BDC Highlights Data-Driven Community Impact and AI through Campus Research Xpo

Community Partners Share Impact Stories 

The morning session opened with presentations from local community partners, featuring representatives from Nashville Health, Matthew Walker Comprehensive Health Center and Engage Together.

Tom Baldwin from Belmont’s Innovation Labs discussed initiatives in foster care, demonstrating how data analysis can inform and improve community support systems. 

AI in the Classroom 

A highlight of the Xpo was the Digital AI Showcase, featuring innovative implementations of artificial intelligence in classroom settings. Out of 20 faculty submissions, four presenters were selected to share their work in integrating AI across diverse disciplines including Dr. Nathan Adam from the Mike Curb College of Entertainment & Music Business, Dr. Scott Hawley from the College of Sciences and Mathematics, Dr. Cheryl Black from the Jack C. Massey College of Business and Dr. Nicholas Pleasant from the College of Law. 

Adam and Black were selected as the two winners to receive BDC funding to continue their AI initiatives throughout the academic year.   

Adam demonstrated how his students leverage AI-powered voice technology to enhance video production, using ElevenLabs AI to create professional voiceovers that match specific tones and accents. This innovation allows students to focus on storytelling and visual elements while efficiently producing high-quality narration for different target audiences. 

Black shared a comprehensive approach to AI integration in business education, implementing a structured learning environment where students explore multiple AI tools including ChatGPT, Copilot, Gemini and Meta. Her methodology combines hands-on experience through group activities and class discussions with clear guidelines for appropriate AI use. This approach ensures students develop AI competencies while maintaining academic integrity through proper citation and disclosure practices. 

International Perspectives on Data-Driven Community Transformation 

The event's keynote presentation featured Dr. Andrew Grounds and Dr. Gareth Robinson from sister school Queen's University’s initiative Communities and Place (QCAP) in Belfast, Northern Ireland, sharing insights from their work in data-driven urban transformation. Their presentation highlighted striking parallels between community challenges in Nashville and Belfast, despite different historical contexts. 

“When we think about these communities and the work that we do, there's a lot of similarity between the marginalized populations and the negative outcomes that they experience here in Nashville in the United States, as there is in Belfast,” noted Dr. Catherine Bass, director of the Belmont Data Collaborative. “The drivers are very different, but the outcomes are the same.” 

The QCAP team shared their success in leveraging more than £12 million in funding for community projects through data-driven approaches. Their work emphasizes the importance of making data accessible and meaningful to communities.  

As Robinson noted, “We must be thoughtfully critical of data. There's always a risk of reducing people to numbers and records, but our work aims to ensure data serves to amplify, not diminish, the human experience.” 

Looking Ahead: Campus Data Resources 

The Xpo concluded with an announcement of a new campus initiative launching in spring 2025. Led by faculty members Michael Oliver and Will Best as senior data fellows, this initiative will provide expanded support for faculty engaging in data-driven research and teaching through technical writing and statistical assistance. 

The event also featured presentations from various campus partners including the grants office, library, BDC and CARES, highlighting the range of data resources available to support faculty and student research initiatives.  

This year's Data Xpo demonstrated the BDC's commitment to fostering data literacy and application across disciplines while building meaningful partnerships both locally and globally. As the University continues to integrate data into its culture and curriculum, events like the Data Xpo serve as crucial platforms for sharing best practices and building collaborative relationships.