Dr. Rudy Bedeley's summer externship experience at The Branch of Nashville
A new externship program for faculty in the Jack C. Massey College of Business is strengthening community ties, enriching the classroom experience and making an impact for good. Funded by a summer grant, the program sends professors into the community to work with for-profit and nonprofit organizations.
Dr. Rudolph T. Bedeley, assistant professor of business systems analytics and data science, was the program’s first participant, completing his externship this past summer at the Branch of Nashville, a local nonprofit providing essential support and empowerment to the Nashville community through a variety of services including food assistance, education and more.
Originally from Ghana, Bedeley moved to the U.S. in 2009 for graduate school, obtaining two M.S. degrees in civil engineering and information/technology management from the University of Delaware then completing his Ph.D. in information systems at the University of North Carolina, Greensboro.
In 2022, Bedeley joined Belmont’s faculty for a joint appointment in the College of Business and the College of Sciences and Mathematics.
“I'm so blessed to be part of the Belmont community; not many faculty members are in a position where they get to be in two places,” he noted, referring to his joint appointment. “Being able to blend the technical aspect with the business piece gives students a holistic view their education.”
Harnessing the power of data
Bedeley has volunteered at The Branch since 2022 after learning about organization during a faculty seminar focused on community service. The organization's mission to help immigrants as they encounter various challenges that come with transitioning to the United States strikes a personal chord with Bedeley.
“One thing that especially touches me about The Branch is that they are helping immigrants get settled,” he said. “I see myself as an immigrant. I came here for school, so I didn’t have to go through a lot of challenges. But if you are forced out of your country it's more challenging.”
For Bedeley, the externship was more than just a professional development opportunity. It was a chance to use his skills in data analysis to make a real difference in people's lives. "I want my years of schooling to benefit the community and make life better for others," he said.
After meeting with each department leader at The Branch, Bedeley identified a common challenge: the need for better data collection, storage and analysis. His work focused on helping these departments harness the power of data to improve their operations and decision-making processes.
“In order to solve such a big problem, you have to start somewhere small,” he explained.
By the end of his externship, Bedeley helped The Branch identify crucial data points and develop strategies for data collection and organization.
Real-world Application in the Classroom
With the organization’s permission, Bedele is now using data collected during his externship in the classroom, giving students the opportunity to apply the classroom-learned theory to find real-world solutions.
“They are being trained to go out and solve real-world problems,” Bedeley commented. “When I can present students with a real problem that is being faced by a company now, it opens their minds by giving them a bigger perspective about what is waiting for them and extra confidence that they are ready to make a great impact in the world.”
As Belmont University continues to strengthen its ties with the Nashville community, initiatives like Massey’s faculty externship program promise to enrich both academic and community landscapes. Through the work of dedicated faculty members like Bedeley, Belmont is bridging the gap between academia and real-world challenges, preparing students to make meaningful impacts in their future careers.
Learn more about the programs in this story.