Dr. Merrie King, associate professor in education and Montessori Program Director, received a Summer Teacher Residency from the Fetzer Institute and Nancy M. and Douglas M. Yeager Family Foundation. The summer residency recognizes King’s contribution to education in early childhood and is held in early July at the GilChrist Retreat Center in Three Rivers, Michigan.
Women’s Golfers Win State, National Honors
Belmont’s Lorie Warren capped off a week of great golf by capturing the Tennessee Women’s Amateur Golf Championship last Friday afternoon at The Honors Course in Ootlewah, Tennessee. Her victory caps a great golf season for the rising senior. In addition to winning this championship, Warren was honored as the Atlantic Sun Conference Player of the Year, led the conference in scoring average and posted seven top-five finishes, including winning one individual title. For more on this story, click here.
In addition, two Belmont women’s golfers, Lauren Oeser and Laura Dyson, have been named to the 2007-2008 National Golf Coaches Association (NGCA) All-American Scholar Team. The criteria for selection to the All-American Scholar Team are some of the most stringent of all college athletics. The minimum cumulative GPA is 3.50 and student-athletes must have competed in at least 50 percent (Division I) or 66 percent (Division II & III) of the college’s regularly scheduled competitive rounds during the year. Oeser and Dyson are the only two Atlantic Sun Conference golfers to be given this honor for the 2007-2008 season. Click here for more on this story.
McAlexander Selected for Leadership Nashville
Provost Dan McAlexander will join 43 other community leaders to take part in Leadership Nashville’s 33rd class, starting this fall. The nine-month program is designed to aid community decision-makers in executive level leadership. More than 240 individuals applied to be a part of this fall’s class.
Cusic Speaks at Christian Scholars Conference
Professor of Music Business Don Cusic spoke last week at the Christian Scholars Conference held at David Lipscomb University June 26-28. Cusic’s topic was “Christianity and Country Music.” Also speaking at the conference were former Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, Jim Wallis of Sojourners magazine, Shaun Casey, senior adviser for religious affairs to the Barack Obama campaign, and noted author and professor emeritus of political science at Pepperdine University Stephen Monsma.
Belmont Receives Community Health Charities’ Sunshine Award
Community Health Charities of Tennessee presented the 2007-2008 Sunshine Award to Belmont University in recognition of supporting health education, medical research and patient services in our communities through the Belmont Cares Charity Campaign. The ’07-’08 Belmont Cares Charity Campaign Committee members were Betsy Caffey, Colette Keyser, Patsy Peach, Claudia Myrick and Michael Sullivan. Claudia Myrick accepted this award on behalf of Belmont University.
Mayor’s Project for Student Success Releases Final Report
The Mayor’s Project for Student Success, a 40-member group co-chaired by Belmont President Dr. Bob Fisher, concluded its term yesterday with a presentation to Mayor Karl Dean in the university’s Frist Lecture Hall. Vice Mayor Diane Neighbors (pictured at right with Dean, center, and Fisher, right) served as the project’s other co-chair.
The project was convened to develop action steps to reduce the dropout rate of students in area public schools, and it included parents, students, education professionals from all levels, government officials, and members of neighborhood groups, faith-based organizations, non profits and the business community.
“A student doesn’t just wake up one day and decide not to go back to school,” Dean said. “It’s clear from the work of the task force and other research in this area that the path to dropping out can start as early as elementary and middle school.”
In response, Dean announced that his office is leading the charge to develop a coordinated system of afterschool programs for middle school students in Metro Nashville Public Schools. Dean said coordinating afterschool programs is one recommendation from Project for Student Success out of several that have led to or confirmed initiatives already underway.
Click here for more on this story.
Click here to view the task force’s presentation.
Troutt Theater Honored by Historical Commission
The Bill and Carole Troutt Theater recently received honorable mention in the educational/institutional category of the 2008 Metro Historical Commission Preservation awards. Judges this year were James A. Hoobler, curator at the Tennessee State Museum and Metropolitan Historical Commission board member; Sheila Dial, associate architect with Everton Oglesby Associates; and Elizabeth Moore of the Center for Historic Preservation at Middle Tennessee State University.
Cornwall’s Column Quoted by U.S. News and World Report
U.S. News and World Report recently published clips online from the weekly column of Dr. Jeff Cornwall, director for Belmont’s Center for Entrepreneurship. To read the article about choosing a business partner, click here.
School of Pharmacy Celebrates ACPE Approval for First Class to Begin in August
The Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) informed the Belmont University School of Pharmacy (BUSOP) this morning that the new program has reached another significant benchmark toward full accreditation. The announcement confirms that BUSOP will officially be able to seat its first class of 75 newly admitted students in August 2008. ACPE is the official regulatory body that accredits all colleges of pharmacy in the United States. BUSOP continues on track for full accreditation, which is awarded to a new program once it has graduated its first class and met all ACPE standards for accreditation.
Belmont’s School of Pharmacy Dean Dr. Phil Johnston said, “ACPE’s standards for accreditation are extremely high, as they should be given that pharmacists are charged with the responsibility of public safety. I’m obviously thrilled that we have gained the trust of the Council, and that we are now empowered to help our students fulfill the dream of entering the pharmacy profession. Our faculty and staff are contacting each student personally, helping them prepare to begin class in August. We feel our profession just grew by 75! This is a great day.”
Belmont Provost Dr. Dan McAlexander added, “The ACPE approval to seat our first pharmacy class is the culmination of the efforts of many individuals at Belmont and throughout the community. We believe that the School of Pharmacy, an integral part of Belmont’s strategic growth plan, will provide students with the skills to contribute to the growing health care needs of our community.”
By opening a School of Pharmacy, Belmont will help alleviate the significant shortfall of qualified pharmacists needed both in the state and country at large. The Belmont University School of Pharmacy seeks to become a nationally-recognized practice and leadership center with a four-pillared approach that will allow students to focus on management, informatics, pharmacotherapy or missions. BUSOP intends to be a prominent resource for training and supporting competent, compassionate practitioners with a passion for life-long professional improvement and service to the profession and patients. For more information, visit www.belmont.edu/pharmacy.
Cusic Selected for New Leadership Music Class
Belmont music business professor Don Cusic has been chosen as one of 53 new members to participate in Leadership Music’s 20th annual class. The nine-month program aims to create a forum for established music community leaders to identify and explore issues currently affecting the music industry. The course, which begins with an orientation and alumni reception on Sept. 25, includes a two-day opening retreat weekend in October; six monthly program days targeting the latest issues regarding songwriting/publishing, artist, studio/audio, record company, broadcast/media and touring; and a two-day closing retreat in May 2009.
