The Belmont SPARK Symposium
Led by dedicated faculty, our students push the boundaries of knowledge and creativity. To celebrate their work, the second annual SPARK Symposium for student Scholarship, Performance, Art, Research, and Knowledge is going to be held on April 22nd, 2026. From science to math and music to design, student work across campus is welcome, including undergraduate and graduate-level presentations.
SPARK day is an academic day in the Spring. We encourage faculty not only to thoughtfully consider ways that students can present their work on this day, but also ways in which you may incorporate attending and engagement in SPARK into your spring curriculum. This symposium provides several amazing learning opportunities for students outside of the classroom, for students to dig more deeply into their area of education, for younger students to see examples of their future goals, and to broadly support other students who have sought excellence in their work. Please consider building SPARK into your plans for the spring.
Who should participate in SPARK?
Key SPARK 2026 Dates
January 30th: Session Sign Up Deadline (for Faculty & Staff)
- available mid-November
March 23rd: Summary Submission Deadline (for Students)
- available mid-November
April 22nd: SPARK 2026!
Diverse Presentation Formats
From poster sessions, to art galleries, to performances and presentations, students can showcase their work across many different platforms.
Broad Project Scopes
Students can showcase their work from semester-long group projects to longer-term individual capstone projects and everything between.
Flexible Timing
Presentations can span from 15 minutes to 1.5 hour sessions or galleries. Help us envision the opportunities that serve your students best.
The 2025 Inaugural SPARK Symposium is made possible by generous support from:
- The Donald B Ramage BURS Fund
- David Gregory, Belmont Provost
- The Belmont O'More College of Architecture & Design
- The Belmont Jack C. Massey College of Business
- The Belmont Gordon E. Inman College of Nursing
- The Belmont College of Liberal Arts & Social Sciences
- The Mike Curb College of Entertainment & Music Business
- The Belmont Office of Alumni Engagement
- The Andrea Waitt Carlton Family Foundation Lecture Series
- The Kern Family Foundation
A special thank you to the SPARK Task Force that supported the development of the symposium:
- Clare Eng, College of Music & Performing Arts
- Susan Finch, College of Liberal Arts & Social Sciences
- Katie Mitchell, Watkins College of Art
- Rachel Rigsby, College of Sciences & Mathematics
- Christian Williams, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
SPARK Comittee
Beth Bowman
Email: beth.bowman@belmont.edu
Office Location: Janet Ayers Academic Center 4027
Jamaine Davis
Email: jamaine.davis@belmont.edu
Office Location: FCOM 6617
Darcie Finch
Email: darcie.finch@belmont.edu
Office Location: Ayers 5034
Susan Finch
Email: susan.finch@belmont.edu
Office Location: Ayers 2044
Priscilla Gitimu
Email: priscilla.gitimu@belmont.edu
Office Location: Hitch 206A
Katie Mitchell
Email: katie.mitchell@belmont.edu
Office Location: Leu Center for the Visual Arts 100
Darlene Panvini
Email: darlene.panvini@belmont.edu
Office Location: Janet Ayers Academic Center 3007
Dustin Rumbaugh
Email: dustin.rumbaugh@belmont.edu
Office Location: Barbara Massey Hall 327
David Schreiber
Email: david.schreiber@belmont.edu
Office Location: Johnson Center 355
Christian Williams
Email: christian.williams@belmont.edu
Office Location: JCM 438