Dr. Jennifer Thomas, associate professor of biology, recently gave an invited talk at Murray State University in Murray, Ky. as part of the school’s Department of Biological Sciences seminar series. Thomas’ talk was titled “From Warts to Cancer: Understanding the Biology of Human Papillomaviruses.” Thomas gave background information on HPV and described her most recent undergraduate research projects with her students at Belmont.
Former Archbishop Encourages Christian Growth
George Carey, the former Archbishop of Canterbury, challenged Belmont students to become more missionary-minded during a Wednesday morning chapel in the Neely Dining Hall.
Carey shared stories of his evangelical work in Susan, Nigeria and other countries. Christians in Western countries rarely have their faith challenged, are persecuted for attending church or have their home burned down as with believers in developing countries, he said. Missionary work would facilitate growth in Jesus Christ.
“The work of the church is to establish the kingdom of God in the hearts and minds of men and women, boys and girls. The challenge is to put backbone into our Christian lives and to have it pulsate in every aspect of our lives,” Carey said. “Children are our church of today and leaders of tomorrow.”
Following his lecture on World Christianity, Carey signed copies of his book, The Church in the Modest Place.
Queen Elizabeth II appointed Carey as Archbishop of Canterbury in 1991. He promoted a “decade of evangelism” that coincided with the explosive growth of the Anglican Church in Africa and throughout the developing world. Upon his retirement in 2002, he was made a life peer and member of the House of Lords. He is the recipient of 12 honorary doctorates, author of 14 books, chancellor of the University of Gloucestershire and president of the London School of Theology.
Belmont and ASCAP Honor Alumnus Rusty Gaston with Music City Milestone Award
Tuesday night Belmont’s Mike Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business and industry partner ASCAP honored alumnus Rusty Gaston (’98) as the first recipient of the Music City Milestone Award (MCMA), which celebrates Belmont’s connection to Music Row. The award recognizes a young Belmont graduate who has achieved truly superlative success in the entertainment & music industry.
Partner and general manager of This Music, Gaston was raised in Texas and moved to Nashville 16 years ago to pursue a career in the music industry and attend Belmont University. Gaston partnered with hit writers Tim Nichols (“Live Like You Were Dying”) and Connie Harrington (“Girls Lie Too”) to form This Music, a joint venture with Warner Chappell. In only a few years of operation he has built the company into a powerhouse. Today, Gaston is a passionate and committed music publisher who fills his time promoting the songs that his nine seasoned songwriters produce, including 14 award-winning songs and number one hits with artists such as Blake Shelton, Josh Turner, Chris Young and Luke Bryan.
Belmont Instructor of Music Business and creative force behind the MCMA award, Dan Keen, said, “One of the most rewarding facets of nurturing young people is celebrating their growth and successes. Rusty Gaston was a stand out student in my music publishing class at Belmont and is already one of the most successful independent publishers on Music Row. He has a huge servant’s heart as well. He is the type of person that Belmont and ASCAP want to encourage students and young executives to emulate.”
“ASCAP is honored to be partnering with Belmont in inspiring students to achieve greatness in their careers. It is fitting that Rusty Gaston receives the very first Music City Milestone Award as he has been a trendsetter throughout his career. Everybody loves and respects Rusty and writers love writing for him. They know him as a champion. Rusty is passionate about his songs—very passionate about his songwriters and music in general,” explains LeAnn Phelan, ASCAP senior creative director.
Nursing, Pharmacy Students Participate in Healthcare Interprofessional Case Competition
Four health science students from Belmont University–three from the School of Nursing and one from the College of Pharmacy–competed last week in the annual Interprofessional Case Competition (ICC) sponsored by the Meharry-Vanderbilt Alliance in Nashville.
The four students–Danielle Degati, Katherine H. McFarland and Courtney Thompson representing RN nursing and Shanna Harris representing pharmacy–were placed on teams joining pre-professionals from 10 different healthcare disciplines. Other team members included medical and dental students from Meharry Medical College; students from medical, nurse practitioner, law, dietetic, divinity, and speech and hearing pathology programs at Vanderbilt University; and pharmacy and graduate social work students from the University of Tennessee.
Nursing major Danielle Degati, a senior, said, “I think the greatest part of this competition is feeling like I can say that I now understand how multi-disciplines work together to accomplish one goal… It has been eye opening, and I feel comfortable approaching other health care professionals in the hospital, not just nurses; without this experience, I’m not sure that comfort would have come to me so soon.”
The competition, based on the University of Texas Houston model, promotes an interdisciplinary learning experience where students learn to appreciate the value of various team members involved in reaching optimal patient outcomes. There were three interdisciplinary student teams, each with 11 student participants.
Senior nursing student Courtney Thompson noted, “Participating in the ICCC has given me a better comprehensive view of how in depth patient-centered care goes. It is complex physiologically, emotionally, spiritually and cognitively and one person could not offer the knowledge or manpower to completely care for any patient. I am very proud to have had this experience because I have learned so much about other disciplines and because I have also learned how I work as a team member. I am sure these lessons will be invaluable assets I can use throughout my career.”
Hachtel Elected to National Position in American Occupational Therapy Association
Dr. Yvette Hachtel, professor of occupational therapy at Belmont University, has been selected the chair-elect of the Ethics Commission of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) following a national vote by the organization’s membership. The Ethics Commission is one of the bodies of the representative assembly of the AOTA and is responsible for developing the ethics standards for the profession which apply to occupational therapy (OT) personnel at all levels and in all professional and societal roles.
Dr. Hachtel is a registered and licensed occupational therapist and earned a law degree from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She was admitted to the Pennsylvania Bar in 1993. A member of AOTA for more than 30 years, Dr. Hachtel is currently serving her second term as a member of the Ethics Commission’s Disciplinary Council Board. Throughout her career, she has been involved with professional activities at the state and national level that serve to ensure the competency and ethical practice of practitioners at all levels. Dr. Hachtel has taught ethics at the graduate level and served as a consultant to the Tennessee OT Licensure Board for nearly 15 years. She is a General Civil Mediator for the Tennessee Supreme Court Alternative Dispute Resolution Commission. From 1994 to 1997, she served as secretary of the Maine OT Practice Board. Her legal background has provided extensive training and experience as a mediator.
“This is a significant professional accomplishment for Dr. Hachtel,” said Dr. Scott McPhee, associate dean in the Gordon E. Inman College of Health Sciences & Nursing and chair of the School of Occupational Therapy in extending congratulations. “We’re extremely happy that she has been recognized for this important role and are confident she will excel in this new responsibility and represent Belmont in exemplary fashion.” Dr. Hachtel will assume duties as Chair-elect later this spring.
Belmont Hosts Metro Nashville Council’s Minority Caucus
Metro government officials, local business owners and community leaders attended the Metropolitan Minority Caucus’ Eighth Anniversary Celebration at Belmont on Feb.27. More than 100 people attended the reception in the Frist Lecture Hall.
Council-at-large member Jerry Maynard, president of the caucus, introduced minority and small business owners who shared how they and the city have benefited from the caucus’ work. The caucus presented special awards to Mayor Karl Dean and business owners Sam Howard, Pam Martin and Marilyn Robinson.
Belmont Celebrates ‘Topping Out’ Ceremony for New Residence Hall
Structure named in honor of Board of Trustees Chair Marty Dickens
Belmont University celebrated the official “topping out” today for a 297-bed residence hall and 562-car underground parking garage being constructed on the southeastern corner of campus near the intersection of 15th and Bernard Avenues. The new building, Dickens Hall, is being named in honor of long-time Belmont Board of Trustees Chair Marty Dickens, the retired president of BellSouth/AT&T-Tennessee. The hall, which will house upperclassmen, offers unobstructed views of the Nashville skyline from its top floors.
Belmont President Dr. Bob Fisher said, “I can’t think of a better person to honor in naming this new building than Marty Dickens. This hall’s top floors will offer some of the finest views of Nashville to be found in the city, which is incredibly appropriate as Marty’s significant impact can be felt in the lives of individual students here at Belmont as well as throughout the broader Nashville area through his extensive community service. This hall, and the perspective it offers on our city, reflects the great vision Marty Dickens provides to Belmont and Nashville—we are so grateful for his leadership.”
Click here to view the topping out ceremony.
Graduate Student Opens ‘Deliciously Happy’ with Art, Performances
Collaboration takes new form as graduate student Lindsey Bailey partners with students from the University School of 
Nashville, Bordeaux Elementary and Lead Academy to host an art exhibit Feb. 29 through April 6 in Gallery 121 in the Leu Center for the Visual Arts. The gallery will include projected animations, costumes, colorful props and stage pieces. In tandem with sculpture students from Belmont University, students from each school will construct stories and create coordinating performance paraphernalia as part of the Deliciously Happy installation.
The gallery will include weekly craft nights facilitated by Nashville’s Craftville. A reception will be held 5 to 7 p.m. March 1 with special guest Megan Kelly from studiOmnivorous.
Bailey, who is working on her master’s degree in education, created Deliciously Happy as an offshoot of her graduate research. Through the project she works with students from the the three schools to create social issue-based stories and accompanying art work. Through her fundraising efforts, Bailey has provided project supplies and video crews to document the students’ works for 12 of the 24 workshops.
“For me, this project is about showing how important art is as a tool to spark people into sharing ideas and working together, one that spans cultures, socioeconomic standing and is widely intergenerational,” Bailey said. “Art making is transformative and helps people be receptive to new information and experiences, leading to positive change and personal growth. It’s a chance for me to collaborate with students from all over Nashville and applaud youth voice.”
Bailey’s work has recently been featured at D!verseWorks Art Space for the Houston Fine Art Fair and Texas Contemporary Art Fair in Houston, the Sideshow Fringe Festival at Belmont University in Nashville and the New Britain Museum of American Art in Connecticut.
Symposium Focuses on Asian View of Self
Belmont University hosted its third annual Asian Studies Symposium the week of Feb. 20 and featured several events focused on the evolving meaning of self in Asian cultures.
This year’s theme was “Self and Selfhood in East Asia.” Among the lectures was Belmont Professor Pete Giordano speaking on what students can learn from Buddha and Confucius.
The Asian Studies Symposium was recognized by the Ministry of the Foreign Affairs of Japan as part of the Centennial Celebration of the Gift of Trees. Tokyo, Japan Mayor Yukio Ozaki gave Japanese cherry trees to the city of Washington, D.C. on March 27, 1912.
From Salarymen to Freeters
William Tsutsui, dean of Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences at Southern Methodist University, gave an overview Feb. 22 on “miracle economy stereotypes, how the Japanese business world has changed during the last two decades and those effects on Japanese self-image.
Using clips from movies including the 1986 Ron Howard comedy “Gung Ho,” Tsutsui illustrated Japanese stereotypes, such as the group being all powerful and salary men being seen as colorless and regimented. He also emphasized the cultural values of consensus and harmony. He also explained the Japanese Employment System, which, guarantees lifetime employment for many employees, bases wages and promotions on seniority and values company unions. In return, the Japanese labor market is stable and predictable, employees are seen as loyal investments and it is easy to find trust and cooperation within groups.
Alumni Receive Dove Award Nominations
On Wednesday, the Gospel Music Association (GMA) announced the nominees for the 43rd Annual Dove Awards in Atlanta, and a number of Belmont alumni received nominations. Alumni Bernie Herms (Song of the Year, Producer of the Year, Pop/Contemporary Recorded Song, Special Event Album), Steven Curtis Chapman (Male Vocalist), MikesChair (Pop/Contemporary Recorded Song), Travis Cottrell (Worship Song, Choral Collection), Dan Muckala (Pop/Contemporary Recorded Album, Praise & Worship Album), John Andrade (Children’s Musical Album), Denver Bierman (Children’s Musical Album) and Molly Skaggs (Christmas Album, Long Form Video) all received nods this year. Produced by the GMA, the 43rd Annual GMA Dove Awards will take place on April 19 at the Fox Theater in Atlanta.
