Schedule of Events

The Inauguration of Dr. L. Gregory Jones

November 4-5, 2021

 

THANK YOU to everyone who planned or participated in the 2021 inauguration of Belmont President Dr. L. Gregory Jones. These three days of events—from Wednesday’s campus celebration to the actual induction ceremony on Friday—will be remembered for years to come. See below for the full schedule as well as for videos from a number of the events that were held on November 4 and 5.

Wednesday, November 3

8:00 A.M. – 9:30 A.M.

Wellness Around the World

9:30 A.M. – 10:20 A.M.

Chapel Service with President Greg Jones

10:30 A.M. – 12:00 P.M.

Belmont Talks & Experiences

12:00 P.M. – 4:30 P.M.

A Carnival AND the National Museum of African American Music AND Community Service

5:00 P.M. – 7:00 P.M.

Food Trucks at Freedom Plaza

7:00 P.M. – 8:30 P.M.

Exclusive Free Ben Rector Concert in the Curb Event Center Arena

Thursday, November 4

7:00 A.M. – 7:45 A.M.

Breakfast Reception

8:00 A.M. – 9:15 A.M.

Panel: “The Role of Higher Education in Engaging and Building Communities”

Building on Nashville’s reputation as the Athens of the South and a hub for higher education, this panel featured in depth conversations regarding the role of colleges and universities in their local communities and was moderated by USA Today Network/Tennessee Opinion & Engagement Editor David Plazas.

The panelists included Belmont President Dr. Greg Jones, 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.

9:00 A.M. – 4:00 P.M.

Ongoing Inaugural Hospitality Center

The Hospitality Suite at the Foutch Alumni House is the prime location for all things Belmont! Stop by for coffee and light refreshments to take a break between sessions. A custom map is available for guests to pick up, highlighting key buildings, unique museums (Gallery of Iconic Guitars and Frederick Hart Studio Museum) and new murals on campus. Guests can visit various campus locations, including Belmont Mansion, The Belmont Store and student-run businesses on Belmont Boulevard.

9:30 A.M. – 10:30 A.M.

Chapel: “Loving your Neighbor Well”

Reverend Gabriel Salguero, president and founder of the National Latino Evangelical Coalition and recognized as one of the nation’s most prominent Latino evangelical leaders, brought a message of love, hope and unity among all peoples.

11:00 A.M. – 12:00 P.M.

Panel: “Addressing our Community’s Health Care Challenges

A panel discussion featuring some of Nashville’s leading healthcare voices on how our community can best address disparities and inequalities in health and health care outcomes, moderated by Senator Bill Frist. 

Esteemed panelists included Dr. Morgan Wills, Siloam Health; Kinika Young, Tennessee Justice Center; Dr. Millard Collins, Meharry Medical College; Brad Smith, Russell Street Ventures; and Dr. Karen Lewis, Thomas F. Frist, Jr. College of Medicine at Belmont University.

12:00 P.M. – 1:00 P.M.

Lunch Reception

7:00 P.M. – 8:00 P.M.

A Night of Stories and Songs with Brad Paisley

And special host Harry Chapman

An evening of songs and stories with Belmont alumnus Brad Paisley, hosted by Harry Chapman.

Friday, November 5

8:00 A.M. – 8:50 A.M.

Inaugural Prayer Breakfast

Breakfast fellowship followed by time of corporate prayer focused on Belmont’s past, present, and future.

9:00 A.M. – 9:50 A.M.

Inaugural Panel: “Character, Purpose and Entrepreneurial Mindset”

President Greg Jones was joined by Jim Rahn, president, Kern Family Foundation; Heather Dill, president, John Templeton Foundation; and Clay Robbins, chairman, Lilly Endowment to discuss how character, purpose and a transformational mindset are critical in the development of people who can solve the world’s most complex problems.

9:00 A.M. – 12:00 P.M.

Ongoing Inaugural Hospitality Center

10:00 A.M. – 11:00 A.M.

Inaugural Convocation: “Promoting an Entrepreneurial Spirit”

President Jones hosted a discussion with leading voices across the business landscape on what it takes to encourage an entrepreneurial spirit to drive innovation and change.

Discussion participants included Blair Sheppard, Global Leader of Strategy and Leadership at PwC, Marcus Whitney, Founding Partner of Jumpstart Health Investors and Jumpstart Nova and Dr. Sarah Gardial, Dean of Belmont’s Massey College of Business.

11:30 A.M. – 12:50 P.M.

Inaugural Luncheon: “The Power of Faith in Reweaving the Social Fabric”

President Greg Jones and former Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam discussed the role faith can play in healing a divided world.

1:00 P.M. – 1:45 P.M.

Inaugural Chapel: “Upon This Mountain”

Rev. Susan Pendleton Jones brought a message of hope in the official inaugural chapel, preceding the official inauguration ceremony.

1:45 P.M. – 2:15 P.M.

Inaugural Carillon Concert

Designed to be a continuation of the worship experience begun in the Inaugural Chapel, inaugural guests moving from one venue to another were treated to a special carillon concert at Belmont’s historic bell tower, featuring the Joneses’ son-in-law Joey Fala as the carillonneur.

2:30 P.M. – 3:45 P.M.

Official Inauguration Ceremony: “Let Hope Abound – With All the Saints”

The official ceremony offered guests a worshipful, hopeful experience as Dr. L. Gregory Jones is formally inaugurated as President of Belmont University.

6:30 P.M. – 9:00 P.M.

Inauguration Celebration at The Grand Hyatt, Downtown Nashville