Mission & Vision
Mission: To advance mental health in the entertainment industry through education, community support, and research - bridging academic rigor with lived industry experience to drive lasting culture and systemic change.
Vision: A healthier, more sustainable entertainment industry where creative excellence and mental well-being coexist.
Leadership
Debbie Carroll, LCSW
CMA Endowed Chair & Executive Director
An industry-renowned leader with more than three decades of experience in entertainment mental health, including roles at MusiCares and Onsite, Carroll guides the Center’s strategic direction, research priorities, partnerships and program development.
“This center represents a powerful opportunity to build a culture of care, resilience and innovation for artists and professionals across music, film, television and beyond.”
Jenny Lokey
Email: jenny.lokey@belmont.edu
Academic Leadership
Brittany Schaffer
Mike Curb College of Entertainment & Music Business
Dean
“This center will invest in today’s leaders and creators, prepare the next generation to confidently navigate challenges and serve as a model for how our industry can care for its own.”
Sharrel Pinto
College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences
Dean
“We are uniquely positioned to bridge healthcare and entertainment in ways that can extend far beyond Middle Tennessee—impacting our nation and the world.”
Founding Support
The Center is funded by the Country Music Association’s transformative $3 million gift, including a $2 million endowed chair matched by the Johnson Academic Challenge to expand faculty leadership and research capacity.
Our Partners
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CMHE@belmont.edu
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