Pharmacy Assistant Professor Leigh Ann Bynum had her article titled “Organizational Citizenship Behaviors of Pharmacy Faculty: Modeling Influences of Equity Sensitivity, Psychological Contract Breach, and Professional Identity” accepted for publication in the Journal of Leadership, Accountability and Ethics. Using social exchange and social identity theories, Bynum and her team developed a model and proposed the potential relationships among model constructs to define the impact of psychological contract breach, identity salience and equity sensitivity on organizational citizenship behavior of pharmacy faculty.
Belmont Breaks Ground on New Academic Building on Wedgewood Avenue
188,000-square-foot structure plus five-level underground garage will be largest campus building to date
Belmont University broke ground this morning on the campus’ largest building to date, a 188,000-square-foot academic center situated on the corner of Wedgewood and 15th Avenues. The building will house most departments from the College of Arts and Sciences as well as the School of Religion, providing much-needed classroom and lab space for the growing University. Slated to open in fall 2014 and anticipated to cost $76.5 million, the new building is being designed and built by locally-owned companies—Earl Swensson Associates (ESa) and R.C. Mathews—and will create jobs for hundreds in Middle Tennessee. A five-level underground parking garage will also provide approximately 430 additional parking spaces, and the facility will connect on three floors to both the Inman Center and McWhorter Hall.
“The building establishes a new cornerstone for Belmont University and provides a true reflection of who we are,” said Belmont President Bob Fisher. “It will sit as a beacon on the northeast edge of campus, offering a perfect view of the Nashville skyline and inviting Nashville and the world to come and see what Belmont is all about: providing an academically challenging liberal arts education in a Christian community of learning and service.”
Since Belmont’s general education/core curriculum requires courses in writing, speech, math and religion, among others, every undergraduate will take classes in the new academic center. In addition, the center will house a 280-seat chapel, a dining venue, 30 classrooms that vary in seating capacity, state-of the-art laboratories and conference room space.
Dr. Thomas Burns, who serves as Belmont’s Provost overseeing all academic programs, added that the building’s design has been a campus-wide effort. “We began this process in the fall with a blank canvas, recognizing that we needed additional academic space but carefully considering which areas to prioritize. Through ongoing conversations and collaboration with students, faculty and staff, we’ve honed in on Belmont’s most urgent needs in the College of Arts and Sciences and School of Religion. With their input, we’ve drawn plans for a building that will enable interdisciplinary studies and experiential learning while also representing the latest thinking in classroom space.”
Metro Parks Honors Belmont Students for Community Center Plan
Nashville’s Metro Board of Parks and Recreation recognized Belmont students Katherine Richardson, Kap Sum, Stephanie Downing, Reid Huffman and Robin Kirk at its board meeting May 1 for their work to benefit staff and users of the Easley Community Center.
The students developed three reports totaling 99 pages, which include an outreach manual for Metro Parks to use as a guide to identify programming needs, integrate service-learning and communicate with users of community centers as well as a case study on how they improved promotion of and volunteer opportunities within the Easley Community Center.
“Please accept our genuine gratitude and sincere appreciation for the excellent work performed by Belmont students,” wrote Parks Superintendent of Community Affairs Jackie Jones. “Our staff was impressed by the caliber of their work and touched by their level of commitment to this project. From our vantage point, these students went above and beyond a typical class assignment and made this service-learning project a meaningful and memorable outreach to the Edgehill community. They also provided valuable resources for the department to use in the future.”
Belmont University Celebrates College of Pharmacy Charter Class Graduation May 5
First class of 65 students recognized for accomplishments, service
The Belmont University College of Pharmacy (BUCOP) will celebrate the graduation of its charter class on May 5 with 65 members of the Class of 2012 expected to cross the stage to receive their Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) degree. After opening its doors in 2007, the College of Pharmacy accepted its first students in fall 2008, and the initial class has paved the way for future BUCOP students, setting a high standard for academic excellence and community service.
Belmont’s College of Pharmacy Dean Dr. Phil Johnston said, “The University and the Nashville community have enabled us to develop a stellar College of Pharmacy at Belmont. I am proud of the commitment of faculty and students to take on leadership roles in this profession to make a difference in thousands of lives. Also important is the contribution of more than 450 affiliate faculty, who open their businesses to our students to provide quality education and mentoring.”
Belmont President Bob Fisher said, “As these students hang their degrees in offices and wear their white coats in labs, retail pharmacies, hospitals and clinics across the United States, they demonstrate the University’s mission to engage and transform the world. Belmont is especially grateful to Trustee Emeritus Clayton McWhorter who, inspired by his brother, the late pharmacist Fred McWhorter, endowed support to the state-of-the-art academic building that houses the College of Pharmacy. We are honored to have our students follow their example of living in service to others and championing healthcare reform.”
BUCOP has provided students with the skills to contribute to the growing health care needs of Nashville. Since the college’s first class was admitted in August 2008, students’ academic accomplishments and service has grown exponentially each year. Among their achievements are:
Belmont University Lauds Spring Commencement Ceremonies May 5
Belmont graduates largest class in University’s history
Belmont University will hold its spring 2012 commencement ceremonies for graduate and undergraduate students on Saturday, May 5 in the Curb Event Center.
For the second consecutive year, the University will have two ceremonies on the same day. At 10 a.m. candidates from the College of Pharmacy, the College of Health Sciences & Nursing, the College of Business Administration, the College of Entertainment and Music Business and the School of Religion will have their degrees conferred. At 2 p.m. candidates from the College of Visual and Performing Arts, the College of Arts and Sciences, Interdisciplinary Studies and University College will have their degrees conferred.
Belmont celebrates the graduation of a total of 1,018 students, marking the largest graduation in the University’s history to date. During the graduation ceremonies, 723 undergraduate, 211 master’s and 84 doctoral degrees will be conferred. Among the graduates is the Belmont University College of Pharmacy charter class, with 65 members receiving their Doctor of Pharmacy degree.
Tickets, which have been distributed to the graduating students, will be required for guests wishing to attend either event. The ceremonies can be watched live at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. at this link.
Dr. Robert C. Fisher, president of the University, will preside over the events and present the commencement address at both ceremonies.
Smith-Whitehouse Presents on Considering the Wildflowers
Dr. Bonnie Smith-Whitehouse from the Department of English recently co-presented at St. Mary’s Sewanee’s The Ayres Center for Spiritual Development. Her presentation, “Consider the Wildflowers,” encouraged participants to consider the beauty of wildflowers around them through writing and hiking.
Belmont Hosts Tennessee Junior Academy of Science Annual Meeting
Belmont University hosted the Tennessee Junior Academy of Science Annual Meeting on April 20. This event is sponsored by the Tennessee Academy of Science and Bi0logy Professor Steve Murphree, who serves as treasurer of the organization. The high school students presented papers on a wide-range of topics including physics, zoology, astronomy, environmental science and chemistry. Approximately 120 high school teachers and students, along with family members, attended the event.
Bennett, Graduate Student Present on Social Media and Fundraising
Journalism Professor Sybril Bennett and Organizational Leadership & Communication graduate student Federico Padovan presented on Social Media and Fundraising at the National Catholic Educational Association’s annual meeting held this year in Boston, Ma.
Six Students Present Research at Alpha Chi National Convention
In March, six Belmont University students presented their research at the Alpha Chi National Honor Society Convention at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Baltimore. Two faculty advisors, Dr. Sarah Ann Fleming (Math/Computer Science) and Dr. Jonathan Thorndike (Honors Program)also attended the convention, which is organized around student presentations by juniors and seniors from their respective chapters.
Membership in Alpha Chi is the highest academic honor awarded by Belmont University. Its members are invited based on their academic standing in the top 10 percent of the junior and senior classes within any academic major. Belmont has had an active chapter of Alpha Chi for more than 25 years. Dr. Fleming (Mathematics) and Dr. Caresse John (English) are the Belmont chapter’s current Sponsors. Dr. Thorndike serves as secretary-treasurer for Region III, which includes the colleges and universities with chapters in Alabama, Washington, D.C., Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, North and South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia. This year’s featured convention keynote speaker was New York Times best-selling author Sharyn McCrumb.
Belmont student presentations at the convention included:
- In the Art section, Lizzie Davis presented her findings on “The Pre-Raphaelites and Literary Portraiture: The Unveiling of a Victorian Woman.”
- In the Music section, Kyle Johnson presented his research on “Listening to Modern Music.”
- In Buisness, Shirah Foy presented findings on “Social Norms & Personal Financial Capital Interact in the Entrepreneurial Intentions Model: Evidence from a Russian Context.”
- In Mathematics, Kevin Crowl discussed “Picking a Winner: A Mathematical Look at Voting Methods.”
- In the Creative Writing section, Rachel Worsham presented “A Reading of an Excerpt from ‘potatochipbag’.”
- In Political Science, Stefanie Faull presented her research on “Revenge of the Nerds.”
It was also announced that Belmont student Jenny Westbrook is one of the 2012 winners of the prestigious Alpha Chi Sledge/Benedict Scholarship. Additionally, Belmont student Stefanie Faull was elected as the Region III Student Representative to the National Council of Alpha Chi. Stefanie will serve a two-year term on the National Council.
Pharmacy Faculty Abstract Accepted for AACP Conference
Pharmacy Assistant Professors Edgar Diaz-Cruz and Angela Hagen and College of Pharmacy Dean Phil Johnston have had their poster titled “Student Organizational Impact on Minority Pharmacy Students and Diversity Awareness Through Community Service” accepted for the 2012 AACP Annual Meeting in Kissimmee, Fla.
The authors discuss how to prepare future generations of pharmacists, representational of the diversity of the community, through the Student National Pharmaceutical Association (SNPhA). This outreach directly impacts current Belmont University College of Pharmacy students as it develops their awareness of the various needs in minority communities. Inter-professional faculty advisers in the areas of the pharmaceutical, social and administrative sciences are strategically developing the organization to meet these diverse needs.
