The School of Pharmacy’s Dr. Andy Webster participated in the Austin Peay University visiting scientist seminar. Invited by the department of chemistry, Webster presented a seminar to faculty and senior chemistry majors titled “After Market Manipulations of Pharmaceutical Products.” The talk gave the students insight into the FDA drug approval process and the utilization of pharmaceutical chemistry to manipulate and enhance after market pharmaceutical products. In addition, Webster recently began serving on the Tennessee Task Force for Drug Diversion. The Task Force, which is comprised of law enforcement (TBI and DEA), state board of pharmacy representatives, practitioners and educators, is charged with eradicating the growing menace of illegally obtaining prescription medication, primarily controlled substances.
Chumney Published in Pharmacy Education Journal
The School of Pharmacy’s Dr. Elinor Chumney is the lead author on a manuscript titled “Impact of a Dual PharmD/MBA Degree on Graduates’ Academic Performance, Career Opportunities and Earning Potential,” which was published in the recent edition of American Journal of Pharmacy Education. The article examines how earning a dual degree impacts student outcomes and earning potential.
Student-Athletes Recognized Nationally for Academic Achievement
Three Belmont University athletic teams were honored by the NCAA Thursday in its annual Division I Academic Progress Rate (APR) Public Recognition Awards.
Belmont men’s basketball, men’s soccer and men’s tennis each ranked in the top 10 percent within their respective sports nationwide among NCAA Division-I programs for their academic progress rate as determined by the NCAA. The APR provides a real-time look at a team’s academic success each semester by tracking the academic progress of each student-athlete. The APR includes eligibility, retention and graduation in the calculation and provides a clear picture of the academic culture in each sport.
Testament to its commitment to success on the court and in the classroom, Belmont is one of only four institutions in Division-I men’s basketball to make the APR top 10 percent list and earn a berth to the NCAA Championship Tournament each of the last three years: Belmont, Davidson, North Carolina and Villanova. For the 2007-08 season, 33 institutions boasted APRs in the top 10 percent, of which just 10 made NCAA tournament appearances. There are 341 institutions playing NCAA Division-I men’s basketball.
Moreover, each of Belmont’s top three career scorers for its NCAA-era – Wes Burtner, Justin Hare and Adam Mark – have been named to multiple ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America teams.
“Belmont student-athletes are continuing with their remarkable levels of achievement,” Belmont University President Bob Fisher said. “We are pleased that the extraordinary efforts put forth by our student-athletes, coaches, and athletics’ staff to excel both in the classroom and on the playing field have been recognized by the NCAA.”
Sociology Students, Faculty Present Research
On March 14, the faculty of the Sociology Department and numerous undergraduate students attended the fifth annual Inter-University Research Symposium held at Fisk University. The symposium is compromised of undergraduate student research in Sociology from Vanderbilt University, Tennessee State University, Fisk University and Belmont. Drs. Andi Stepnick and Shelby Longard co-presided a paper session in which students Tiffany Minton and Claire Beck presented their research on “Homo-Hop,” a new genre of music that critiques mainstream hip-hop for its negative portrayals of women and gay people. Dr. Ken Spring also presided a session in which students Marie Campbell, Ryan Hurd and Cayla Wilson presented their research on applied social theory as part of the scholar community program .
In addition, at the recent annual conference of the Southern Sociological Society, held in Richmond, Va., Dr. Longard presented her research on Southern Child Beauty Pageants. Dr. Spring also attended, along with undergraduate students Jessica Boyer, Marie Campbell, Ryan Hurd, Cayla Wilson and recent Belmont graduate Kurt Niesner, who presented their findings integrating theory and practice through community service.
Students Graduate From J.I. Experience Leadership Program
The Office of Campus Life would like to congratulate the following graduates of the Greek Life J.I. (Just Initiated) Experience Leadership Program: Hunter Askew, Phi Kappa Tau; Jason Biddle, Phi Kappa Tau; Kathleen Bond, Phi Mu; Amber Garner, Delta Sigma Theta; Sukhbir Grewal, Phi Delta Theta; Kate Harris, Phi Mu; Megan Johnson, Phi Mu; Trey McHargue, Phi Delta Theta; Sam Moergen, Phi Kappa Tau; Benjamin Pate, Alpha Tau Omega; and Lindsey Welch, Phi Mu. The J.I. Experience is a theory-based program for second-semester freshmen and sophomores designed to positively affect their academic transition, increase their personal development and learn more about how to be a leader in the Greek Life community. In the photo, participants pose with Tennessee State Representative Debra Maggart, a member of the Phi Mu national sorority.
Alumna Chases Dream of Being an Astronaut
Alys Blair, an adjunct Physics instructor and 1997 Belmont graduate with a double major in physics and math, was recently interviewed on the Internet/Radio Show “On the Home Stretch” (http://www.onthehomestretch.com/). Blair was interviewed about her position at Belmont and her aspirations of becoming an astronaut. After graduating from Belmont, Blair went on to graduate school at the University of Alabama at Huntsville where she obtained a Masters Degree in Atmospheric Science. While in graduate school she worked with NASA on her research in lightning. She is currently working on her doctoral dissertation and is applying for the 2009 class of Astronaut Candidates in hopes of achieving her dream of being an astronaut.
Public Relations Students Win Parthenon Awards
Eight Belmont students were honored at Tuesday’s 22nd annual Parthenon Awards given by the Nashville Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) held at B. B. King’s Club and Restaurant in downtown Nashville.
Hillary Bond received the $2,000 2008 PRSA Scholarship recognizing academic excellence, campus service and professionalism in the practice of public relations. She is vice president of the Belmont Chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) and currently serves in an internship at Katcher Vaughn & Bailey Public Relations in Nashville.
Recognized along with Bond were the other two finalists for the scholarship, Belmont students McCartney Boyd and Emily Telford, also officers in the Belmont chapter of PRSSA. “This is the first time in the history of the scholarship that three students from the same university were the finalists for the competitive scholarship,” said Steve Horton of PRSA in presenting the award. Public relations majors from Austin Peay University, Lipscomb University and Middle Tennessee State University are also eligible to apply.
A team of five Belmont students received the top award for student projects, a new category of awards in the professional chapter’s annual awards program. Honored were Belmont’s Cheryl Bak, Ashley Bearden, MacKenzie Fischer, Jess Reuter and Kari Woodard. The student projects award of merit was presented in recognition of the team’s public relations campaign, “A Safe Ride, Every Time,” which promoted seat belt safety among young teenagers. The campaign was developed as a service learning project in Dr. Bonnie Riechert’s Public Relations Strategy and Implementation (MDS 4180) class, and it also was entered into national competition in the 2008 PRSSA Bateman Case Competition.
Belmont was represented at the awards banquet by the eights students receiving honors and public relations faculty members Riechert and Pam Parry. “Our outstanding students and our public relations program were in the spotlight as Belmont swept all the student awards,” said Riechert. “Recognitions like these will help build our program’s reputation for ethics, excellence and service. Our students are well deserving of these accolades from the Nashville Chapter of PRSA.”
Belmont Plans Innovative, Debate-Related Programming for 2008-09
Distinguished Guests Ken Burns and David McCullough to Speak; Other Major Programming Planned to Explore Historical and Current Democratic Issues
With less than six months before the 2008 Town Hall Presidential Debate on Oct. 7, Belmont University is busy planning special debate-related programming for the 2008-09 academic year for Belmont students and the Nashville community. Most notably, award-winning documentary filmmaker Ken Burns (right) and historian, New York Times bestselling author and two-time Pulitzer Prize winner David McCullough (below left) will appear on campus as special guests during this momentous year at Belmont. Burns will speak on Sept. 30, 2008, and McCullough will follow up in the spring semester on March 30, 2009.
Belmont is also launching a new Web site specifically for the 2008 Town Hall Presidential Debate, located at www.belmontdebate08.com. The site, which will launch the week of May 1, will feature news, programming information and campus updates for the Belmont community, neighbors and up-to-3,000 media expected on campus for the debate.
“The opportunity to host the Town Hall Presidential Debate provides an invaluable educational experience to our students, allowing them to observe firsthand our nation’s political process and to be participants in American history,” said Belmont Provost Dan McAlexander. “Bringing such distinguished guests as Ken Burns and David McCullough on campus is just one component of the debate experience we plan to offer our students.”
A task force of faculty and staff from Belmont, Vanderbilt University, Tennessee State University, Volunteer State Community College, Trevecca University and Nashville State Technical Community College has formed to create several opportunities for city-wide learning centered on Belmont’s role as Town Hall Presidential Debate host site. While Belmont is in the unique role of host site for the debate, this consortium with other schools celebrates the opportunity this debate offers Nashville and Tennessee – an occasion never before experienced in the city or state that has produced three American presidents (Andrew Jackson, James K. Polk and Andrew Johnson).
A variety of speaker series, visual and performing arts programs, and activities and events designed specifically for students at Belmont and city-wide are slated for the 2008-09 school year. The Key Issues Speaker Series will bring an array of experts to campus to discuss issues of importance to voters in this election year: energy, the environment, entrepreneurship, health care, media and religion. Speakers will include Belmont faculty and special guests distinguished in their respective fields.
James Loewen to Provide BURS Keynote Address
The 2008 Belmont Undergraduate Research Symposium (BURS) will be held this Thurs., April 24, with keynote speaker author James Loewen providing his address at 5:30 p.m. in Troutt Theater. Student presentations will be held throughout the afternoon and evening at locations across campus. Click here to view the complete BURS schedule.
BURS provides undergraduates an opportunity to conduct independent research and present it to a community of peers. Each spring students at Belmont gather to present their findings, listen to eminent speakers and enjoy the company of fellow researchers.
Loewen’s gripping retelling of American history as it should, and could, be taught, Lies My Teacher Told Me: Everything Your High School History Textbook Got Wrong, has sold more than 800,000 copies and continues to inspire K-16 teachers to get students to challenge, rather than memorize, their textbooks. The book has been chosen as the common book for the 2008-09 First Year Seminar at Belmont. Loewen taught race relations for 20 years at the University of Vermont. He now lives in Washington, D.C., continuing his research on how Americans remember their past.
Belmont University to Become ‘All Steinway School’ Thanks to $2 Million Merrydale Woods Bequest
Steinway & Sons to receive Applause Award at President’s Concert
On Sat., April 26, Belmont University President Bob Fisher will present the 2008 Applause Award to Steinway & Sons, an occasion which will also officially announce Belmont’s intent to become an “All-Steinway School” with the purchase of approximately 70 additional pianos from Steinway. The new pianos will be used in Belmont 
performance venues, practice rooms and faculty studios. The funds to replace older instruments and to purchase the new Steinway additions represent a gift of more than $2 million from the Merrydale Woods estate, a bequest which will also provide new endowed scholarships for future piano students.
Belmont is one of only 88 colleges, universities, conservatories or schools world-wide to have the distinction of being an All-Steinway School. Other All-Steinway representatives include Julliard and the Yale School of Music. All-Steinway Schools must demonstrate a commitment to excellence by providing their students and faculties with the best equipment possible for the study of music. With the purchase of new pianos, Belmont’s highly acclaimed School of Music will boast only Steinway-designed pianos throughout campus.
Dr. Cynthia Curtis, Dean of Belmont’s School of Music, said, “The School of Music is proud to join the distinguished list of institutions that are All-Steinway. With this decision we provide our students with the finest pianos for both practice and performance. The generous and greatly appreciated gift of Merrydale Woods will live on in the education of Belmont music students.”
