2025 Senior Data Fellows
The Senior Data Fellows come from a diverse range of colleges across campus, serving as ambassadors who integrate data into every aspect of the university for faculty, staff, and students. With their support, BDAIC takes an interdisciplinary approach to advancing data and AI education, engagement, and support throughout Belmont University.
Jamie Adam, College of Nursing
Jamie Adam is spearheading an initiative to establish a strategic partnership with CoffeeMed, aiming to create a repeatable and sustainable process for how Belmont participates in medical missions. The vision is to enhance healthcare access in underserved communities while providing students and faculty with impactful, hands-on medical experiences. To achieve this, Jamie is identifying key data needs to measure mission effectiveness, patient outcomes, and resource utilization. She is also working to secure funding through grants and foundation support, ensuring long-term success and scalability of the program.
Dr. Rudy Bedeley, College of Business and the College of Sciences & Mathematics
Dr. Rudy Bedeley is dedicated to strengthening our university’s data-focused student organization, the Belmont Data Experience by expanding opportunities for industry certifications and competition participation. His efforts aim to equip students with practical, career-ready skills that align with industry demands. In addition to fostering external recognition through certifications, he is mapping out training pathways by leveraging the expertise of current faculty and integrating existing coursework. By connecting students with these resources, Dr. Bedeley is ensuring they gain hands-on experience and a competitive edge in the evolving data landscape.
Dr. William Best, College of Sciences & Mathematics
Dr. William Best is playing a key role in our Resources Hub by providing statistical mentoring and hands-on support for faculty research and grant projects. His expertise ensures that faculty have access to high-quality statistical analysis, strengthening the impact of their work. In addition to direct mentoring, he is developing a collection of self-serve resources that empower faculty to navigate common statistical challenges independently. Through these efforts, Dr. Best is enhancing the university’s research capabilities and fostering a stronger culture of data-driven decision-making.
Dr. Laurie Gavilo-Lane, College Pharmacy & Health Sciences
Dr. Laurie Gavilo-Lane is leading grant development and analytic efforts with a focus on leveraging public health data to drive impactful research. Her work centers on connecting data across multiple sources to support studies aimed at addressing critical health challenges. With a particular emphasis on opioid prevention and mitigation, she is identifying funding opportunities and crafting proposals that advance evidence-based solutions. Through her expertise, Dr. Gavilo-Lane is helping to secure resources that empower researchers to make meaningful contributions to public health policy and intervention strategies.
Dr. Mary Ellen Pethel , Global Leadership Studies
Dr. Mary Ellen Pethel is leading efforts to enhance data literacy across campus, ensuring students have the skills to interpret and apply data effectively. She is developing a targeted learning module designed to improve data comprehension, critical analysis, and practical application. This module will be piloted in the Honorable Life courses, providing valuable insights into best practices for integrating data literacy into coursework. Through her work, Dr. Pethel is fostering a data-informed culture that empowers the university community to make more informed decisions and conduct stronger research.