Circle Magazine Fall 2021

Belmont University

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From Here to Anywhere

BELMONT C I R C L E

M A G A Z I N E

LET

Hope ABOUND!

B E L M O N T C E L E B R AT E S T H E A R R I VA L O F D R . G R E G J O N E S A N D R E V. S U S A N P E N D L E T O N J O N E S .

FI R ST LO O K Milton Johnson, chair of the Belmont Board of Trustees, officially inducted Dr. Greg Jones as the University’s new president at a Nov. 5 inauguration ceremony. A large wooden basin and cloth, hand crafted by Watkins College of Art Professor Doug Regen, was presented to Jones during the ceremony, reflecting the gesture of Jesus washing his disciples’ feet and signifying Jones’s commitment to service and humility. Made of layers of various wood species to represent the diversity of the Belmont community, the basin and cloth will now be used in all official academic processionals.

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A WORD FROM THE PRESIDENT As I said when I began my inaugural address and officially assumed the role as President of Belmont University in early November, my heart is full. And the fullness only continues as Susan and I make our home as members of this incredible community.

It’s not surprising to me that this warm, vibrant, creative and entrepreneurial place would feel like home so quickly—it has been part of my story and my family’s lives for generations. My parents lived just across the street from Belmont before I was born, and even more surprising, as I didn’t know until after my appointment was announced, my beloved grandmother was a Ward-Belmont student from 1922-1923. There are so many ties that bind my family to this campus.

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At Belmont, we are committed to letting hope abound—to forming Christcentered leaders of character who will radically champion the pursuit of life abundant for all people in every corner of this world. People who are hope inspiring, character forming, future shaping, community engaging and bridge building. People who accept the God-sized dreams that have been given to them, and understand that their ability to accomplish these dreams comes only when God has called us, stretching and blessing us beyond ourselves.

CIRCLE MAG AZ INE Circle Magazine is published semiannually by University Marketing and Communications for nearly 50,000 alumni and friends of Belmont University.

ADDRESS UPDATES

For address updates, email AdvancementServices@belmont.edu.

CONTACT CIRCLE STAFF

Email: circlemag@belmont.edu Call: 615.460.6641 Mail: Circle Magazine Belmont University Freeman Hall Third Floor 1900 Belmont Blvd. Nashville, TN 37212 MANAGING EDITOR

April Hefner (M.A. ’07) DESIGNERS

Erica Belletete Gina Cutarelli (B.F.A. ’15), Mary Puls (B.F.A. ’20) Shehan Rodrigo UNIVERSITY PHOTOGRAPHER

Sam Simpkins CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Daisy Stolz (‘25) Jack Bell (‘25) Joel Engelhardt (B.S. ’24) Maggie Montgomery (B.S. ’23) Wade Payne CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

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It’s an unbelievably exciting time in the history of this institution, and I Greg’s grandmother’s Ward-Belmont report card was am overwhelmed with gratitude, joy, discovered and now proudly hangs in his office. excitement and hope as I look to the future. Together, we can let hope abound and watch as God continues to work through our community, orchestrating far more than all we can ask and imagine.

What a gift!

Hope Buckner (B.S. ’12, M.Ed. ‘17) Haley Charlton (B.A. ’16) Leah Kuhn (B.A. ’23) Charlotte Maracina (B.A. ’22) Direct inquiries and comments to: Office of Communications/Circle magazine 615.460.6641 or circlemag@belmont.edu

Cheers,

Greg Jones Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever.

Ephesians 3:20-21

ON THE COVER:

Over the summer Belmont celebrated the arrival of Dr. Greg Jones and Rev. Susan Pendleton Jones as the University’s new president and first lady.

Belmont University is a Christian community. The University faculty, administration, and staff uphold Jesus as the Christ and as the measure for all things. As a community seeking to uphold Christian standards of morality, ethics, and conduct, Belmont University holds high expectations of each person who chooses to join the community. In compliance with federal law, including provisions of Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Sections 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Belmont University does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, color, national or ethnic origin, age, disability, military service, or sexual orientation in its administration of education policies programs or activities; its admissions policies; or employment. Consistent with applicable civil rights law, the University seeks employees of Christian faith who are committed to the mission of the University. The University has appointed the director of the Office of Human Resources to serve as coordinator of compliance with Title VII and IX issues and questions for staff and faculty. The Director of Title IX Compliance and Prevention Programs serves as coordinator of compliance for Title IX issues and questions for students. Inquiries or complaints should be directed to: Lauri Chaudoin, Director, Title IX Compliance and Prevention Programs, Freeman Hall, 3rd Floor, 1900 Belmont Boulevard, Nashville, TN 37212, 615.460.5661.

Email: lauri.chaudoin@belmont.edu or Leslie Lenser, Chief Human Resources Officer/Sr. Director & Deputy Title IX Coordinator, Fidelity Hall, Room 426, 1900 Belmont Boulevard, Nashville, TN 37212, 615.460.6456.

Email: leslie.lenser@belmont.edu.

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B EIN G BE L M O N T In anticipation for Dr. Jones’ inauguration celebration, campus watched as The Lawn morphed into a full carnival—complete with Ferris wheel, slides, games and more.

keeping up with

the

Joneses

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WITH A SHARED VOCATION AND DEEP PASSIONS FOR CHAMPIONING LIFE ABUNDANT FOR ALL PEOPLE, DR. GREG JONES AND REV. SUSAN PENDLETON JONES OFFICIALLY ASSUME THEIR NEW ROLES AT BELMONT.

Since arriving at Belmont June 1 to begin their time on campus, Dr. Greg Jones and his wife Rev. Susan Pendleton Jones have hit the ground running. After beginning their first day on campus at popular neighborhood coffeehouse Bongo Java, Greg and Susan (who both prefer to be called by their first names) led a prayer service at the Bell Tower, followed by sending a video to all students, faculty and staff that outlined their vision for the University and the theme for their inaugural year:

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“With Christ as our center, I believe Belmont University is well-positioned to provide hope in these difficult times,” said Greg in the video. “In fact, with our faith as our animating purpose, we can Let Hope Abound in all we say and do. We can do so by educating and forming students to become leaders of character, purpose, and an entrepreneurial mindset to address the challenges of tomorrow. By embracing Nashville and middle Tennessee, partnering with neighbors to meet needs and help our hometown thrive. By finding creative solutions to endemic problems that exacerbate brokenness, suffering, and injustice. And by being a leader in reweaving the social fabric, working against those forces that fracture our society and instead choosing to love and embrace all our neighbors as ourselves.”

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Bongo Java

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Greg and Susan started off the day with a cup of coffee at a campus favorite.

Meeting with the Governor The Joneses visited with Governor Bill Lee.

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Prayer Service Greg led a special service at the Bell Tower for students, faculty and staff.

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At the Mayor’s Office

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Country Music Association The Joneses stopped by CMA for a conversation with CEO Sarah Trahern.

Before lunch, Greg and Susan met with Metro Nashville Mayor John Cooper.

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Metro Nashville Public Schools A meeting with key leaders at MNPS included Superintendent Dr. Adrienne Battle and other team members.

Greg and Susan then put their words into action, spending the rest of their first day visiting offices all across Nashville to meet key leaders and community members. These meetings allowed the Joneses, who see themselves as partners in their new roles at Belmont, to share their vision for Belmont with many across the city.

Since then, their energy has only grown.

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Working alongside her longtime partner, Susan has become a familiar face and name within the Belmont community and beyond. Serving as an extension of the President’s Office wherever needs arise, Susan says she’s filling a role she and Greg have played for each other since first meeting at Duke Divinity in graduate school.

“Our shared vocation has given our lives so much meaning,” Susan said. “Since the earliest days of our careers, our lives—personally and professionally— have intersected, and when Greg accepted this position at Belmont, we knew it would be no different.”

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And the model of how they’ve shared their vocation with each other has continued ever since.

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Now at Belmont, Susan has assumed a new role— Senior Fellow for Christ-Centered Visioning. This volunteer position, housed in the President’s Office, will allow her to continue serving as one of Greg’s key partners, while providing a platform to further Belmont’s mission through her own passions.

Greg and Susan share a deep desire to care for and love people well—and the causes that are near to their

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hearts are already on display through their work at Belmont. These include caring for young children, what Greg calls an “over investment in the young.”

Susan sees this example from the one Jesus sets with his own life. ““When we look at how Jesus spent his time and what he gave his life for,” Susan said, “we see in scripture that he blesses three things with his own hands —bread, wine and children. When we are intentional to care about what we see Jesus bless in the Scriptures, we can better follow him and serve each other.”

They’re also incredibly passionate about accessible education for all people—particularly those who are the first in their families to go to college. This is of particular importance to Susan as she herself is a first-generation college student. Prior to his official inauguration, Greg surprised Susan with an $1 million+ endowment, named in her honor, that will support first generation students in their desire to attend Belmont with scholarship dollars.

Of the opportunity to honor Susan in this way Greg said, “Susan is more than my partner, my spouse and my best friend. She is a north star for our family, providing the wisdom and encouragement to enable us all to set—and stay—the course in our personal, vocational and spiritual lives. Her sense of discernment, ministry and leadership with others is matched only by her kindness and humility. Creating this endowed fund in her name feels like a perfect way to honor her and inspire more young people to experience a transformative education that will empower their own good work in the world.”

The Store

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After lunch with local faith leaders, Greg and Susan visited the newly established nonprofit, focused on providing community members choices for healthy food.

Vanderbilt University Greg stopped by a neighboring institution for a visit with Vanderbilt Chancellor Dr. Daniel Diermeier.

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Edgehill Neighborhood The Joneses visited the Edgehill community to speak with key neighborhood leaders.

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what’s on

G reg’s Desk 1

WHERE THE LIGHT GETS IN

This NY Times bestseller from Kimberly Williams Paisley is one of several hope-inspiring books I’ve been reading recently. Kim shares the difficult but beautiful story of her mother’s dementia journey and its impact on their family.

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While I tend to do most business functions on my laptop, this heavy coin helps keep my desk in order when paperwork is necessary.

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AGENT OF HOPE HAT

Created for Opening Convocation, this hat reflects our theme and desire for each member of our community to be an Agent of Hope.

FAMILY CONNECTIONS

The miniature lion sculpture on my desk mimics the duo standing guard in front of the Belmont Mansion, on of which my dad was photographed on top of as a child.

BELMONT PAPERWEIGHT

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LET HOPE ABOUND COASTER

When I’m drinking my coffee each morning, this coaster serves to remind me daily of our yearlong theme.

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BELMONT CUT THE RIBBON THIS FALL ON THE NEW 1,700-SEAT FISHER CENTER, ADDING A WORLD-CLASS PERFORMANCE VENUE TO CAMPUS AND MIDDLE TENNESSEE.

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On a beautiful day in mid-September, Belmont cut the ribbon on its newest facility—The Fisher Center for the Performing Arts, a $180 million building designed to be the best performance venue on any college campus in the world. The new hall adds another diamond to Music City’s growing ring of world-class venues as it caters to diverse audiences with major concerts, plays, operas, musical theatre and more, while supplying Belmont’s nationally renowned arts students with a unique learning and performing environment.

Belmont President Dr. Greg Jones said, “The beauty and performance capabilities of The Fisher Center are simply unmatched, and its possibilities are unparalleled. This venue will equip students with the confidence and real-world experiences that set them apart as Belmont graduates while also attracting world-renowned artists to share their immense talents. With Belmont’s rich tradition of creativity and imagination, the Fisher Center will be a place for those values to come to life through curating, producing and presenting stories and art that inspire.”

Honoring the incredible legacy of leadership that spearheaded the creation of this project, the ribbon

cutting unveiled the name of the facility and its plaza to celebrate two families who worked together to lead the University for more than 20 years. The Fisher Center is named in honor of recently retired President Dr. Bob Fisher and his wife Judy; Dickens Plaza is named in honor of former Board of Trustees Chairman Marty Dickens and his wife Betty.

The day was further marked by The Fisher Center’s first concert featuring internationally acclaimed violinists and composers, the Mark O’Connor Duo with Maggie O’Connor.

Partnerships with local arts organizations will be an integral aspect of the facility’s identity, as Belmont seeks to share the Center with the community as a place for artistic storytelling, inspiration and celebration. The 2022 Nashville Opera and Nashville Ballet residency are already confirmed for the venue, with conversations underway for additional performances.

While every performance in the space will be a considerable draw, the building itself is its own attraction as acute attention to detail makes this project particularly inspiring. Throughout

the Fisher Center, visitors will find elaborate details and special touches that further enhance the beauty within and symbolize uniquely Belmont traits.

Clockwise from top: The spacious Fisher Center lobby and adjoining ballrooms can host events for 900 people; a statue of Fisher Center namesakes Bob and Judy Fisher, the University’s recently retired President and First Lady, sits just outside the front entrance to the venue; and the Fisher Center’s stunning architecture creates a new landmark for Belmont Boulevard.

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Continuing Belmont’s efforts toward sustainability, The Fisher Center is pursuing LEED Gold certification, which would make it the fifth LEEDcertified building on Belmont’s campus.

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To date more than 200 friends of the university have named seats to create a permanent legacy in the Fisher Center. Limited opportunities exist for those interested in honoring someone important in their lives by naming a seat or space within this magnificent venue.

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In addition to the 1,700-seat performance hall, the Fisher Center features two ballroom spaces (with floor space as large as the main stage) that can be used for smaller performances. During Dr. Greg Jones’ inauguration celebration in early November, one ballroom was named in honor of longtime Belmont supporters Brad Paisley, a Belmont alumnus, and Kimberly Williams-Paisley for the good work they are doing with The Store, a nonprofit that provides food for community members and is located on Belmont’s campus.

STRENGTHENING CAMPUS CONNECT I ON S

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Those who are familiar with Belmont’s campus can quickly tell you which area of campus serves as the University hub—The Lawn. Brimming with opportunity for connection, several initiatives were born this year that utilize the Lawn’s central, inviting green space to draw people together.

Within the second week of classes, the Office of the President launched First Friday Food Trucks and Live on the Lawn.

As the name describes, the entire campus is encouraged to enjoy fellowship outside on the first Friday of the month as a variety of local food trucks appear for lunch. Then in the afternoon, students are invited to play their instruments on the historic Belmont quad prior to the official performances put on through the Live on the Lawn series, which has featured student musicians from all classifications and musical genres.

Any given event promises a gathering of students cheering on their classmates.

“It must be Wednesday” has become a familiar expression around campus these days. When students visit the Lawn on Wednesday mornings and see tables set up, their friends congregating on Freedom Plaza and coffee on tap, they likely mutter to themselves, “Ah, it must be Wednesday!” This new weekly initiative has quickly become a cure for the middle-ofthe-week slump as students enjoy a free cup of coffee from the local Frothy Monkey coffee shop and connect with that week’s featured clubs and organizations.

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When Greg and Susan Jones arrived on campus in June, so did a wealth of new events and community building initiatives that made clear the couple’s intentions to take the sense of connection on campus to new heights. After a year of increased Zoom calls and social distancing, moving back to campus with new community traditions helped the return feel more like “coming home.”

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RECOGNIZING THE IMPORTANCE OF BELONGING, UNITY AND SHARED IDENTITY, THE JONESES INITIATED A HOST OF NEW TRADITIONS TO FURTHER STRENGTHEN CAMPUS CULTURE.

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Faculty and staff also look forward to a variety of new events occurring on a regular basis, designed to build connections across campus. The new “Prayer, Praise and Pastries” series mimics the format of “It Must Be Wednesday” by holding a monthly, Wednesday morning breakfast for faculty and staff to start their day in prayer. Hosted by a different campus department each month, this time of fellowship is designed to build cross-campus connections, provide space for prayer requests to be heard and focus on fulfilling Belmont’s Christ-centered mission.

One thing the Belmont community quickly learned of Greg is that he and Susan are avid readers, spurring lots of questions about their favorite books, especially the works that helped inspire the inaugural theme to “Let Hope Abound.” With this in mind, and to further opportunities for community members to engage and learn together, the duo launched a campus-wide book club to help the entire community further develop a sense of hope. For the fall semester, Greg and Susan recommended four books (see inset) and worked with Bunch Library staff to ensure copies were available for any employee who wanted to participate.

“We see this as a perfect opportunity to encourage lifelong learning, connect with one another, reflect on our theme more deeply and gain fresh vision for where Belmont is headed,” said Greg.

Part of that vision is becoming a more Bridge Building community. Now a newly recognized federal holiday, Belmont held its first “Juneteenth: Celebrating Freedom” event this year. The reception and exhibit featured a visual display, designed to educate, engage and inspire, explaining the importance of the holiday and providing the opportunity for Belmont community members to support local Black-owned businesses. A special display at the campus event presented the life stories of relatives of Black faculty and staff members after receiving their freedom.

“This is the type of work we need to be doing—work that acknowledges painful history, promotes understanding and empathy, and creates opportunity to build community,” Jones said. “It is an excellent example of making progress toward our goal for Belmont to be a leader in reweaving the social fabric.”

Another major step in advancing the sense of close-knit community on campus is the addition of a new residence hall on Caldwell Avenue. Set to open in Fall 2022, Greg continued an old tradition by attending an official “topping out” ceremony as the building’s main structure was completed this semester. Approximately 60 percent of Belmont’s undergraduate population lived on campus in 2019, and the new residential hall will house 600 upperclassmen upon completion.

LEARN

CONNECT CIRCLE MAGAZINE

REFLECT

Fall 2021 Selections for Greg & Susan Jones’ Book Club

CHRISTIANITY’S SURPRISE

by Kavin Rowe

“THIS IS THE TYPE OF WORK WE NEED TO BE DOING—WORK THAT ACKNOWLEDGES PAINFUL HISTORY, PROMOTES UNDERSTANDING AND EMPATHY, AND CREATES OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD COMMUNITY” —GREG JONES

The early Christians engaged in innovative strategies of networks, institutions and education. How might we make Christianity surprising again through hopeinspired living and being futureshaping people?

GILEAD

by Marilynne Robinson A beautifully-crafted love letter from an elderly pastor to the son who was born to him late in life, reflecting on life, ministry, character-formation and hope that spans generations.

WON’T LOSE THIS DREAM

by Andrew Gumbel The inspiring story of the “Georgia State experiment” in providing support for low-income and first-generation students in higher education.

PHOTOS FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: Student performs at a Friday “Live on the Lawn” event; (top) Student Life offers free coffee at special “It Must Be Wednesday” gatherings; the monthly Prayer, Praise & Pastries event gives faculty and staff moments to connect; Belmont held its first Juneteenth celebration this summer; Greg Jones saw campus from a different perspective during the topping out of the new residence hall on Caldwell Avenue.

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Lopez emphasizes three components to transforming hope from an idea into a way of living: a significant goal, a sense of agency and cultivating multiple pathways toward the goal.

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MAKING HOPE HAPPEN

by Shane Lopez

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SPOT L I GHT The 2021 edition of “Christmas at Belmont” was filmed for the first time in the new Fisher Center for the Performing Arts and featured nearly 650 student musicians and School of Music faculty.

The program was broadcast nationally for the 19th consecutive year on PBS.

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Engagement CIRCLE MAGAZINE

BELMONT IS ENHANCING AND EXTENDING ITS COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT WITH NEW INITIATIVES TO IMPACT THE MIDDLE TENNESSEE REGION.

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When Dr. Greg Jones started as president in June, he immediately established community engagement as a high priority of his administration, noting that to be “Nashville’s University” meant that Belmont needed to do its part to ensure the city and surrounding rural areas thrive. Now in efforts large and small, Belmont is engaging with Middle Tennessee in fresh ways. From throwing out a baseball at a Nashville Sounds game to investing resources in community-based projects, Jones is inspiring a new approach to Nashville.

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EXPANDING ACCESS TO BELMONT

One of the biggest projects involves increasing access to Belmont for Nashville high schoolers, especially aspiring first generation college students. Started in 2013, the innovative Bridges to Belmont program is significantly increasing in size with the goal of having a multiplying effect on its impact across Middle Tennessee. The initiative was designed to provide high-need, high-achieving students from four Metro Nashville Public Schools (MNPS) fullride access into a Belmont education. In October, Jones announced the program would expand from 34 to 50 students per year and from four to 10 local public high schools. In future phases, the vision is for Bridges to expand to invite applicants from all public and charter schools in the greater Nashville area.

Jones said, “Every young person in Middle Tennessee deserves to flourish, and by expanding our Bridges to Belmont initiative, we can contribute to giving more students from under-resourced backgrounds access to an education that can transform their lives and their families’ lives for generations to come.”

As part of the planned program expansion, Belmont is increasing focus on specific areas that might otherwise impede students’ persistence and growth. A new “Student Success and Flourishing” initiative will be launched to provide academic and co-curricular support and will incorporate the University’s Learning Centers and GPS office, among others, to guide students’ transition into and throughout their college careers.

The Bridges news builds upon other partnerships with MNPS, including “University You,” a three-week, oncampus opportunity this past summer for 13 high school juniors to take a college-level course. Plans are in the works for this program to expand in 2022 as well.

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Bridges Scholar Antionedra Maupin (pictured with her mother and below with Greg Jones and Belmont Board of Trustees Chair Milton Johnson) shared about her Belmont experience at a press conference to announce an expansion of the Bridges to Belmont program.

THINKING DIFFERENTLY ABOUT DATA

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Another major announcement from the fall will result and royalties. Physics Professor Dr. Scott Hawley, who in creating pathways that enable Belmont students and served as a faculty mentor for the Hackathon, said, the community at large to gain fluency as it relates to “Events like this have value to students because it provides data. In August, the University announced the launch them with an opportunity to engage with real-life data of the Belmont Data Collaborative (BDC), which will issues and to contribute in ways that help the community.” deliver curricula and programming to help fill the everevolving need for data skills in nearly every workforce Belmont intends to invest more than $60 million in environment. The BDC will also partner with companies establishing the BDC over the next five years as a hub and nonprofits across a variety of fields to consult and for collaboration and education, and the BDC will be collaborate on data-related needs and to offer exploratory housed in a new building that will start construction in 2022. Currently known as the 3-D building (for analysis and internships.

Data, Design and Discovery), the six-floor structure will Dr. Charlie Apigian serves as the executive director of the represent the new “front door” of the University. Located BDC as well as a professor of business system and analytics. on the lawn between the Johnson and Baskin Centers, “The Belmont Data Collaborative is an opportunity initial plans call for a Welcome Center, Admissions to infuse data skills into the fabric of all majors and offices, dedicated academic areas and transformative disciplines at Belmont,” he noted. “The greatest need innovation spaces, including the BDC, the Cone Center isn’t just for the next cohort of data scientists; it’s for for Entrepreneurship and other business/design functions. data-driven problem solvers in every field. We can help individuals and companies ‘think differently about data’ so that it can be actionable and instrumental in solving problems and be used in a responsible and ethical way.”

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The BDC held its first event in early November on campus, an all-day ‘Data Hackathon’ that drew participation from more than 70 students and faculty. The event partnered with the Mechanical Licensing Collective, which provided streaming royalties data, and Juice Analytics, which provided their JuiceBox analytical tool, to provide insights into why or how someone would receive rights

Dr. Amy Crook, Belmont’s vice president for transformative innovation, character and purpose, is overseeing the BASIC initiative.

“This campus is full of dedicated faculty and staff who care deeply about making a long-term impact inside and outside the classroom. I’m excited to see how these first funded BASIC grants connect Belmont more deeply to our region, energize our students’ co-curricular experiences and empower these communities with the resources to tackle complex problems that lead toward sustainable change.”

One of the BASIC initiatives involves an extended learning and family support pilot program for 25 families in the Edgehill area that offers academic, creative arts and wellness enrichment activities.

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Another exciting development this fall was the launch of the new Belmont Accelerator for Social Innovation Collaboration, or BASIC, a grant program that funds initiatives pairing faculty, staff and students across different disciplines with community partners to work toward faith-based social innovation to impact local communities, particularly children 0-8.

The first two BASIC grants are focused on strategically engaging root causes of poverty in the Edgehill community and working with a nonprofit in Antioch to serve local immigrants and refugees.

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GETTING BACK TO BASICS

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On Purpose

THANKS TO SUPPORT FROM INTERNATIONAL FOUNDATIONS AND MAJOR DONORS, BELMONT PUTS INTENTIONAL FOCUS ON PREPARING STUDENTS FOR PURPOSE-DRIVEN LIVES.

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The newly established Thomas F. Frist, Jr. College of Medicine will benefit from all the funds, particularly a $10 million gift presented by Belmont Board of Trustees Chair, alumnus and retired HCA Healthcare Chairman and CEO Milton Johnson and his wife Denice. Their donation honors Dr. Thomas F. Frist, Jr., the College’s namesake and HCA Healthcare co-founder, who sets a strong example for all Belmont students.

Johnson noted that he and Denice were overjoyed to make this gift in honor of his mentor and the many decades he has dedicated to transforming healthcare. “Nashville celebrates its status as the nation’s healthcare capital today largely because of Tommy’s transformational work,” Johnson said. “He was also a leader of outstanding character. I’m eager to watch as the next generation of healthcare providers are trained at Belmont with a similar drive to serve and care for patients, families and communities.”

Additional momentum came this semester from the Kern Family Foundation, which provided a new $2.15 million grant to create the “Kern Initiative on Character, Entrepreneurial Mindset and Purpose at Belmont University.” The grant will provide the foundation for creating a transformational framework to embed the aforementioned traits into medical education and programming across all of the University’s health care-related majors as well as through Belmont’s other colleges and schools.

Kern Family Foundation President Jim Rahn said, “It is a rare opportunity to invest in a cross-disciplinary initiative that will impact all existing

Belmont colleges while also laying a firm foundation for the new College of Medicine. We are confident that Belmont will serve as a model and inspiration for other universities.”

Belmont Vice President for Transformative Innovation, Character and Purpose Dr. Amy Crook added, “We have been intentional in shaping our students in and outside the classroom, and partnering with the Kern Family Foundation will allow us to focus and amplify our efforts around character development, entrepreneurial mindset and purpose across all aspects of our educational model.”

Similarly, a $200,000 grant from the Arthur Vining Davis Foundations will initiate a new multi-pronged approach to further embed the concept and personal discovery of purpose into students’ curricular and cocurricular experiences. The grant will support intentional programming, workshops, an alumni mentoring program and a University-wide Spring 2022 course, all designed to aid students in discovering purpose in their current studies and future vocations.

Belmont President Dr. Greg Jones, his wife Rev. Susan Pendleton Jones and multiple faculty members will team teach the University-wide course in the spring. “At Belmont we believe that all people were created by God for a purpose,” said Dr. Jones. “Further, we know that college experiences—both inside and outside the classroom—play an integral role in helping young people discover, understand and ultimately fulfill that purpose. This grant will help strengthen and deepen our focus on establishing purpose as an integral and signature aspect of a Belmont education.”

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hat a semester! From a major donation from a highly respected alum to significant support received from international foundations,BelmontcelebratedabannerFall2021asmillions of dollars were raised to inspire students’ character and sense of purpose.

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Caption.

LET

Hope

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ABOUND!

THREE DAYS OF SPECIAL EVENTS MARKED BELMONT’S INAUGURATION CELEBRATION AS GREG JONES INSPIRED CONVERSATIONS AND EVENTS AROUND THEMES OF COLLABORATION, INNOVATION AND AN ENTREPRENEURIAL MINDSET.

For the first time in 21 years, the Belmont University community was inaugurating a new president. This once-in-a-generation event inspired all involved to think outside the box and create moments that would reflect the theme Greg Jones set for his inaugural year: Let Hope Abound!

have collectively faced over the last 18 months, there is no question that our world is in need of a significant sense of rejuvenation, peace and hope.

At Belmont, we are channeling that sense in all we do—every action, behavior, thought, word and deed.”

“My focus over the past six months has been on hope, a sense of hope rooted in God and his promises,” Jones said. “And with the challenges we

And that idea was the guiding force behind all of the inauguration events held Nov. 3-5.

NOVEMBER 3:

A daY for caMpUs The celebration kicked off on Wednesday as classes were cancelled for the day to allow students, faculty and staff to engage in activities designed just for the campus community. Following early morning yoga and wellness options, Jones set the tone with a Chapel service that recalled Wendell Berry’s “Jayber Crow” and focused on the joys found working together in community. The idea was immediately put into practice as faculty and staff hosted more than 20 Belmont Talks, fast-paced 20-minute educational sessions on a variety of topics, from learning about the Enneagram and emerging technologies to injury prevention for musicians and understanding pain.

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The afternoon amped up the energy with an on-campus carnival complete with bounce houses, bungee jumping, games and… yes, a Ferris wheel!

Students lined the Lawn for an opportunity to enjoy super slides and a bird’s eye view of campus. Assistant Director of Student Engagement Laurel Hildner said the goal was to execute a day that “let hope ABOUND,” with the sky as the limit. “It is one thing to dream of things like this on paper, and it is another thing to have the support and resources to pull it off. The Joneses have made clear through their support that this type of student engagement on campus is going to be the norm, and that is something I am really excited for.”

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The fun didn’t stop there as buses appeared on Belmont Circle to transport students, faculty and staff downtown for free tours of the newly opened National Museum of African American Music. The day ended with a variety of food trucks and a free concert from Ben Rector, who employed three Belmont students as rotating bass players during the show after his regular bassist became ill.

Rector told The Tennessean that he hopes performing on stage helped the students gain confidence in their abilities. “They can step into that situation flawlessly and execute on the highest level,” Rector said. “If I were them, I’d be like, ‘that feels good, man.’ That feels like you got tossed into pro baseball… and they fill in and do great. Yeah, you’re this good.”

Belmont students, faculty and staff enjoyed free tours of the newly opened National Museum of African American Music.

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Dr. Jones and students enjoy the on-campus carnival featuring a Ferris wheel.

The day ended with a free concert from Ben Rector.

Brad Paisley and Harry Chapman

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DR. VANN NEWKIRK Fisk University President

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DR. GREG JONES Belmont University President

DR. CANDICE MCQUEEN Lipscomb University President

DR. DANIEL DIERMEIER Vanderbilt Chancellor

NOVEMBER 4:

A day For tHe commUniTy Building on Nashville’s reputation as the Athens of the South and a hub for higher education, Thursday’s events began with a panel featuring leaders in higher education from across Nashville. Dr. Jones was joined by Vanderbilt Chancellor Dr. Daniel Diermeier, Nashville State Community College President Dr. Shanna Jackson, Lipscomb University President Dr. Candice McQueen and Fisk University President Dr. Vann Newkirk with USA Today Network/Tennessee Opinion & Engagement Editor David Plazas serving as moderator.

The day concluded with “A Night of Stories and Songs with Brad Paisley” in the Fisher Center. Prior to the performance, a reception was held to honor Paisley and Kimberly Williams-Paisley for the good work they are doing with The Store, a nonprofit they founded two years ago, as well as to express Belmont’s gratitude for the endowed scholarship fund the couple created.

Brad Paisley said, “You can almost do anything you want in the world once you get a degree here. That impacts our charity in a way we never envisioned when we first pitched this idea—it can be so much more than a grocery store. I just want to use us as a school and as a charity to do good things in the world.”

Rev. Gabriel Salguero leads chapel service

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DAVID PLAZAS USA Today Network/Tennessee Opinion & Engagement Editor

Rev. Gabriel Salguero, president and found of the National Latino Evangelical Coalition, led a moving Chapel service asking attendees to ponder how followers of Christ can and should respond to current times, noting that “for we who are prisoners of hope, it is always Christmas even in the winter of our discontentment.”

A lunchtime panel—moderated by Senator Bill Frist and featuring Siloam Health’s Dr. Morgan Wills, Meharry Medical College’s Dr. Millard Collins, Russell Street Ventures’ Brad Smith and Frist College of Medicine’s Dr. Karen Lewis—then examined ways to address health care disparities and inequities in our community.

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DR. SHANNA JACKSON Nashville State Community College President

Responding to how universities can engage with and support Nashville, Jones said, “I think what universities need to do and what all of us are committed to doing is developing intrinsic partnerships, listening to community leaders as well as businesses and nonprofits to develop an innovation ecosystem where we can work on the hard problems… We need to be working together as universities to solve those challenges and seize opportunities.”

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Higher Education Panel

NOVEMBER 5:

InaugUraTion Day Inauguration Day dawned bright and beautiful, beginning appropriately with a prayer breakfast to reflect on Belmont’s past, present and future.

Greg Jones then moderated two panel conversations with the Kern Family Foundation’s Jim Rahn, John Templeton Foundation’s Heather Dill and Lilly Endowment’s Clay Robbins joining him for the first discussion on “Character, Purpose and Entrepreneurial Mindset.”

PwC’s Dr. Blair Sheppard, Jumpstart Health Investors/Jumpstart Nova’s Marcus Whitney and Massey College of Business’s Dr. Sarah Gardial then discussed with Jones what it takes to encourage an entrepreneurial spirit to drive innovation and change.

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Former Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam partnered with Dr. Jones for an interview over lunch to explore the role faith can play in healing a divided world, followed by a special “Upon This Mountain” Inaugural Chapel with words of inspiration from Rev. Susan Pendleton Jones.

The Joneses’ son-in-law Joey Fala, an accomplished organist, provided a perfect transition to the Inauguration Ceremony by playing a concert on the Bell Tower Carillon as the campus community and special guests made their way into the Curb Event Center.

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“Character, Purpose and Entrepreneurial Mindset” panel

Inaugural Luncheon: “The Power of Faith in Reweaving the Social Fabric” with Former Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam

Prayer Breakfast

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JoNes

THE

FA M I LY

Following a performance of the original song “Let Hope Abound” from alumna Melinda Doolittle and greetings from representatives of Tennessee, Nashville, faculty, staff, alumni and students, Belmont Board of Trustees Chair Milton Johnson officially inducted Dr. Greg Jones as Belmont’s president.

In his inauguration speech, Jones said, “My hope for all of us gathered here at Belmont is that we will serve as a beacon, by serving and educating others in a spirit that will bring healing and hope and a new sense of possibility in the midst of a broken and suffering world. In a time of discouragement and despair, may Belmont be a hope-inspiring place. In a time of moral failures and crises in leadership, may Belmont be a character-forming place. In a time of tumultuous change, may Belmont be a future-shaping place. In a time of isolation, may Belmont be a community-engaging place. And in a time of fraying of the social fabric, may Belmont be a bridge-building place.”

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Then, as he introduced former Trustee and Belmont parent CeCe Winans to sing “The Goodness of God,” he added, “My pledge to you my friends this day is that I am going to Let Hope Abound. Rooted in the goodness of God, I want us to see what God—working in and among and occasionally in spite of us—might be able to do, abundantly far more than all we could ask or imagine. That’s my pledge to you.

Will you join me?”

Inauguration event videos can be found at PRESIDENT.BELMONT.EDU.

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Former Trustee and Belmont parent CeCe Winans sings “The Goodness of God”

Alumna Melinda Doolittle sings original song “Let Hope Abound” to open the ceremony.

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Dr. Greg Jones delivers inauguration speech

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The Joneses’ son-in-law Joey Fala, an accomplished organist, provided a perfect transition to the Inauguration Ceremony by playing a concert on the Bell Tower Carillon.

JANUARY 5 First Day of Classes FEBRUARY 21–26 Homecoming MARCH 14–18 Spring Break MAY 6–7 Commencement Celebration belmont.edu

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