Pictured in header image from left to right: Keidron Turner (alumni regent), Emily Reynolds, President Greg Jones, Peter Geoly (alumni regent), Dr. Mike Cuffe, Andrea Waitt Carlton, Winston Justice, Board Chair Milton Johnson and Burke Nihill
The Belmont University Board of Trust recently added five new members for the start of the 2023-2024 academic year: philanthropist Andrea Waitt Carlton, HCA Healthcare EVP & Chief Clinical Officer Dr. Michael Cuffe, AllianceBernstein Investment Advisor Winston Justice, Tennessee Titans CEO/President Burke Nihill and Tennessee Board of Regents Vice Chair Emily Reynolds.
Board of Trust Chair Milton Johnson, a Belmont alumnus and retired CEO/Chairman of HCA Healthcare, said, “With the recent opening of the new Jack C. Massey Center, the highly anticipated Frist College of Medicine and other developments across campus, Belmont is gaining exciting momentum toward the institutional vision of becoming the leading Christ-centered university in the world. These new Trustees bring an abundance of valuable experience and insights that will help us keep our focus on students’ success and reach our strategic goals.”
Andrea Waitt Carlton is the president of the AWC Foundation, which generously supports a number of initiatives that reflect her life-long interests in education, community development, conservation, animal dignity and preservation of our nation’s founding principles. The foundation is currently supporting Belmont with a $1 million pledge for the Fisher Center for the Performing Arts.
Dr. Michael Cuffe (Mike) is executive vice president and chief clinical officer for Nashville HCA Healthcare, one of the nation’s leading providers of healthcare services. In his role, Dr. Cuffe is broadly responsible for the company’s clinical and physician agenda including clinical quality, nursing, clinical informatics, care transformation, urgent care operations, graduate medical education, laboratory services and more than 13,000 employed and managed physicians.
Winston Justice is an Investment Advisor at AllianceBernstein’s Nashville Headquarters, serving as an asset manager to multigenerational families, entrepreneurs and nonprofits. After his NFL career (2006-2015) with the Philadelphia Eagles, Indianapolis Colts and Denver Broncos, Winston immediately entered the financial industry as an associate analyst with Wells Fargo Securities. During his football career, he co-founded MJC Capital, an early-stage investment vehicle, and Elixr, an award-winning gourmet cafe and roastery. His deep dedication to philanthropic work also resulted in him being named the 2010 Walter Payton Philadelphia Man of the Year.
Burke Nihill is in his eighth season with the Tennessee Titans and his fourth as the team’s President and CEO. He joined the organization as General Counsel in 2016. During his time with the Titans, Burke has overseen the bid for Nashville’s record-breaking 2019 NFL Draft, the expansion of its headquarters and practice facility, Ascension Saint Thomas Sports Park and the approval of a public-private partnership to build a new, enclosed stadium within a transformational new town center on Nashville’s East Bank. Burke also led the team’s development of a new mission statement – “Win, Serve, Entertain” – which has become a centering statement for the franchise. The statement guides strategy and decision-making throughout the organization, from the football team and content creators to human resources and fan engagement.
Emily Reynolds has had an extensive career in public service, policy and government in Washington, D.C. and Tennessee. She is currently the vice-chairman of the Tennessee Board of Regents, the state’s governing board for its community colleges and colleges of applied technology. For four years, she served as Secretary of the U.S. Senate where she ran the Senate’s legislative, financial and administrative operations. After leaving the Senate, she was a senior vice president for the Tennessee Valley Authority. Reynolds also serves on the boards of FB Financial and BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee.
“I am enthusiastic for these influential leaders to join Belmont’s Board of Trust,” Belmont President Dr. Greg Jones said. “I have no doubt that their individual stories and areas of expertise will make a significant contribution to Belmont’s bigger story that is still being written as we look forward to a future of continued growth, flourishing and community outreach.”
Joining the five new board members are two new alumni regents, chosen to help provide leadership and advice to the Board by representing the views of students and new alumni: Peter Geoly, a 2022 Sport Administration and Corporate Communications graduate, and Keidron Turner, a 2023 Politics and Public Law graduate.