Belmont University will initiate a new relationship in May with the Japan Center for Michigan Universities (JCMU) in Hikone, Shiga Prefecture, about 50 minutes away from Kyoto. A group of 10 Belmont students with Dr. Jonathan Thorndike, Honors professor, and Dr. John Paine), professor of foreign languages and English, will spend three weeks in Japan. After one week at the JCMU, they will visit Otsu, Osaka, Kyoto, Nara, Hiroshima and Tokyo. The Belmont group will be joined with a group from Michigan State University. The Asian Studies Program at Belmont hopes to offer regular opportunities to study in Japan in the future, either for the May term or for the entire semester at the JCMU.
The purpose of the May-term travel-study course is to study Japanese history and literature and to learn how historical Samurai codes of honor and values may have influenced modern Japan. The group will tour the Nissan Oppama Assembly Plant in Kanagawa as well as the Bridgestone Museum of Art in Tokyo. Belmont’s cooperative program with the JCMU in Hikone allows for classroom instruction at the JCMU with field trips on weekends and afternoons. Students will begin learning the Japanese language and practice speaking basic Japanese phrases. The class will maximize on the unique opportunities created in traveling to relevant field trip sites as a primary teaching and learning model. The students will participate in lectures, class discussions, student research projects and visiting Japanese educators.
The JCMU is the product of a sister-state relationship between Shiga Prefecture, Japan, and the state of Michigan. The JCMU hosts exchange programs between Japanese and American high schools and colleges as well as conferences for business leaders: to contribute to the development of closer ties between the United States and Shiga Prefecture and Japan; to promote mutual understanding of the cultures, languages and customs of Japan and the United States in a location where people can come together for study and research; to serve as a focal point for international educational exchange open to the local community; and to carry out four major programs: a) academic program in Japanese language; b) special purpose courses, seminars and workshops; c) English language program for citizens of Shiga; d) visiting scholar program for faculty and graduate students from American colleges and universities.
Belmont Students and Faculty Prepare for Three-Week Travel-Study Tour of Japan
Belmont Alumna and Miss USA 2007 Rachel Smith Returns to Belmont
Belmont University alumna and Miss USA 2007, Rachel Smith, came back to Belmont today for the first time since winning the Miss USA crown last month. Belmont President Dr. Bob Fisher proclaimed today “Rachel Smith Day” in recognition of her service to the Belmont community as a student and for all her successes since graduating last December.
Smith answered questions from Harry Chapman, director of development for major gifts at Belmont, and students in the audience and reconnected with friends and former professors during a reception following the program. She spoke about the Miss USA pageant experience, her time at Belmont and her plans for the future, including the upcoming Miss Universe pageant May 28 in Mexico City.
While a Belmont student, Smith served as managing editor of The Belmont Vision, Belmont’s student newspaper, interned for “The Oprah Winfrey Show” for eight months and traveled to South Africa to work with students at the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy.
Smith was an Ingram Scholar while a student at Belmont, a scholarship supported by Orrin Ingram and the Ingram family. Students named Ingram Scholars receive a scholarship to attend Belmont; in return, each student must perform a set number of volunteer hours at the Boys and Girls Club each month, although many Ingram Scholars (including Smith) spend much more time volunteering than required. This unique service-learning scholarship allows Belmont to give a quality education to well-deserving students while they give back to the greater community. Smith was one of the first Ingram Scholars to graduate from Belmont.
Belmont University Hosts CMT Music Awards Second Year In a Row
The 2007 CMT Music Awards were held in the Curb Event Center at Belmont University Monday, April 16. This is the second year in the row Belmont hosted the live awards show. Winners of the 2007 awards included Carrie Underwood, Kenny Chesney, Taylor Swift, Jack Ingram, Rascal Flatts and Sugarland. Roseanne Cash recognized Kris Kristofferson with the Johnny Cash Visionary Award.
Rascal Flatts, Sugarland, Hank Williams, Jr., Carrie Underwood, Bon Jovi, Kenny Chesney, Dierks Bentley, Toby Keith and Martina McBride performed live during the telecast. Keith Urban performed live via satellite from Sydney, Australia.
Comedian Jeff Foxworthy hosted the CMT Music Awards for the third year in a row. He was joined on stage by presenters Barbara Mandrell, Big & Rich, Blake Shelton, Gretchen Wilson, Jason Aldean, NASCAR driver Jeff Burton, Belmont alum Josh Turner, Kellie Pickler, Lance Smith, LeAnn Rimes, Melissa Peterman, Miranda Lambert, Randy Owens of Alabama, Rodney Carrington, Ron White, Ross “the Intern” Mathews, Stone Cold Steve Austin, Taylor Kitsch and Taylor Swift.
For the second year in a row, CMT simulcast the awards live online at CMT.com and on CMT Radio, making the broadcast available to nearly 150 CMT radio affiliates. In addition, exclusive content can be seen on CMT.com and its broadband channel CMT Loaded, on CMT Mobile and on URGE, MTV Network’s digital music service. MHD: Music High Definition, MTV Networks’ high-definition channel, also simulcasted the 2007 CMT MUSIC AWARDS in HD. CMT will later bow the awards on its digital all-music channel, CMT Pure Country.
CMT will re-telecast the 2007 CMT Music Awards on Monday, April 16, at 10:30 p.m., ET/PT; Tuesday, April 17, at 2 p.m. and 9 p.m., ET/PT; Thursday, April 19, at 8 p.m., ET/PT; Friday, April 20, at 10 p.m., ET/PT; Saturday, April 21, at 4:30 p.m., ET/PT; Sunday, April 22, at 1:30 p.m. and 7 p.m., ET/PT.
CSI: Belmont
Belmont University’s Department of Chemistry and Physics hosted a series of events April 9-13, 2007 entitled CSI: Belmont. Events included a presentation by a firearms analyst from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, a viewing of an episode of NUMB3RS with commentary from Dr. Miller and a viewing of an episode of CSI with commentary from Dr. Murphree.
College of Arts and Sciences Hosts Exploration Workshops
The College of Arts and Sciences hosted two “Exploration Workshops” for high school sophomores and juniors and Friday, April 13, 2007. The first, “Smuggled,” was an exploration in environmental studies, and the second, “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation,” was an exploration in chemistry. Led by Belmont faculty and students, these half day, hands-on workshops provide an opportunity for middle Tennessee teachers to send up to five students with a keen interest in their subjects to take part in active learning, labs and group research.
Belmont PR Students Attend PRSSA National Assembly
Twelve students from Belmont University were among students from around the country attending the PRSSA National Assembly in Nashville March 22-25. Attending the March 22 reception were Belmont students (seated, from left) Ben Palos, Lisa Bates, Emily Telford, Fatima Karwandyar and Ashley Bearden with (standing, from left) Belmont faculty members Bonnie Riechert, APR, and Pam Parry, APR; Vicki Bagwell, APR, immediate past president of the Nashville PRSA chapter; Marcia Colburn, Nashville PRSA chapter president; and Susan Barnes, APR, Fellow PRSA, Nashville PRSA member. Other Belmont students attending the assembly included Brittany Adams, MacKenzie Fischer, Jess Reuter and Alyssa Stell.
Belmont University Hosts Mayoral Forum
Belmont University hosted a forum with the 2007 Nashville mayoral candidates Friday, April 13, in the Massey Concert Hall on the Belmont campus. The forum focused on issues impacting the higher education community in Nashville. Each candidate for mayor has named education his top priority in his campaign.
Nashville mayoral candidates David Briley, Bob Clement, Karl Dean, Buck Dozier, Kenneth Eaton and Howard Gentry answered questions concerning the impact of higher education in the city of Nashville. Harry Chapman, Director of Development for Major Gifts at Belmont, moderated the forum. Belmont students Henry Nichols, editor of Belmont’s student newspaper The Belmont Vision, and Lauren Williams, secretary of the Belmont James Madison Society, asked the candidates their questions.
Belmont University Hires Associate Dean of Massey School
Belmont University has named Dr. Joe Alexander the associate dean and senior professor of performance excellence of the Jack C. Massey Graduate School of Business, effective July 1, 2007. Alexander comes to Belmont from the University of Northern Colorado where he has served as dean of the Monfort College of Business since 2002.
Under Alexander, UNC’s business school won the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award in 2004, the only business school to earn that honor. The Baldrige Award is given annually to businesses and educational and health care organizations judged to be outstanding in seven key areas, including leadership and strategic planning.
Alexander will provide leadership for the Master of Business Administration (MBA) and Master of Accountancy (MACC) programs at the Massey School. He will develop and implement an aggressive enrollment growth strategy and manage the marketing and recruitment to support new program development. Alexander will hold the tenured rank of full professor and teach graduate-level courses in performance excellence.
“Dr. Joe Alexander is a national leader in the field of performance excellence and academic management,” Pat Raines, dean of the College of Business Administration at Belmont, said. “His passion for improving organizational efficiency will enhance the graduate programs that we offer at Belmont and add value to the service we provide to the Nashville business community. The prospect of Joe joining our community has everyone associated with The Massey Graduate School excited about the future.”
Belmont University Announces Recipient of First AT&T Real Yellow Pages in Public Relations
Ashley Bearden, a junior public relations major at Belmont University, has been selected as the first recipient of the AT&T Real Yellow Pages Scholarship in Public Relations. AT&T Advertising and Publishing is supporting Belmont University’s public relations program with a five-year scholarship commitment, which will be awarded each year to a deserving student who has demonstrated leadership, communications skills and scholarship in public relations. This scholarship is the first the company has awarded at Belmont University.
“I am thrilled to have received this scholarship,” Bearden said. “It’s such an honor for my work in and outside of the classroom to be recognized by my professors and AT&T. My family and I are very grateful to AT&T Advertising & Publishing for providing this scholarship to help fund my education at Belmont.”
A $2,500 prize will be presented annually in the spring, to the public relations major who demonstrates academic excellence, campus service, professionalism and is able to communicate effectively a response in essay form to the question, “What role should public relations play in corporate social responsibility?”
“Each year, the scholarship will recognize and reward a student who has demonstrated extraordinary communications skills in the area of public relations,” Chris Andrews, AT&T Real Yellow Pages division manager, said. “AT&T Advertising and Publishing is committed to supporting initiatives that provide students with the skills and knowledge they need in order to succeed in an ever-expanding global economy.”
The public relations program is in its third year at Belmont University and has more than 60 students. This will be the second scholarship awarded to students in that major.
“We now have two important corporations, Bridgestone Americas and AT&T, rewarding and encouraging the best communicators on Belmont University’s campus with scholarships,” Larry Hall, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, said. “They are a great endorsement of Belmont’s program and a tremendous support for these students as they prepare for careers that will allow them to make important contributions to the communities in which they will live.”
