy.
Bruins on Brooms, Belmont’s Quidditch club, has been recognized as a Division II Team by the International Quidditch Association (IQA). Next year, the group will have a fully-scheduled regular season within its conference which guarantees the players at least nine games. This year, due to scheduling problems, the team was only able to hold four official matches, which they were responsible for coordinating on their own. Next semester will mark the first time the IQA has put together an international conference-based regular schedule.
This year, the team was invited to participate in the Quidditch World Cup as a rookie team. The tournament took place on April 19 and 20 in Kissimmee, Florida. Unfortunately, due to financial restrictions, the team was unable to make the tournament. However, they are hopeful that next year they will be able to qualify through the regular season, as they will lose their rookie status.
Dr. Kelley Kiningham, assistant dean of student affairs and associate professor in the Pharmaceutical, Social and Administrative Sciences Department, coauthored an article accepted for publication in Cancer Research. The article, “KEAP1 is a Redox Sensitive Target That Arbitrates the Opposing Radiosensitive Effects of Parthenolide in Normal and Cancer Cells” identifies a mechanism by which differences in cellular redox status can be targeted to kill tumor cells, while protective of normal tissue when radiation is used as a therapeutic. Kiningham states that finding pharmacological approaches to protect normal tissue during treatment of patients with cancer is important to reduce side effects and improve compliance.
