How university’s “largest classrooms” prepare future event professionals
This summer, the Office of Strategic Venues & Event Services (OSVES) launched Belmont Event Specialist Training (BEST), a pilot program designed to prepare future event industry leaders through hands-on learning and mentorship.
BEST participants gained real-world experience by shadowing departments and working in multiple areas of the venues and event services profession, including business operations, management, production and technology, finance and accounting and marketing and communications.
Throughout the summer, major events at Belmont provided students with resume-boosting opportunities and direct access to industry leaders. Students supported high-profile productions such as “Dolly: A True Original Musical” in the Fisher Center, the filming of “9-1-1: Nashville”, the Miss Tennessee Teen competition and FIFA World Cup events.
“I like to think of Belmont's venues as some of the universities largest and most dynamic classrooms,” said Andrea Runner, senior director of business operations & special projects. “Investing in students is central to our mission. We’ve always engaged trusted student team members to step into unique, real-world opportunities, whether that’s assisting with a high-profile production or bringing major campus events to life.”
Through BEST, students expanded their skills, built professional connections and collaborated with top performance industry partners. While working on Dolly: The Musical, for example, students partnered with the world-renowned Hudson Scenic Studios and global entertainment company 101 Studios.
Students Behind BEST
These students share how BEST shaped their skills and expanded their perspective on the events industry.
Erza Biggs
Music major
For the Love of Dolly:
“Every time I walk into the room and she's there, my eyes are glued to Dolly Parton! She's a
person I've looked up to for as long as I can remember. Dolly attracts the best and also draws out the best in people. Just being in that environment has been great.”
Backstage with Broadway Legends:
“The founder of Hudson Scenic, Neil Mazzella, is here in person. He gave us a tour of backstage, and we got to talk to him for two hours and pick his brain. He's amazing.
Other than Dolly herself and getting to meet Broadway producers and professionals — which has been super helpful for my career, I have loved being able to represent the University. Belmont was my first-choice school. I came here because the School of Music is so good, but I wasn’t really sold on the university until I got to see Belmont’s unique approach to everything.”
Alena Biddle
Creative Entertainment Industries major
Lessons that Last a Lifetime:
“Having this experience as an undergraduate student is very surreal. Even if I don't go into
venue management, BEST has given me a lot to think about in terms of choosing a career while also giving me transferable skills that I can apply anywhere.”
Finding her Path:
“I feel there’s been a lot of soul searching in my Belmont experience. I started out undecided. BEST gave me hands-on experience in real-world situations and real career experience that others might not get for years, or ever. The program has built me up and made me feel like I have a support team around me to enter these rooms. The experience I gained is making me into a fully rounded person who is being set up for success.”
Laykin Milton
Music Business and Marketing major
A New Perspective on Events:
“I’m the vice president of programming for Belmont Panhellenic and have worked with OSVES
in the past. I've always been someone who likes events, and it's been really cool to get to see the other side of the events world from like venues' perspectives. We've gotten so many different opportunities through the program. It's just been amazing.”
Mentors Who Believe in You:
“It was really exciting to have supervisors who want us to succeed and get hands-on learning. It's so helpful from a student perspective, but also, in the industry in general. I never thought that people would be so trusting, especially at our young ages. It's really refreshing to see that they trust you and they care about you.”
Da’Vine Yancy
Music Business major
On Campus Opportunities:
“The BEST program fills that gap by offering students like me the chance to build skills, make
connections and contribute to real events right here on campus. It’s an incredibly valuable resource.”
Mentorship that Matters:
“What stands out most to me is how much OSVES truly cares about our growth and success. It’s comforting and motivating to know there are faculty and staff who believe in me and are willing to support me with opportunities to grow.”
The Future of Learning Beyond the Classroom
Looking ahead, OSVES plans to build on the success of the pilot by expanding BEST opportunities and integrating the program into the classroom experience. Future plans include partnering with academic programs to connect course learning with live event execution, ensuring students gain both theoretical knowledge and real-world application.
“The events industry is incredibly hands-on, and while there’s a lot to learn in the classroom, the most impactful lessons come from real-world experience,” Yancy added. “That’s why I believe the BEST program is so valuable for students — it provides meaningful, practical experience without requiring us to look beyond campus.”
More Photos of BEST Students
