(left to right) Grayson Carroll, Scott Hawley, and workshop organizers Peter Diener (Center for Computation and Technology, Louisiana State University), Frank Loeffler (CCT, LSU), Roland Haas (California Institute of Technology) and Tanja Bode (Center for Relativistic Astrophysics, Georgia Tech)
Belmont computer science major and Pathways Scholar Grayson Carroll attended the Einstein Toolkit Workshop at Georgia Tech University April 3-6 in Atlanta, Ga. Carroll and Belmont physics professor Scott Hawley, along with almost 20 students, postdocs and professors from around the world, learned to implement concepts from Einstein’s theory of gravity in a High Performance Computing (HPC) environment.
During the workshop Carroll and a small team developed a routine to track neutron stars as they orbit in computer simulations. Carroll and Hawley plan to apply what they learned at the workshop in order to interface Hawley’s black hole simulation code with the codes of other researchers around the world.
On April 1, the Belmont Chapter of Sigma Tau Delta inducted 28 members in a ceremony at Annette Sisson’s home. Sigma Tau Delta is the international English honor society with over 800 chapters across the United States. Membership in the society confers distinction for high achievement in English language and literature studies to undergraduate and graduate students in English.
The inductees for 2012 were Kristen Allerton, Hannah Baggott, Jill Barrett, Austin Boling, Amanda Buckner, Jessica Duble, Betti-Chandrea Frazier, Caroline Hart, Jennifer Hamrick, Abigail Henry, Allison Hill, Rainu Ittycheriah, Jessica Lavender, Hilli Levin, Daniel Logan, Emily Lynd, Alyson McHargue, Scott Maddux, Rick Martin, Anna Matlock, Melanie Meriney, Jeremy Minor, Brittney Morey, Jessica Spradlin, Laura Stack, Heather Thompson, Kate Tully and Layne Walton.
Susan Jellissen (Political Science) has published a review of Lisa Blaydes’ “Elections and Distributive Politics in Mubarak’s Egypt.” The review appears in the April 2012 edition of Comparative Political Studies (Vol. 45, No. 4).
Provost Thomas Burns (far left) participated in the presentation of a General Assembly resolution honoring alumna Dr. Fannie Hewlett (third from right).
The General Assembly of the state of Tennessee presented a resolution on March 8 honoring Belmont alumna Dr. Fannie D. Hewlett. This resolution is determined by the members of the General Assembly to recognize certain Tennesseans who contribute and earn the reverence and admiration of their peers throughout the state. Fannie D. Hewlett, Ed. D, was recognized by this resolution as an “individual who has committed her time and energies to providing the finest educational experiences for Tennessee’s students.”
Dr. Hewlett is the provost and vice president for academic affairs for Chattanooga State Technical Community College, and her many responsibilities impact the overall integrity, direction and curriculum of the institution. These responsibilities range from managing the academic affairs unit, shaping the academic strategy through collegial governance and strategic planning, serving as the chief academic officer and a member of the President’s Cabinet and Executive Staff, leading curriculum development and quality initiatives, and assuming full administrative responsibility for all academic areas.
Dr. Hewlett earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology and English from Belmont College in 1970, becoming the first African-American woman to graduate from the school. She then earned her Master of Arts degree in Clinical and School Psychology from Fisk University in 1975 and a Doctorate in Education in Educational Administration and Supervision from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville in 1990. Dr. Hewlett then completed post-doctoral studies in Community College Leadership at the University of Texas at Austin in 1997.
In addition, her dedication to leadership is showcased in her service as the chair of the Tennessee Board of Regents (TBR) Financial Strategies Subcommittee and the chair of the SACS Reaffirmation Peer Committee. Dr. Hewlett volunteers an extent of her time and energy as a member of a number of civic and educational organizations, including the Kappa Delta Pi Honor Society; Psi Beta, the national honor society for psychology in community and junior colleges; the Belmont Alumni Association, Chattanooga Chapter; the Charisma Service Club, which she serves as president; the Urban League board of directors; the TBR Developmental Redesign Task Force; and the Regents Online Degree Program Oversight Committee. Throughout her career, Dr. Hewlett has also received numerous teaching and leadership awards.
Dr. Edgar Diaz-Cruz had his manuscript titled “The CDK4/6 Inhibitor PD0332991 Reverses Epithelial Dysplasia Associated With Abnormal Activation of the Cyclin-CDK-Rb Pathway” in the journal Cancer Prevention Research.
Loss of normal growth control is a hallmark of cancer progression. An important strategy in cancer prevention treatment programs is to target the reversal of premalignant disease through re-differentiation. Utilizing a mouse model of dysplasia and an orally available CDK4/6 inhibitor (PD0332991) Diaz-Cruz and his team were able to identify cell cycle related proteins as mechanisms responsible for dysplasia persisting after an initial “genetic insult” was established. In particular, this study distinguished CDK4 and phosphorylated Rb as targets for cancer chemoprevention.
Dr. Ruth Ford attended the Aging in America Conference 2012 sponsored by ASA and NCOA from March 28 to April 1 in Washington, D.C. The political arena in Washington, D.C. was most vibrant with Supreme Court Hearings that week for the Affordable Health Care Act debate and the appropriation budget hearings for the Older American Act.
Ford met with Tennessee Sen. Lamar Alexander and Sen. Bob Corker as well as Keith Studdard, legislative director from Rep. Marsha Blackburn’s office, to discuss aging issues. She also attended a Capital Hill Advocacy Day to hear from several senators presenting on aging issues. The conference addressed many key issues with the Baby Boomer generation turning 65 and impacting wellness and healthcare in our society. Ford received a Belmont travel grant to help with funding her trip.
Ford has brought learning materials and class lecture content back for the doctoral of occupational therapy students. She is exploring a Maymester class for 2013 where students, faculty, and staff can learn about successful aging and ways to overcome barriers to aging.
Five teams of undergraduate students competed in the annual Belmont Student Business Plan Competition sponsored by Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, PC. The event was held on March 16 in the Massey Boardroom. Senior Jerell Harris won first place and earned $5,000 and the title of “Outstanding Student Entrepreneur of the Year” for his business plan for QuickMed, a medical waste management company whose primary service consists of collecting, transporting, and processing medical waste.
“The entrepreneurship program has helped me tremendously. I have learned how to listen to complaints within a market and develop products or services based on those criticisms. In addition, the course has taught me how to make necessary pivotal steps that will help my reach my growth targets. Above all, I have learned how to manage my company as it goes through various life cycles,” said Harris, who is studying entrepreneurship.
Jonathan Murrell and Moriah Nogoy took second place and $2,000 for their Candy Galaxy business plan. Julia Cecere earned $1,000 for Cool Candy & Beverage Company. Other finalists included George Livingston and Ian Raffalovich for Sweet Meat Jerky, Seth Whiting for Map My Views and Michelle Keil for Nava Salon. Each of the entries was for a real business venture that is currently operating or that is in the planning stages to be launched. Numerous students submitted written plans and the top six were given the opportunity to present their ideas to a committee of judges consisting of Belmont Entrepreneurship Alums and business leaders from the Nashville community.
“This was by far the most competitive group of applications and finalists for the presentation that we have ever had in this event. The outside judges were blown away by the work our students are doing,” said Director of the Center for Entrepreneurship Jeff Cornwall.
Students plan, produce, star in concert for 2,000+ guests
On Saturday, April 14, at 7 p.m. Belmont University’s Mike Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business (CEMB) will present its annual Best of the Best Showcase. The show will honor the college’s benefactor and namesake Mike Curb, 2012 recipient of the Robert E. Mulloy Award of Excellence, an annual award given to an individual who has achieved a level of excellence in the music business and entertainment industries with notable service to Belmont University and the Nashville community.
During a distinguished career spanning almost five decades, Mike Curb has earned multi-faceted success as a songwriter, producer and record company owner, covering a wide range of musical styles. As an individual, he has written more than 400 songs and received countless music industry awards, including the prestigious Overall Producer of the Year Award from Billboard magazine in 1972. Curb Records, which Mike Curb founded and where he currently serves as chairman, has produced more than 300 No. 1 records and been honored by Billboard magazine as 2001 Country Music Label of the Year and Radio & Records magazine as 2005 Overall Gold Label of the Year. Curb also serves as chairman of gospel music powerhouse Word Entertainment, which was Billboard magazine’s Overall Top Imprint in that genre for 2006. In 2006, he received the lifetime achievement award at the annual Los Angeles Music Awards. In 2007, Curb was honored as Nashvillian of the Year and has received his stars on Nashville’s Music City Walk of Fame and on the historic Hollywood Walk of Fame.
TheCollege of Business Administration at Belmont Universityis proud to announce maintenance of business and specialized accounting accreditation by AACSB International – The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. Founded in 1916, AACSB International is the longest serving global accrediting body for business schools that offer bachelors, masters and doctorate degrees in business and accounting.
Dean of the College of Business Administration Dr. Pat Raines said, “Belmont’s AACSB International accreditation sends a message to students, parents, faculty, employers and other schools that Belmont has one of the best business schools in the world. Only 178 institutions worldwide have earned AACSB accreditation for both their business and accounting programs. Maintaining this accreditation demonstrates that Belmont’s business and accounting programs are performing at the highest levels of quality, rigor and relevance.”
Belmont is part of an elite group of institutions—less than five percent of the world’s business schools—to have achieved business accreditation from AACSB International. Even more impressive, less than one percent of institutions have achieved both business and accounting accreditation. To realize accounting accreditation an institution must first earn or maintain AACSB Business Accreditation, which requires an institution to undergo a meticulous internal review and evaluation process. In addition to developing and implementing a mission-driven plan to satisfy the 21 business quality standards, AACSB Accounting Accreditation requires the satisfaction of an additional set of 15 standards that are specific to the discipline and profession of accounting. (For information on the global distribution of accredited programs, visit www.aacsb.edu/accreditation/accreditedmembers.asp)
Students and employees celebrate Spring Back’s first year of business.
Nashville Mayor Karl Dean and Davidson County Sheriff Daron Hall joined students and faculty from Belmont University’s Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) team and staff from Belmont Church Wednesday to celebrate the latest milestone of one-year-old business, Spring Back Recycling, which recently surpassed 5,000 recycled mattresses.
A partnership between the church’s Isaiah 58 ministry and Belmont University, Spring Back began with a business concept and plan developed by the SIFE students, who are seeking to create a better, more sustainable world through the positive power of business. In addition to helping the environment, Spring Back employs workers from Isaiah 58 who were formerly homeless or incarcerated, giving them an opportunity for a new life.
Dr. John Gonas, associate professor of finance and SIFE advisor at Belmont, said, “I’ve been working in the business model development with a social justice bent for about seven years now. I’ve noticed that it’s incredibly difficult to match the expectations and needs of a community partner with the skill sets and time constraints of college students and faculty. But this business model can lead to sustainable social change and profitability.”
Nashville Mayor Karl Dean
Nashville Mayor Karl Dean joined the celebration of Spring Back’s first year and praised the business for being both innovative and impactful. “Social innovation begins by identifying a problem. This, of course, is the easy part. The hard part, however, is finding and effectively executing a solution to this problem. This is exactly what Spring Back has done… May its success be the ‘springboard’ of new ideas and innovations that will continue to make Nashville, and in fact the world, a better place for all.”
The Davidson County Sheriff’s Office Correctional Services Division provides inmate work crews to do some of the delivery of donated mattresses as well as weekly debris pick-up and haul away for Spring Back. In addition, the business has hired a few low risk inmates through the work release program.
Davidson County Sheriff Daron Hall admits he’s a fan of the Spring Back model and how it impacts the community. “I absolutely love this program and thought it was a fantastic idea from the first time I heard about it. There aren’t many programs we can participate in that gets us cleaning up the community, works towards a greener environment by recycling materials that otherwise would be discarded, and hires inmate workers to help them develop a skill. It really is a win-win for everyone.”
Bryan King, an Isaiah 58 member and the manager at Spring Back, noted about himself and the men he works with at the warehouse, “We’ve come from the bottom and are trying to get back up. Spring Back is good for the environment, and it’s good for everyone.”
Another Spring Back employee Ron Harness, who is now attending college, added, “The students are an amazing help. These young people come in and look at you as someone with possibility, not as someone who just got out of jail. They are a big part of my recovery.”
