Belmont Magazine Spring 2023

Celebrating

Belmont Betty

A Word from the President

DEAR FRIENDS,

At Belmont, we are committed to training diverse leaders of character who are interested in using their unique gifts and talents to make meaningful change in the world.

We recently hosted our inaugural “FailFest,” an event focused on how failure can be used as a transformational tool when grounded in humility and joy. Faculty and staff encouraged students not to correlate failure with pieces of their identity, but instead to look at it as “FAIL—First Attempts in Learning,” changing the way we view failure as a campus community.

Belmont’s Fisher Center recently annouced its inaugural “Artist in Residence”—the legendary CeCe Winans—who will join us for various events during the fall 2023 semester. A Belmont parent of two alumni, former University Trustee and longstanding friend of Belmont, she is a treasured member of our community. CeCe is a wealth of knowledge for our students to learn from and will bring immeasurable value to our campus this fall.

In addition, we are excited to host the second annual Hope Summit at Belmont University—a twoday event scheduled for Oct. 2-3, focused on convening Agents of Hope from a variety of industries who are actively working toward making change in the world and seeking human flourishing for all.

This year’s event will also highlight the art of storytelling—from the power of the craft to the way leaders can creatively leverage this tool to make an impact in their fields—using the stories that we share to impact people, institutions and communities.

As we proceed with the work of our Strategic Trajectory toward 2030, I am confident that these initiatives and those to come are integral to accomplishing our Aspirational Aim to be the leading Christ-centered university in the world.

Cheers,

BELMONT MAGAZINE

Belmont Magazine is published semiannually by University Marketing and Communications for nearly 50,000 alumni and friends of Belmont University.

MANAGING EDITOR

Allison Fomby

DESIGNERS

Caitlin Cooney (B.F.A. ‘22)

Gina Cutarelli (B.F.A. ’15)

Mary Puls (B.F.A. ’20)

UNIVERSITY PHOTOGRAPHER

Sam Simpkins

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Hope Buckner (B.S. ’12, M.Ed. ‘17)

Mairi Collins

Haley Charlton (B.A. ’16)

Julia Couch (B.S. ’16, M.S. ’23)

Cara Baker Davis (B.A. ’00)

April Hefner (M.A. ‘07)

Emma Johansson (B.A. ‘22)

Jasmine Simmons

ADDRESS UPDATES

For address updates, email AdvancementServices@belmont.edu.

CONTACT BELMONT MAGAZINE STAFF

Email: communication@belmont.edu

Mail: Belmont Magazine

Belmont University

Freeman Hall Third Floor 1900 Belmont Blvd.

Nashville, TN 37212

Greg Jones

Belmont University is a Christ-centered 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, Titles VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973/the Americans with Disabilities Act, 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 Chief Human Resources Officer/Deputy Title IX Coordinator to serve as coordinator of non-discrimination compliance for staff and faculty. The Director of Institutional Equity and Compliance and Title IX Coordinator serves as coordinator of compliance for Title IX (sex discrimination) issues and questions for students. Inquiries or complaints related to sex discrimination (including sexual harassment, sexual orientation, and/or pregnancy) or other forms of discrimination/harassment (e.g., race, color, national or ethnic origin, disability, age, military service) should be directed to: Leslie Lenser (Employee Issues/Complaints), Chief Human Resources Officer and Deputy Title IX Coordinator, Fidelity Hall, Room 426, 1900 Belmont Boulevard, Nashville, TN 37212. Phone: 615.460.6456. Email: leslie.lenser@belmont.edu. Carly Elliott (Student Issues/Complaints), Director of Institutional Equity and Compliance and Title IX Coordinator, Freeman Hall, 3rd Floor, 1900 Belmont Boulevard, Nashville, TN 37212, Phone: 615.460.6894. Email: carly.elliott@belmont.edu

From left to right: Dr. Greg Jones, CeCe Winans, Alvin Love II

BELMONT CELEBRATES 2023 SPRING COMMENCEMENT

Belmont University held its spring 2023 commencement ceremonies for graduate and undergraduate students on Friday, May 5 and Saturday, May 6 in the Curb Event Center. Across the three ceremonies, the University recognized the graduation of 1,511 students, including 1,069 bachelor’s candidates and 442 master’s and doctoral candidates.

Belmont President Dr. Greg Jones presided over the events and presented the commencement address at all ceremonies. “My hope is that you go forth from this place with competencies, skills and gifts that a rigorous education in your field will enable you to accomplish. Go with

character that will nurture unlikely friendships, help encourage others and inspire us all to help reweave the social fabric in life-giving ways.”

During the Friday evening and Saturday afternoon ceremonies, Dr. Jones also awarded special honorary Doctor of University degrees to individuals who have greatly impacted both Belmont and the Nashville community: Joe and Anne Russell and CeCe Winans. Honorary degrees have been presented by American colleges and universities since 1962 in recognition of scholarly and creative attainments, as well as for meritorious humanitarian service.

Belmont is selective in bestowing this award as the highest honor presented by the University. Both current Board of Trustee members, Joe and Anne Russell gave a $4 million endowment in 2016 to support the University’s Bell Tower Scholars program, which has provided hundreds of Metro Nashville Public School graduates access to a Belmont education. CeCe Winans, also a former Trustee, is a Belmont parent and is set to begin her Residency with The Fisher Center at Belmont during the fall 2023 semester where she will host seminars, speak in chapel and perform a stop on her “Believe For It” tour in September. 

BELMONT UNIVERSITY ANNOUNCES 30% TUITION REDUCTION FOR MASTER’S DEGREES IN EDUCATION

Belmont University this spring announced a 30% tuition reduction for all master’s degrees in education beginning in the fall of 2023. Recognizing the immense value and powerful impact transformative teachers will have on future generations, Belmont is making this investment in education to help address the teacher shortage and support outstanding educators.

“Belmont is making it easier for people with a passion for teaching to gain access to our highquality graduate degrees, so they can fulfill their dream of making a difference in the classroom and in our community,” College of Education Dean Jim McIntyre said. “Belmont’s commitment to excellence in education and its accessible pricing structure will enable many more talented aspiring and practicing educators to deeply impact the lives of young people and to help our region flourish.”

Belmont offers several pathways for aspiring educators to discover their potential and join an important profession impacting future generations.

With the Master of Arts in Teaching program, Belmont prepares individuals for teacher licensure with courses accredited and approved by the Tennessee Department of Education and accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP). Those already in the education field can benefit from Belmont’s Teacher Leadership program, which has specialized staff who are dedicated to helping teachers explore possible career advancements through advocacy or policy, all while keeping working professionals’ schedules in mind with weekend and evening course work. 

DR. CHARLIE APIGIAN HONORED AT 2023

NASHVILLE TECHNOLOGY COUNCIL AWARDS

Executive Director of the Belmont Data Collaborative Dr. Charlie Apigian was named the Community Leader of the Year at the 2023 Greater Nashville Technology Council Awards. The Greater Nashville Technology Council’s annual awards are dedicated to connecting, uniting, developing and promoting Middle Tennessee’s rich community of developers and technology entrepreneurs, enthusiasts and institutions.

“Winning this year’s NTC Community Leader of the Year really shows that the work that our team is doing in the Belmont Data Collaborative is making an impact within the Nashville community,” Apigian said. “We use data to tackle hard problems, and with our wonderful partners, we believe we can do great things. I am so proud of the work we are doing and the support that we have at Belmont. I love our Nashville community and firmly believe we are just getting started with making a difference.”

Dr. Marquinta Harvey, assistant director of the Belmont Data Collaborative, was also named a GNTC Awards finalist in the Diversity and Inclusion Advocate of the Year category. 

For more information about graduate programs in education, visit belmont.edu/ education/graduate.

FRIST COLLEGE OF MEDICINE CROSSES CONSTRUCTION MILESTONE: TOPPING OUT

Belmont University hosted a topping out ceremony April 12, placing the final beam for the under-construction Frist College of Medicine facility, estimated to be complete in spring 2024. The College is named in honor of health care icon Dr. Thomas F. Frist, Jr., former Air Force surgeon, physician and co-founder of HCA Healthcare.

“Belmont’s entrepreneurial and innovative spirit—like Dr. Frist’s—is forward-looking and will shape future health care leaders who are nimble and able to thrive among changing technologies,” said Belmont President Dr. Greg Jones at the event. “Establishing the Frist College of Medicine is Belmont’s way of providing a tangible solution to our nation’s impending physician shortage. Pending accreditation, we hope to welcome our inaugural class in July 2024.”

The six-story, 246,000-square-foot facility includes a state-of-the-art 50,000-squarefoot Simulation Center—one of the most comprehensive in the nation—which will utilize virtual and augmented reality as part of its simulated offerings. Within Belmont’s health care corridor, one block from the Gordon E. Inman Center and McWhorter Hall, the facility has been designed to create a fully interdisciplinary educational experience, allowing students in existing programs to work alongside aspiring MDs—just as they would in a clinical setting.

Currently under “Candidate Status,” the College will welcome representatives from its accrediting body, the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME), for a site visit this summer, signaling significant progress in the accreditation process.

“What a joy it is to be here at such an exciting day for Frist College of Medicine as we raise the final beam. This is a tangible step towards being even closer to accreditation and welcoming students,” said Dean Dr. Anderson Spickard.

“With a focus on whole-person care, Belmont’s Frist College of Medicine is committed to educating future clinicians and researchers, who consider a patient’s entire identity, calculating the personal context and the socioeconomic and systemic factors, and finding solutions that affect one’s ability to flourish. This program will produce the next generation of health care leaders of character and purpose who champion life abundant for all people.”

A college built on CHRIST-CENTEREDNESS, HOSPITALITY, and DEDICATION TO THE FIERCE WORK OF MEDICINE

JUSTICE FOR ALL: LAW PROFESSOR LAUNCHES PLEA BARGAINING INSTITUTE

College of Law Professor Lucian Dervan, in partnership with Fair Trials, launched the Plea Bargaining Institute (PBI) this past semester, creating an environment for sharing knowledge, research and collaboration related to reforming global plea-bargaining practices.

Research indicates that plea bargain incentives often persuade innocent defendants to plead guilty. Defendants often agree for lesser sentences to avoid lengthy court trials and the imposition of much higher sentences for those who exercise their right to proceed to trial.

“We now know more about how plea bargaining operates, how defendants make decisions and how coercive incentives can lead even the innocent to plead guilty,” Dervan said. “At the same time, we’ve seen more reform efforts, more litigation and more advocacy in the pleabargaining space. What was needed, however, was an entity to help bring the academic, practitioner and advocate worlds together. PBI will fill this need and create a global intellectual home for this important work. As a result, advocates will have better access to important research findings related to their work and academics will have access to those in the field to help identify where future research should be focused.” 

“Belmont has a remarkable way of becoming a part of us—not only in how it equips us for our future professions, but also in the enduring friendships it fosters.”

Chip Hayner Director of Alumni & Family Engagement

THE BELMONT REASONS CELEBRATE 50TH ANNIVERSARY WITH REUNION

More than 100 people gathered Friday, Feb. 10 in Columbia Studio A to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Belmont Reasons singers. The night was filled with food, fellowship, stories and song, as well as memories of those who have passed away. It was also a night to celebrate the successes of Belmont’s Mike Curb College of Entertainment & Music Business and its faculty and alumni.

“Belmont has a remarkable way of becoming a part of us—not only in how it equips us for our future professions, but also in the enduring friendships it

fosters,” said Chip Hayner, Director of Alumni & Family Engagement. “This reunion was a perfect illustration of both of these, with dozens of alumni having achieved great success, reuniting with old friends and resuming where they left off four or more decades ago.”

The group, active from 1971-1988, was a public relations ensemble for the University under the direction of Robert E. Mulloy, founder of Belmont’s music business program and longtime associate dean. During the 1970s and ’80s, over

200 students participated in this ensemble, touring and performing for schools, churches and civic groups across the Southeast.

Many of the group’s alumni shaped the music industry and contributed to the success of Belmont, said Jeff Gwaltney, the reunion committee chairman and alumnus of the group (1976-1980). “I hope this reunion puts a spotlight on Bob Mulloy (in light of the 50th anniversary of the music business program) and the impact [the group] has had on Belmont, on Nashville and around the world.” 

BELMONT’S PITCHMEN A CAPELLA GROUP WINS INTERNATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

Belmont’s Pitchmen a capella group won first place at the International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella (ICCA) April 29. The ICCA is a bracket system competition that takes place annually beginning in January and concluding in April.

“Pitchmen has been my favorite thing about Belmont since I joined as a freshman,” said Sean Murphy, senior commercial voice major from Buffalo, New York. “To see this group grow over

the years and to have a chance to help lead us to a championship has been a dream come true. This group is full of the hardest workers I’ve ever met, and it’s truly amazing to see our hard work paying off. We’ve cemented ourselves as one of the best all-male identifying a capella groups in the history of the competition. I couldn’t have asked for a better ending to my college career and my time in Pitchmen.”

In addition to winning the championship by

an 80-point margin, the Pitchmen’s specialty awards included Outstanding Soloist to Elijah Morman, Jared Pruzan, Rob Montano and Chris Wiper and Outstanding Choreography to Sean Dean and Mason Bates for the entire set.

ICCA was founded in a college dorm room in 1996 and has since grown to include 450 groups competing in nine regions in the U.S. and Europe, with finals held in New York City each year. 

DAVID ROSSELLI APPOINTED EXECUTIVE VP FOR ADVANCEMENT

The University recently announced the appointment of David Rosselli, current Vice President for Advancement and Alumni Relations at Baylor University, as the new Executive Vice President for Advancement at Belmont University, effective Aug. 1. Rosselli brings nearly three decades of strategic development experience at both public and private institutions to his new role at Belmont, where he will serve on the Institution’s executive leadership team and report directly to the president.

MORE THAN GROCERIES: THE STORE CELEBRATES THIRD ANNIVERSARY

Three years ago, Belmont alumnus Brad Paisley and his wife Kimberly WilliamsPaisley, a Belmont Trustee, set out to create a place where food insecure individuals and families in Nashville could receive assistance while maintaining the dignity of the shopping experience. On March 12, The Store celebrated its third year of operation.

Within that time, the nonprofit has served more than 2 million meals, offering aid to upwards of 350 families. Thirty percent of the families receive services from Belmont’s Family Wellness Program, and additional families in an emergency 90-day program can receive services from The Store quarterly.

Rosselli will work with a team of 25 professional staff focused on fundraising, alumni and family engagement, advancement services and special events. Building on successful philanthropic efforts that saw more than $52 million raised in the last fiscal year, Rosselli will be preparing for the University’s most ambitious, comprehensive campaign to date in support of Belmont’s Strategic Path to 2030. 

MUSIC THERAPY AND JAZZMIN COLLABORATE FOR NICU BABIES

Dr. Alejandra Ferrer supervises a music therapy practicum in the Women and Children’s Hospital on a weekly basis.

“As a music therapist, I recognize and support the use of music to soothe and calm a baby, and I also recognize that there are evidence-based practices for the type of music that should be played for NICU babies to maximize benefits and minimize harm,” she said.

Ferrer had the idea to donate equipment that would play appropriate music for the infants at a safe volume, automatically shutting off after the recommended amount of time. She set up a fundraiser to gather donations for the equipment, hoping to collect 30 speaker systems for the 60-bed unit so babies are able to keep

The Store serves the Edgehill community and families in Davidson County. The adjacent Ministry Center provides wraparound services for patrons including financial planning, music therapy and mental health counseling, among others.

The Store is more than a place to get groceries. It is a hub that connects individuals to the resources they need. The nonprofit is tuned into community needs so that it can continue finding new solutions to the question of how to address the core root causes of poverty in the community. 

the equipment through their discharge date. In talking with Kathryn Paradise in Belmont’s School of Music about the project, a natural collaboration was formed. Paradise asked if Jazzmin—the student ensemble she directs— could partner and record the lullabies for the MP3 players.

“Of course, I said, ‘yes,’ and now Jazzmin has recorded, appropriate lullabies,” Ferrer gushed. “So, these babies will be listening to our Belmont students on their MP3s, all with language designed to promote language development, auditory discrimination and following the guidelines of using musical elements with a premature population.” 

Campus News

FACULTY AMY HODGES HAMILTON RECEIVES 2023 HAROLD LOVE OUTSTANDING COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD

Belmont University Professor of English Dr. Amy Hodges Hamilton was recently named a recipient of the 2023 Harold Love Outstanding Community Service Award, a yearly recognition presented by the Tennessee Higher Education Commission acknowledging individuals in higher education who provide exceptional public service to their communities.

“Receiving this award is one of the greatest honors of my life,” Hodges Hamilton said. “I completely believe in the power of this work and for it to be recognized on a state-wide level is both humbling and affirming. I am grateful for the opportunity to engage in the community and honor these stories; these reminders to pay attention, to reach out and to listen.”

Hodges Hamilton’s passionate commitment to service and advocacy permeates her work as a

teacher and scholar, beautifully exemplifying Belmont’s service-oriented values. She serves as Belmont’s Title IX Faculty Liaison and Victim’s Advocate and coordinates the annual Women’s History Month celebration on campus. She focuses on using writing as a tool for healing trauma in courses like Writing in the Community and Reading & Writing Social Justice.

Her service also includes her work as a Board Member at New Hope Girls and MERCY Workshop in the Dominican Republic, connecting students from her classes with volunteer organizations including Healing Housing and a range of volunteer work with a long list of organizations including The Branch, Morningside at Belmont, Rest Stop Ministries, Thistle Farms and Tennessee Women’s Prison.

BRITTANY SCHAFFER NAMED NEW DEAN OF CURB COLLEGE

Former Spotify head of artist & label partnerships Nashville, Brittany Schaffer, was appointed as Dean of the Mike Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business, effective May 1.

In her new role, Schaffer serves approximately 100 faculty and staff and more than 2,700 students in Curb College programs, and is responsible for all academic programs and student enrichment initiatives. Her new role involves providing leadership and guidance across campus related to Curb College efforts while also seeking industry collaboration, cultivating new partnership opportunities and nurturing positive, philanthropic support

to further enhance the vitality of a Curb College education.

A magna cum laude graduate of both Vanderbilt University and Samford University’s Cumberland School of Law, Schaffer has been named among Billboard’s Country Power Players for the past four years and was noted in 2018 as one of “Six Emerging Executives Shaping Music’s Future.” She currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Country Music Association and Country Radio Broadcasters as well as the St. Jude Country Cares Advisory Board. Schaffer is a Class of 2022 Leadership Music graduate. 

Dr. D’Angelo Taylor was appointed the University’s inaugural Vice President for Hope, Unity and Belonging (HUB). As part of this work, Taylor leads the University’s diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging initiatives in support of its strategic emphasis to embrace hope and inclusive excellence to reweave the social fabric.

The HUB will serve as a centralized office dedicated to diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging initiatives, carrying out the institution’s desire for all community members to experience a meaningful and authentic sense of connection. As part of this charge, the HUB will be responsible for managing all efforts related to Title IX compliance and prevention, as well as all non-discrimination and equity work (Titles VI, VII and IX) including prevention, protection and accountability. 

DR. D’ANGELO TAYLOR NAMED INAUGURAL VICE PRESIDENT FOR HOPE, UNITY AND BELONGING

BELMONT HOSTS MUSIC-FILLED CELEBRATION IN HONOR OF 50 YEARS OF JAZZ

Fifty years ago, the first jazz band at Belmont got its start: Jazz Band I. As Belmont’s reputation for excellence in music education has grown the past 50 years, so too has the vibrant jazz community on campus. Today, Belmont boasts multiple jazz ensembles, dedicated professional jazz faculty and a plethora of successful jazz musician alumni.

The jazz community gathered in February for a campus celebration in honor of the 50th Anniversary of Jazz Band I. The weekend featured incredible performances from jazz alumni, students, faculty and leading jazz artist and saxophone legend Chris Potter.

Junior AJ Huang said the weekend was a surreal experience. “Chris Potter is one of my heroes and someone I’ve looked up to for a long time. Getting to learn from him and trade with him on stage was a dream come true! His playing gave mine so much more energy,” he said. “I’m

CLASS OF 2022 ACHIEVES HIGHEST CAREER OUTCOMES RATE TO DATE

Belmont University seeks to equip our students to pursue lives of meaning and purpose and prepare them to pursue their chosen paths upon completing their degree. The First Destination Rate helps quantify how many graduates went on to secure jobs, begin graduate school or serve in the military within six months of graduation. 

87% of graduates were employed | 8% were pursuing continuing education | 1% were enlisted in volunteer or military service within six months of graduation

really proud of how much jazz at Belmont has developed over the years, and I can’t wait to keep striving for greatness with the amazing musicians and wonderful friends I’ve made in my time here so far.”

Alumni enjoyed the chance to return to campus and relive some of their favorite memories with the jazz community on campus, as well.

Alumna Hannah Anders (‘07) said, “I don’t think any of us were prepared for how meaningful and beautiful it would be to come back together in the place where we met, to see the growth of our beautiful school and to see each other again after so long. All a little older, a little busier, a little more responsible, but still at our core the same people who fell in love with our passion for music and for the people who guided and led us at Belmont. I will cherish this experience forever.” 

DR. SHARREL PINTO NAMED DEAN OF COLLEGE OF PHARMACY AND HEALTH SCIENCES

Dr. Sharrel Pinto has been appointed Dean of the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, effective July 1. A passionate health care practitioner, researcher and visionary, Dr. Pinto brings a wealth of experience to her new role with more than two decades of leadership experience in higher education. Dr. Pinto, a pharmacist by training, has dedicated her career to transdisciplinary practice by bringing together health care and non-health care practitioners to solve complex community-based problems, positively impacting patient care and well-being.

96% Career Outcomes CLASS

In her new role, Pinto will lead more than 100 faculty and staff and approximately 850 students. Belmont’s College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences brings together faculty and students from seven disciplines—physical therapy, occupational therapy, mental health counseling, social work, public health, exercise science and pharmacy—and will offer three bachelor’s, three master’s and four doctoral degrees.

As Dean, Pinto will provide programmatic leadership to prepare students to be future health care leaders, build relationships with organizations for partnerships, oversee growth and strategic development, and lead the expansion of the College’s research and outreach arm. 

Celebrating a Milestone Birthday for Belmont Women’s Basketball

Feb. 19, 2023 marked Belmont Women’s Basketball legend Betty Wiseman’s 80th birthday, and the University celebrated in style. During the Women’s Homecoming basketball game, students and fans donned their best Betty wigs and marked the moment with red velvet cupcakes after the game. Her beloved friend and one of her first Belmont players, Mattie Spicer Yokley (‘73), flew in to surprise her for the occasion.

A trailblazer for women’s basketball, Betty Wiseman is the matriarch of the sport in Tennessee. In 1968, Wiseman started one of the first collegiate women’s basketball teams—and Belmont’s first women’s sports team— four years before the passage of Title IX.

Growing up in Portland, a rural farm town 40 miles north of Nashville, Betty thought her basketball career would end in 1961 when she graduated from Sumner County High School. She chose to attend Belmont, turning down an opportunity to play for a semi-professional team, ending any dream of playing basketball past high school.

Upon graduating from Belmont in 1965, Betty was asked to join the faculty as an instructor of physical education and health. With courage and grace, she advocated for a women’s basketball program at Belmont. Against all odds and with a shoestring budget, the team played their inaugural season in 1968-69.

Betty trained her players hard and grew as a strong defensive coach vowing to press her opponents full court. “I knew how to get girls in shape. Nobody was going to beat us up and down the court, and nobody was going to work any harder than we did. That was the foundation of Belmont Women’s Basketball, and we were going to have fun doing it.”

That first team played by international rules, different from what Betty had played in high school. There were two offensive players, two defensive players and two rovers that could play full court. What hadn’t changed was Betty’s dedication to Belmont and playing “the right way,” which would later become “the Belmont way.”

“Belmont Betty” as she’s known today blazed a trail before it was law. She dedicated her life to providing the next generation of women an opportunity for something she didn’t have. Through joy and gratitude, she built a sturdy foundation on which Belmont’s Women’s Basketball program continues to thrive.

Led today by head coach Bart Brooks, Belmont Women’s Basketball delighted the nation with back-to-back remarkable performances during the 2022 NCAA Tournament. Knocking off No. 5 seed Oregon in double overtime, the No. 12 seed Bruins became only the second program to win NCAA Tournament games in consecutive seasons as a No. 12 seed or lower.

Not only was Betty an incredible coach, she also started the sports missions program within Belmont athletics, providing the opportunity for hundreds of Belmont athletes to serve abroad. “Missions,” she said, “opens up a part of us that cannot be discovered in the classroom or in a church pew. I can tell you these stories, but I cannot tell you the scores of Basketball games.”

“I started something really special with a real purpose and meaning,” Betty said reflecting on her legacy on Belmont’s Women’s Basketball program. “And maybe the best is yet to be.”

Directed and edited by Noah Hanson (’19) and released earlier this spring, “The Shoulders We Stand On” documents Betty Wiseman’s life and looks ahead at what’s next for Belmont’s Women’s Basketball team. Friends and colleagues reminisce on Betty’s impact and celebrate the program she started 55 years ago.

Matriarch

“The Shoulders We Stand On”

Belmont and Fisk Universities:

Partners in Social Justice

Belmont University and Fisk University partnered this semester to create the Belmont-Fisk Social Justice Collaborative, a collaboration between the universities designed to promote social justice through exposure to civil rights and social justice movements across Middle Tennessee.

The donor-funded collaborative was created to educate, empower and inspire students through a mutual respect for humanity. Designed as a course that students from both Universities enrolled in together, participants immersed themselves in the state’s civil rights history.

Belmont University Journalism Professor Dr. Sybril Brown created the course in partnership with Fisk University Associate Professor and Chair of Behavioral Sciences Dr. Rolande Dathis and Distinguished Associate Professor in the Graduate Program in Social Justice Dr. Ricardo Guthrie. Over the course of the semester, enrolled students visited both campuses, a variety of museums and libraries and interviewed social justice advocates across decades. Numerous guest speakers including the Rev. Dr. Bernard Lafayette, co-founder of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee and part of the late Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s inner circle, also participated. The semester culminated with the creation of a few projects including an e-book, a commemorative website, video vignettes and a pop-up museum digital experience.

As part of the experience, students traveled to Black Mountain, N.C. for the Ignite Retreat, an immersive experience designed to teach students how to create change in their communities. This trip was led by Dr. Bernard Turner, associate professor and program director of social entrepreneurship in the Jack C. Massey College of Business. Other activities across the semester included The Belmont-Fisk Spring 2023 Hackathon, offering an opportunity for both campus communities to come together and create data-driven solutions based on social evidence. The event was co-lead by Dr. Dennis Chen, Belmont Associate Dean and Associate Professor of Management and International Business, in partnership with Fisk John Lewis Center for Social Justice Tech/Data Science Fellow, Lena Winfree.

The fostering and advancement of social justice through this partnership directly supports Belmont’s strategic trajectory to 2030, including the University’s emphasis to embrace hope and inclusive excellence. “Our commitment to reweaving the social fabric through hope and inclusive excellence begins with a thorough and thoughtful examination of the

past, reflecting on areas where imbalance and inequality have persisted,” said Dr. Susan West, Executive Vice President for Administration, Chief of Staff and Chair of Belmont’s Diversity Council. “Only with this acknowledgment can we move forward, remaining accountable as we learn along the way.”

The official launch of the partnership was celebrated at a co-organized reception on Feb. 9 at the Nashville Public Library.

“Don’t let the modern defeatist narrative fool you; change is ALWAYS possible.”

Belmont and Fisk faculty from various departments collaborated to host a hackathon as a part of the social justice partnership.

-MARCUS KNIGHT, PRESIDENTIAL FELLOW

New Documentary Honors Ward-Belmont

Alumna Sarah Cannon and her alter ego Minnie Pearl

Belmont University, in partnership with Nashville Public Television (NPT), celebrated the premiere of NPT’s “Facing the Laughter: Minnie Pearl” on Thursday, Jan. 19, a documentary honoring the life and legacy of Ward-Belmont alumna Sarah Cannon (’32) and her beloved character Minnie Pearl.

The documentary features the dichotomy between Sarah and her character Minnie. Sarah was serious, intelligent, ambitious and untraditional; Minnie was uncomplicated, direct, playful and quite traditional. Sarah dreamed of becoming a Shakespearian actress but found fame playing a simple country girl who never took herself too seriously.

“You’re going to see just a peep into the window of Minnie Pearl’s life,” said filmmaker Barbara Hall. “You can’t begin to tell someone’s story— especially someone as complicated as Minnie Pearl—in 90 minutes. I had so many people who came forward wanting to talk about Minnie. I also started having to take a box of tissues to every interview because everybody cried… and laughed… but mostly cried. I think it’s because they miss her and because she had such an impact on everyone’s life.”

The premiere event in Belmont’s Fisher Center for the Performing Arts featured stories and songs shared by both friends and fans of Minnie. Sylvia Harney—a Minnie Pearl character actress, Belmont College alumna and dear friend of Sarah Cannon—performed a tribute sketch.

Amy Grant shared stories and reflections about her dear friend Sarah Cannon and the impact Sarah had on her life.

Hats inspired by Minnie Pearl and created by students in Belmont’s Fashion Design & Merchandising class lined the lobby of the Fisher Center during the documentary premiere.

Scan to watch the full documentary

Sarah Cannon’s protégé Sylvia Harney, a Minnie Pearl character actress and Belmont College alumna, performed a tribute sketch.

Singer-songwriters Rodney Crowell, Pam Tillis and Kathy Mattea performed; friends Amy Grant and Brenda Lee shared reflections; and Dr. Mary Ellen Pethel—Belmont Assistant Professor, author and Harpeth Hall School archivist—led a panel with filmmaker Barbara Hall, music historian Dr. Don Cusic, Sarah’s longtime agent Joann Berry and Kathy Mattea.

Hats inspired by Minnie and created by Belmont fashion students lined the Fisher Center Foyer, and theater student Susie Konstans created Grinder’s Switch vignettes as stage props and photo booths. Belmont’s Bluegrass Ensemble performed before the event.

“She was an incredible legend and a friend to all of us,” said NPT President and CEO Becky Magura. “The thing I love about Minnie Pearl is that when she stepped out on stage and said, ‘I’m just so proud to be here,’ it’s because she wanted you to know she was here for you. Minnie shared more than humor she shared love. That’s what you’re going to see tonight.”

Instantly identifiable—even in silhouette—by her straw hat with a price tag dangling from its brim, Minnie Pearl became an icon of country music radio, stage and television. When she greeted audiences, they enthusiastically echoed her signature “How-dee!” in a happy roar. While Sarah and Minnie were two sides of a coin, both shared a legacy of compassion, empowerment and humor.

“Sarah Cannon was an exemplar of Belmont’s mission, so much so that this University awarded her our highest honor—an honorary doctorate— in 1989,” said Belmont President Dr. Greg Jones. “My hope is that many of our students, a number of whom are studying performing arts and entertainment, will look to her as a role model. She once mentioned during a television appearance that ‘to live forever in the hearts of our friends is to never die.’ Tonight, her memory is alive and well in all our hearts.”

John Jorgenson, Rodney Crowell and Kathy Mattea perform during “Facing the Laughter: Minnie Pearl” premiere.

O’MORE

Shines for a Cause a

This April, Belmont’s O’More College of Architecture and Design hosted its annual fashion show on campus for the first time post-pandemic and second time in the history of Belmont’s merger with the O’More College of Design. The dazzling event in the Curb Event Center showcased the dedicated work the students put in since the start of the school year, in front of an adoring audience of friends, family members and industry professionals.

In line with 2023’s theme “A Show with Purpose,” the evening featured a continuation of the partnership between O’More and Daybreak Arts. This social enterprise nonprofit, founded by Belmont alumna Nicole Brandt Minyard, creates artistic and economic opportunities for people experiencing homelessness and housing insecurity by providing them access to the creative resources needed to achieve personal fulfillment and success. O’More’s sophomore design students created collections inspired by their works of art, also raising awareness and funds for the organization.

At every level in their education, O’More fashion students are met with ample opportunities to hone their skill in hands-on settings. In preparation for this year’s show, sophomore students were invited to tour the SVP Worldwide headquarters, the world’s largest sewing machine company. After training on its PFAFF® creative icon™ 2 sewing and embroidery machine and mySewnet™ Embroidery Software, the students designed capsules for spring/ summer 2024 using equipment provided by the company.

Fashion merchandising students assisted in marketing the show, getting a behind the scenes look into what goes into an event of this magnitude. They worked to gain traction and build their social media audience months in advance, and were given creative freedom to develop and execute the content they orchestrated. “Seeing the collections come

together, from a plan on a piece of paper, to watching it on the runway with the lighting and setup—it means so much to be involved in a student-run show like this with our peers. It’s a big deal for everyone,” said Chloe Jones, a junior in fashion merchandising.

For the seniors, this show culminates four years of rigorous education and an immense amount of heart put into each one of their designs. Their themes spanned a wide variety, crossing subjects like biblical symbolism and self perception. Reflecting on her time in the program, Tennessee native and senior fashion design student Chloe Ledes said she feels confident in her ability to get a running start on the industry post-graduation. “I’ve been trained on so many different skills and feel like I have more than a base-line familiarity on all these different aspects of fashion. I’ve really been able to get a sense of what I’m going to face and how to perform in a professional setting.” Between fashion forecasting and entrepreneurship classes, O’More students are exposed to a range of positions they may encounter in their career.

Chloe’s collection, titled “May Need Mending,” sheds light on the vulnerability, pain and gradual healing of undiagnosed mental illnesses. “I had a narrative in mind when I designed them, with the colors, textures and details in the garments, so I’m excited to see how they look in periodic order.”

It’s part of what we want to do . . . To really have social impact, to learn from other people in the community, to recognize there are so many voices . . . especially in fashion.

of what impact, to learn fashion.” JHENNIFER

Storytelling was the motif of the night, exemplified by a new partnership with Tennessee Donor Services with the purpose of raising awareness for the life-changing power of organ and tissue donation. The need is dire. According to the United Network of Organ Sharing, there are over 114,101 people on the waiting list nationally and 3,147 within the state of Tennessee. One organ donor can save eight lives, and a new name is added to the waiting list every nine minutes. Seven junior design students were paired with participants who have been directly impacted—including those who received donations themselves and those who lost loved ones who chose to become donors. After spending time hearing their personal experiences and reflections on the gift of life, the students designed custom pieces that celebrated their stories and would be modeled by the participants themselves.

Shelly Cleek, a cornea transplant recipient who has dedicated her life to promoting the importance of organ donation, was paired with junior fashion student Jaedyn Black. A match made in heaven, the two clicked instantly which made the experience that much more meaningful. “Working with Shelly has been so special to me,” said Jaedyn. “The

connection is just amazing, and it’s been so great to help bring her story to life through fashion.”

The fashion show was near the one year anniversary of Shelly’s surgery, and the process was emotional but worthwhile. “I was honored to be given the opportunity,” she said. “It’s nerve-racking at the same time, but I’m just trusting the process. I want to be used as a vessel to help open hearts and minds.”

After her transplant surgery, Shelly planted a jasmine bush in her donor’s honor. “I was very torn between the excitement and the opportunity that I was being blessed with from this individual, but also mourning for the family that I knew was going through such a horrific time.”

Jaedyn incorporated this into her design, selecting light purple flowers to represent the lavender and puffy sleeves to signify the outlines of bushes and trees Shelly could see at the start of her recovery. “I never could have imagined something like this,” Shelly said, recalling her reacting after seeing the dress for the first time. “It’s everything I wanted and more.” 

(Left) Brittany Cameron wears the designs from junior Macey Graham, honoring her late son’s love of the outdoors, Japanese culture and automobiles.

(Right) Shelly Cleek, cornea transplant, wears designs from junior Jaedyn Black inspired by the jasmine bush she planted to recognize her donor and their family.

Unlikely Collaborations

Explore how Belmont is maintaining momentum of interdisciplinary education through collaborative experiences for students.

Data and Design

Health Care and The Arts

As Belmont graduate nursing students train to be family nurse practitioners in clinical settings, they are required to see “patients” in a standardized simulation setting. A health care theater course was piloted this spring as a solution for a more reliable pipeline for finding actors to play the role of patient, allowing student actors to receive credit for their participation.

“The theater students are strengthening their improvisation skills in those experiences and giving the nursing students pretty real-life situations to face,” explained Brent Maddox, chair of Belmont’s Theatre and Dance Department. “The whole thing is meant to feel real and honest, a huge benefit to the nurses preparing for interactions with real patients.”

This semester, a new class in the Watkins College of Art was born. Titled “Design Empathy,” the course joined forces with Belmont’s Data Collaborative and The Nashville Food Project to unravel the complex food desert issue in the north Nashville area.

Over the semester, four teams of junior and senior level art students researched, developed and prototyped potential solutions. They began by researching neighborhood design, food pricing, income levels, child care accessibility and more.

Dale Addy, assistant professor of design, explains that this class “gives them a chance to do some cool stuff that could potentially make a difference.” The class culminated in presentations where the teams showcased their findings to community leaders as well as members of the Belmont community. “That’s what it’s all about,” Addy continued. “We should be trying to make something that’s meaningful and impactful. If we’re not doing that, then we’re not doing anything.”

Each solution presented was unique and innovative, examining possible barriers and showing insight into the lives of real residents in the area—a community garden, culinary and nutrition classes, a mobile grocery store, meal kits, after school programs, designs for pamphlets, posters and journals, and partnering public transit with local food banks.

The class is set to run in the future, each semester working in tandem with the Data Collaborative to tackle a new problem and explore tangible action steps students can take once the class concludes. 

Kickstarting an interdisciplinary approach across campus, several other innovative collaborations took place this spring, further expanding the University’s diverse learning offerings. For example, occupational therapy faculty began speaking to classes in the School of Music about physical and mental wellness of performers, preventing injury and ergonomics specific to musicians and their instruments.

In March, the University held its first ever Arts and Health Summit, which featured six industry professionals who hold careers combining arts and health in various ways.

Associate Dean of the College of Music and Performing Arts Jane Duncan said, “Because we have outstanding programs in the arts and in health sciences, and because we are in ‘Music City’ where the number one industry happens to be health care, it makes good sense to us. We are excited about the discussions we are having—looking at ways we can continue amplifying holistic approaches to health at Belmont and beyond.”

Using datainformed processes, Bella Pace created a garden poster as part of her group’s idea to tackle the issue of food deserts with a community garden program.

Music Therapy and Songwriting

Each Monday and Wednesday morning, students from Belmont’s Music Therapy program walk to Morningside of Belmont—a retirement community just steps away from the Wilson Music Building—for music therapy sessions with residents. Recently, staff noticed a decline in attendance at Morningside’s music therapy sessions from residents with higher cognitive levels, so they created two separate groups. The Monday group applies music therapy in a traditional sense with movement-based activities and singalongs to get residents active and stimulated by the music. The Wednesday group focuses on songwriting and gives space for participants to tell their own stories. As a new faculty member, Channing Shippen, Belmont music therapy instructor and clinical coordinator, was inspired by Belmont’s strategic pathways at faculty orientation—particularly storytelling—and how the craft can daily intersect with her work in music therapy.

“We had a few residents who expressed more interest in songwriting, looking to explore it personally and more deeply, but who didn’t have an outlet to do so,” said Shippen. “Joe was one of those.”

A lifelong Middle Tennessean, Morningside resident Joe has seen Nashville transform from a sleepy suburban town to a thriving metropolis throughout his life. The therapeutic intent of Joe’s songwriting sessions was to dialogue about his 94-year relationship with this city, from him living here and observing all the changes. Each week, Joe and the students would dive into a different subject, from landmarks to universities to feelings.

Throughout seven months, Joe penned the song “It’s Not Out in the Country Anymore,” a 16-verse nod to his hometown. A retired lawyer, Joe even made sure to copyright his lyrics.

“He would come back each week with a new verse, eager for feedback,” said Shippen. “It was very collaborative, but it’s really his words. With music therapy, Joe—in a sense— had a musical goal, but that wasn’t the heart of our sessions. It was about providing an opportunity for him to feel listened to and to self-express, to challenge him cognitively and offer space for discourse and elevated conversation.”

Through Joe’s direction, the song was eventually put to music where he guided sound and notation. His dream to hear it by a live band was realized when Belmont’s Bluegrass Ensemble came to Morningside to perform the song for Joe and other residents. Described as incredibly witty and enthusiastic with a great sense of humor, Joe cares deeply and takes into consideration those around him. Shippen said he didn’t tell the other residents he wrote a song, likely because he didn’t want the accolades focused on him; he wanted the students to receive those.

Performed by a guitar, a bass, a fiddle, a banjo and three singers, Joe beamed as the Ensemble brought his song to life. “This is spectacular, and it couldn’t have been better.” he said. “This has been a real inspiration and something I planned to do my entire life and it’s finally come to fruition.” 

Theatre and Heartbound Ministries

Each semester, Belmont Theatre and Dance instructor Shawn Knight gives his Acting III class a project nearing the end of the course. In the fall, he received a call from Andrea Shelton, parent of a Belmont student and Executive Director and founder of HeartBound Ministries, a nonprofit organization providing programs and resources to meet the needs of the prison community.

A member of Heartbound’s prison ministry population presented Shelton with a play that he had written titled From “This Day Forward, a Story of Hope.” It was his dream that one day the play could be presented in a public forum and be recorded to be shown in prisons and shelters to inspire others and spread domestic violence awareness.

To prepare for the production, students spent the back end of fall semester rehearsing. They started with a table-read of the show for an ideation of the story and let Knight know of any specific roles they wanted consideration for. After casting, they held blocking rehearsals—working on the show twice a week leading up to the performance.

“My class spent a lot of time examining and understanding the weight of telling the stories of domestic violence victims. Professor Knight also walked us through how theatre activities can help lower retention rates in correctional facilities, which helped put our mission into perspective,” said Dani Kucera, junior musical theatre major. “This felt extremely meaningful to know we could help play a part in fulfilling the mission of Heartbound Ministries—to promote hope and restoration.”

“I can’t think of another University that would take such a request to heart,” Shelton said. “Our constituency isn’t a group of people that the public is typically thrilled about—so the fact that Belmont would act on something like this means a great deal to so many people. It’s obvious that Belmont is a school committed to putting words into action—especially when they speak of flourishing for all people.” 

Stories that Shape Us

Hear from four Belmont community members about how they arrived at Belmont and their experiences as members of our campus community.

THE SKY IS WHAT WE STAND ON

As the first black female to graduate from Belmont’s data science program, Miracle Awonuga has big dreams about how to use her data skills to change the world.

The daughter of Nigerian immigrants, Miracle grew up in the vibrant Antioch area where she felt inspired by her mom’s influence in their community. Miracle knew from a young age that she, too, wanted to be a woman who gave back, but wasn’t sure how to be that community builder.

At Belmont, Miracle worked on campus for the Belmont USA program, using her strong skills in computer science to create a database for students to find internships.

“I love being able to make data more accessible to people in a captivating way,” she said. “I thought about how much I love marketing and storytelling, and something clicked.”

When Awonuga met Dr. Christina Davis, assistant professor and director of Belmont’s new data science program, she learned majoring in data science would

allow her to use her gifts of creativity, advocacy and connection in a cohesive way for the greater good. She was sold.

“Representation matters. I knew I had a place in data science, but being able to see another female data scientist doing so well in the field made me believe it,” Miracle said.

Now, she wants to focus on looking at data in bigger, unconventional ways to empower others, especially students of color. She understands now how to be the “community builder” she has always wanted to be.

“I want to use data to not only lift us up and make us believe in ourselves, but also have others learn about the actual people behind the numbers they see,” Miracle said.

“It’s an honor that I get to show other black and brown women considering data science they can accomplish their wildest dreams; that it’s important for them to take up space and fight to have their voices amplified.” 

Watch My Belmont Story of Miracle Awonuga by Noah Hanson (‘19)

GET TO KNOW TAM MAI

Tam Mai has worked as a custodian at Belmont for nearly two decades.

“When I came to America, I told everybody that I had four dreams,” Mai said. “First, I’d be a citizen. Second, my two boys would finish college. Third, I would come back to my country to visit my mom and dad. Four, I would have a house.”

Mai’s life story is one of challenge, hard work, gratitude and beauty, all captured in the artistic works he creates. Art was an outlet for the selftaught savant growing up in Vietnam. Although he has never been formally trained, you might find him carefully studying student artwork along the hallways of the Leu Center for the Visual Arts before the start of his shift.

Mai is a skilled portrait artist, working with pencil, oil painting and wood burning. Several staff and faculty members have received his pencil drawn portraits over the years. A gallery of Mai’s work was featured in the 2013 Humanities Symposium.

Throughout his time at Belmont, Mai has accomplished his four long-determined dreams. The veteran Vietnamese and father of two gained U.S. citizenship in 2010 and both of his sons earned their undergraduate degrees from Belmont. He has been back to Vietnam to visit his 94-year-old mother, and he has a house.

“You cannot bring the mountain all at once,” Mai said. “Each day you take a small stone, and you throw, throw, throw. I’m very lucky.”

Mai considers himself lucky to be in America. He uses the earnings from his artwork to support his family and long-time friends including injured Army veterans who still have very hard lives back in Vietnam. 

Tam Mai illustrates campus photographer Sam Simpkins.

“You cannot bring the mountain all at once.”

CHAMPIONING INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION

Aaron Kleinschmidt hit the ground running the moment he stepped foot on Belmont’s campus. An honors student, Senator for the Student Government Association, Vice President of the Civic Engagement and Advocacy Club and national finalist with Belmont’s Speech and Debate team, he dedicated his time in college to serving his community, both in Nashville and beyond.

Kleinschmidt’s double major in Spanish and International Politics became the perfect catalyst for these efforts and opened doors for him to get involved in organizations like Tennessee Justice for Our Neighbors to work with immigrants and refugees translating documents and doing interpretation for legal intake.

“My time at Belmont really cemented my confidence in my ability to be an international and intercultural communicator. I was pushed outside of my comfort zone,” said Kleinshmidt, reminiscing on his study abroad experiences (a semester in Spain and a two week institute in Ireland), and his time in speech and debate. “I went through the biggest period of growth in my life.”

Post-graduation, Kleinschmidt is headed abroad once again. He received a Fulbright Spain Award to work as an English teaching assistant this September and is looking forward to returning to the country. He was also recently awarded a Lumos Travel Award to work in Guadalajara, Mexico for four months supporting immigrants and refugees as well as international development after he returns from Spain. 

“I went through the biggest period of growth in my life.”

AUTHENTICITY ABOVE ALL ELSE

After finishing his gig as the opening act on tour for Panic! at the Disco and before spending the spring headlining his own, alumnus Jake Wesley Rogers (’18) visited campus in February to talk with current students about storytelling through art and music and share other insights on navigating the music industry.

Telling stories, both singular and universal, can be tricky— even for the most esteemed artists. For Rogers, whose “bold music is queer storytelling refracted through a universal lens,” it is easier for others to connect the more niche and specific the story is. “I feel hollow when I try to make something relatable to everyone,” he said. “Be authentic to your feelings, your experience, your story.”

Rogers’ time at Belmont helped him with the right people —forming his band and finding a manager who believed in

him. He also enjoyed the chance to learn about the music industry alongside others on a similar path.

He shared with students about his journey from student to signed recording artist, a move he credits to creating authentic art and building a supportive team. He advised student artists and creators to find those people who believe in them and to play live as much as possible.

“The best things that happened to me were because I allowed myself to be who I was, to be different. People respond to that,” he said. “There is a level of mystery to how it will all come together—but every good thing that has happened was because of a live performance where I embraced my uniqueness.” 

Transformative “ Failure”

Belmont faculty and staff gathered on Monday, March 27 and Friday, March 31 for FailFest, an event focused on how failure can be a tool for transformational power when grounded in authentic humility and joy.

As Belmont continues towards the institutional aspiration of being the leading Christ-centered university in the world, FailFest furthered the University’s initiative of modeling whole-person formation that teaches and develops people of character, purpose and wisdom with a transformational mindset.

Dr. Amy Crook, Vice President for Transformative Innovation, Character & Purpose said, “Students can focus on what they are achieving and lose sight of who they are becoming, and we want to support them becoming the best version of themselves.” The journey of finding purpose goes far beyond a job or career.

At the event, faculty shared vulnerable moments of failure throughout their lives as students gathered around to learn from their experiences. From stories of ripping their pants in front of the German parliament to failing a master’s thesis, receiving district-wide hate for enacting school reforms, losing $15,000 in trying to start a business, and facing backlash from their kids due to mistakes in parenting, Belmont’s faculty and staff had a lot to say about failures both big and small and what they’ve learned from the experiences.

“Reframe your story,” said Crook. “Take some emotional distance and say, ‘this is going to make a great story one day.’ There is always a hard season before it turns beautiful.”

“How I lost $15k starting a business”

“ask me about Ripping my pants in the German parliament”

“The time my son put me in time out!”

Coming Soon: The Hope People Podcast

Our world is facing significant challenges… it can feel like every corner of our lives holds yet another moment of conflict. But there is a solution, a real one—hope. It is powerful, it can connect us and it can unite us.

Hosted by Dr. Greg Jones, each episode will feature a Champion of Hope who will share their story via an interview-format conversation. They’ll unpack experiences, hurdles and huge wins— the moments throughout their story that have continued to point to the need for hope and have solidified their commitment to using this sense of hope to impact the lives of those around them.

Coming fall 2023

1900 Belmont Boulevard Nashville, TN 37212-3757