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.
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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.
Giorgianni Interviewed by Tampa Bay Tribune
The School of Pharmacy’s Dr. Sal Giorgianni was recently interviewed by the Tampa Bay Tribune in an article marking the tenth anniversary of Viagra’s global launch by Pfizer, “The Little Blue Pill Is Growing Up – Viagra Turns 10.” Giorgianni served in Pfizer’s Global Development Team when Viagra was in market development and was the director of external relations after the product launched. Click here to read the article.
Second Annual Travel-Study Program to Japan Returns Home
A group of 10 students and faculty led by Dr. John Paine (English and Foreign Languages) and Dr. Jonathan Thorndike (Honors Program) recently spent three weeks in Japan as part of the university’s second annual study abroad trip there. The Belmont group, which also included Dr. Cindy Bisson (History) and Dr. Marieta Velikova (Business Administration), was based in the central Kansai Region near Kyoto, the home of traditional Japanese culture.
The theme for the academic portion taught by Dr. Paine was “Kyoto: Heart of Japanese Culture,” while Dr. Thorndike was responsible for field trip visits to various shrines, temples, museums and historical sites. The Belmont travel-study program to Japan was occasioned by the 1,000-year anniversary of the composition of The Tale of Genji, generally considered the greatest work of Japanese literature. The Belmont group received a special invitation to see original manuscripts of Genji regarded as “national cultural treasures” at the Tenri University library.
One unique feature of the travel-study program was the combination of regular class time with visits to a variety of sites representing ancient and modern Japan. The Belmont group toured famous Buddhist temples in Kyoto and Nara as well as famous Shinto shrines and Torii gates in Kyoto and Otsu. The group spent time in reflection at the International Peace Park and Museum in Hiroshima and also visited the extensive collections in National Museums in Kyoto and Nara.
This fall, Belmont will be offering two levels of Japanese language as a regular academic course of study. Belmont students will also offer a convocation about their experiences in Japan in September. A third study abroad trip to Japan is being planned for May 13-June 2, 2009.
Belmont Employees to be ‘Locked-Up’ for Good Cause
A number of Belmont University faculty and staff members are headed to the ‘slammer’ June 25 and 26 for the sake of a good cause. Along with almost 200 other local citizens, 36 Belmont participants will be “arrested” next week in the largest mock sting in Nashville history to raise money for the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA). Faculty and staff range from all departments, including university finance, athletics and social sciences.
The participants will be jailed at Fleming’s Steakhouse, and a celebrity judge along with the local MDA Goodwill Ambassador will sentence each person to raise a $1,500 bail. Participants are encouraged to pre-raise their bail by asking for contributions from friends, family and associates. If they do not raise enough money in time, the participants will be asked to put on black and white-striped prison garb and take mug shots before being escorted to cells to serve their one-hour sentences.
