Dr. Mimi Barnard is the Associate Provost for Interdisciplinary Studies and Global Education (ISGE). In this role, she leads Belmont’s Honors Program, Global Leadership Studies, Legal Studies, Adult Degree Programs, Belmont USA, Study Abroad and International Student and Scholar Services, which includes strategic partnerships with higher education institutions abroad. ISGE serves as the academic “incubator” for the university, where new programs are developed.

In collaboration with ISGE staff and faculty, Barnard facilitates opportunities for international education, including short-term, faculty-led initiatives, semesters abroad and exchange of students and faculty. Belmont’s study abroad program was ranked 17th in the nation for undergraduate participation by the Institute for International Education’s Open Doors Report. In May, Barnard leads an interdisciplinary study abroad program to England, France and Italy, “The Art of Living Well Via Culture, Cooking, & Cardio.”

Prior to coming to Belmont, Barnard served as Vice President for Professional Development and Research for the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities, in Washington, D.C., an international association of more than 180 higher education institutions with an annual enrollment of approximately 400,000 students. In this role, Barnard led a broad range of professional development initiatives for senior administrators and faculty across the U.S. and in several international settings.

Previously, Barnard served on the faculty and administration of Abilene Christian University, a selective, private, master’s-level, highly innovative institution with an enrollment of 4,800 students. As an academic administrator, working across disciplinary and departmental silos to increase student learning and success, she led teaching and learning initiatives, collaborating with faculty and other campus leaders as the institution moved towards an integrated curricular model. She taught on the undergraduate English and graduate higher education faculties and served as Faculty-in-Residence in Oxford, England.

Barnard serves on the Association of International Education Administrators Policy Advisory Committee and the Tennessee Economic Council for Women. Her research interests include high-impact practices and innovative pedagogies, faculty perspectives of institutional culture and advancing intercultural competencies. Barnard has traveled in Europe, Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Australia, Latin America, and Canada. Barnard holds degrees from the University of North Texas, St. Mary’s University in San Antonio, and Abilene Christian University. She and her husband, Dr. Wayne Barnard, have two adult children, Katie, a museum designer who lives in New York City, and Colin, an active-duty Naval officer, stationed abroad.

Valerie Nichols is the Program Manager for Interdisciplinary Studies. She works with a variety of students, including traditional students majoring in Global Leadership Studies and Legal Studies, adult students returning to school, and she is part of the Veteran Success Team. She  truly enjoys helping students discover their strengths that will inform their careers and bring about the joy of learning.  Students are welcome to come to her office to talk about what they are learning as well as discuss academic planning for upcoming semesters.

Prior to coming to Belmont, Valerie worked for a design college and a faith based college in the Boston area. She has experience in the following offices:  Admissions, Advising, Registrar and Continuing Education. 

Valerie has five children. Three live in the Nashville area and two live in the Boston area. Her favorite hobby is rescuing dogs. 

Sara Gibson is an academic advisor for the Adult Degree Programs. Her office is located at the Belmont University - Williamson County location, and she helps prospective students navigate the application process and provide assistance as they enroll at Belmont University. She is a graduate of Belmont University with both a BBA in Music Business and an MBA.

Sara finds working with adult students to reach their educational goals is inspiring. Having gone back to college as an adult, she understands what it is like to juggle work and family and also knows the value of finishing that education. As an academic advisor, she strives to make the Belmont experience as smooth as possible for adult students.

Dr. Thandi Dinani is the Director of Global Education. In this role, Dr. Dinani manages the daily operations of the Office of Study Abroad and International Student and Scholar Services, and ensures that 1,000 students, faculty, and staff travel abroad safely each year. Dr. Dinani has worked in higher education for over a decade in various administrative and faculty roles.

Dr. Dinani has lived, worked, and traveled to over 35 countries on 4 continents and has led service learning and study abroad programs on 3 continents. Prior to coming to Belmont, Dr. Dinani held positions at Utah Valley University, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Biola University, and Vanguard University.

Dr. Dinani balances her administrative role with researching, writing, and consulting with international education colleagues to increase intercultural competence, global understanding, and student access to study abroad opportunities. In addition to submitting publications, Dinani serves on advisory boards, conference selection committees, and presents at international education conferences each year. Thandi is a native Californian, but happily calls herself a Nashvillian transplant.

Hayley Reed is the Assistant Director for the Office of Study Abroad (OSA). She works closely with faculty to help them to build programs that will promote academic enrichment and cultural growth.

In 2003, she received her Bachelor of Science degree in Family and Consumer Sciences from Eastern Illinois University.  Upon graduating she was able to travel abroad to Paris, France, and continues to enjoy traveling throughout the continental U.S.

Hayley pursued a career in hospitality management that brought her to Nashville, TN.  She worked for Marriott International for 9 years, and upon leaving was the Assistant General Manager at the SpringHill Suites Nashville Airport.  She has been with Belmont University since October 2012.

Hayley plans to travel more internationally to enjoy her love of architecture and other cultures.  Outside of work she enjoys spending time with her children, traveling, reading, photography and staying active playing soccer for local leagues.

Jasmine Marecle is a Study Abroad Advisor in the Office of Study Abroad. She graduated from Belmont University with a Bachelors in Social Work and the University of Tennessee with a Masters in Social Work degree.

Her passion for study abroad began when she studied at the University of Manchester in the UK for a semester.  During that time, Jasmine gained skills and an experience that was life changing.

Jasmine got her start at Belmont working in Belmont Central and then in Student Financial Services working with students who studied abroad. 

 A native to Nashville, Jasmine enjoys exploring how much Nashville has grown, traveling, reading, and spending time with her husband and dogs.

Pam is the new Belmont USA Coordinator. She comes with a strong higher education experience, having served most recently as Career Development Coordinator at Georgia College, where she met with over 550 students in one-on-one appointments per academic year, coordinated and planned multiple events, and worked closely with faculty to encourage students through their professional development. She also has experience in alumni relations, new student orientation, residence life, study abroad and has worked closely with international students. Pam has a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration and Spanish from Flagler College and a Masters in Higher Education Administration from the University of North Florida.

Dr. Smith Whitehouse (known around campus as “Dr. Bonnie”) was born and raised in East Tennessee and graduated with Honors from Sewanee: The University of the South. As an undergraduate she majored in English and minored in Political Science but did not take nearly enough courses in theology, art, philosophy, education, and the natural sciences! So she’s trying to make up for that now by resolving to be a lifelong student as well as Professor of English and Director of Honors. She earned her Ph.D. in English from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and she has been grateful to teach and learn at Belmont since 2003.

The years she spent leading an interdisciplinary learning community at Belmont encouraged Dr. Bonnie to write a book titled Afoot and Lighthearted: A Journal for Mindful Walking (Clarkson Potter 2019) designed to unleash the power of walking for creativity and adventure in the digital age. She is hard at work on a new project on inspiration, studying the various tricks and tools humans across time and space have used to engender new ideas. She has traveled abroad with Belmont students to South Africa and Botswana. 

Dr. Bonnie served for a year as President of the Faculty Senate at Belmont, which not only gave her insights about leadership in our community but resulted in relationships forged with faculty members across campus. She has taught classes in English and Honors, and she has taught undergraduates and graduate students. In the Nashville community, she teaches for the Porch Writers’ Collective, and she is interested in writing, well-being, painting, literature, nature, and ritual.

Dr. Smith Whitehouse serves on the boards of the Hillsboro West End Neighborhood Association, the Eakin Elementary PTO, and is the President of the Advisory Board of St. Augustine’s Episcopal Chapel at Vanderbilt. She has served at Belmont in a variety of roles, including Director of the Writing Center and Chair of the Department of English, and she is absolutely delighted to have found her home in the best of all possible places—Honors!

Leigh is originally from southwestern Virginia and came to Nashville nine years ago by way of Kentucky and Florida. She earned an undergraduate degree in Sociology and International Studies from University of Richmond, which afforded the opportunity to study abroad in Russia when it was still known as the Soviet Union. After college Leigh went on to earn a Master of Divinity from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, KY with a concentration in Pastoral Care and Counseling.

After seminary, Leigh and her husband, Shane, moved to Tallahassee, FL where Leigh worked for nine years for Florida Baptist Children’s Homes, helping families become foster parents. Leigh has been on staff at Belmont now for seven years working with non-traditional students, but she has also served as adjunct faculty and enjoys taking classes for fun whenever possible. She is looking forward to a supporting the Honors Program and getting to know Honors students better.

Shauna Walsh is the Assistant Director of International Student and Scholar Services and seeks to help internationals maintain their visa status while being acculturated to the US American lifestyle. She also seeks to build community and educational opportunities for our global population here on campus.

Shauna has received a B.S. in Global and Strategic Management and a B.S. in International Studies from Pennsylvania State University and her M.A. in Student Affairs in Higher Education from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Her passion for global education started through study abroad trips to Maastricht, Netherlands; San Jose, Costa Rica; and the UK. Since then, she has traveled to around thirty countries worldwide and enjoys meeting people from a variety of cultures.

Shauna has worked with international students since 2009 and has worked in many functional areas including admissions, academic advising, orientation, study abroad, and international student and scholar advising. Prior to her position at Belmont University, Shauna has worked at University of Colorado, The Ohio State University, Franklin University, and Indiana University of Pennsylvania. As an active member of NAFSA, she has presented at several regional and national conferences and is also a Trainer Corps member to help instruct other international educators about the complexities of international student and scholar advising.

In her spare time, Shauna enjoys exploring the great outdoors with her Great Pyrenees, playing Ultimate Frisbee, backpacking, and finding new things to try in the city.