Belmont University President Greg Jones has been named the 2026 Nashvillian of the Year by Easterseals Tennessee, an honor recognizing leaders whose work has shaped the city. Since arriving in June 2021 with his wife, Rev. Susan Pendleton Jones, Jones has led Belmont through a period of significant growth and momentum.
President Greg Jones with students celebrating the first day of classes 2024
A Vote of Confidence
In December, Belmont's Board of Trustees extended Jones's contract through May 2036, five more years of leadership, amid what the board called a period of "record momentum, transformative growth and ambitious vision."
"The Board has tremendous confidence in Greg's leadership and vision for Belmont's future. Under his guidance, the University has achieved extraordinary growth while remaining firmly rooted in our Christ-centered mission. This extension provides Belmont the long-term stability and continuity to achieve our aspirations to reimagine higher education to serve a rapidly evolving world," said Milton Johnson, Chair, Belmont Board of Trustees.
A Campus Transformed
Since 2021, Belmont has opened several major new buildings, including:
The Fisher Center for the Performing Arts, which opened just as Jones arrived in September 2021, has since hosted the world premiere of a Dolly Parton musical, CMA Country Christmas, CMT Giants, and a taping of American Idol.
The Jack C. Massey Center, a $92 million facility Belmont calls its "new front door," anchors a new hub for innovation and collaboration on campus.
Wiseman Hall and Hewlett Hall, two new residence halls, have expanded and modernized where students live.
Fisher Center for the Performing Arts
Jack C. Massey Center
Wiseman & Hewlett Halls
Backing Vision with Investment
Belmont's fundraising has kept pace with its growth. The public launch of the $700 million Hope Transforms campaign, the most ambitious in University history, kicked off with a gala at the Fisher Center headlined by Andrea Bocelli. $345 million has already been committed.
Major gifts under Jones's leadership include a $58 million gift from the Curb family and Mike Curb Foundation, the largest in university history, supporting Belmont's Music Row expansion; a $32 million grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. to establish the Creative Arts Collective; and a $30 million gift from Board Chairman Milton Johnson and his wife Denice, creating the Johnson Academic Challenge, a matching fund expected to create up to 20 endowed professorships.
National Recognition, Nashville Roots
Belmont's profile has grown well beyond Nashville during Jones's tenure. The University joined the Missouri Valley Conference in 2022, the same year its women's basketball team upset a No. 5 seed in the NCAA Tournament. Dolly Parton partnered with Belmont to launch Dolly U, an immersive learning initiative, alongside the world premiere of her original musical at the Fisher Center. Last fall, American Idol filmed a portion of its 24th season on campus, with a special audition offered to Belmont students and alumni.
Academic Strength
Belmont Law reported a 97% career outcomes rate for its most recent graduating class and a 94.7% first-time bar passage rate, both consistently above the national average. Across the University, enrollment has climbed to a record 8,975 students in fall 2025, a 9.4% increase since 2020. That growth has held steady even as many universities nationally have struggled to maintain enrollment.
National rankings have followed. The Princeton Review named Belmont's Massey College of Business to its Best On-Campus MBA list for a fourth consecutive year and ranked Belmont's undergraduate entrepreneurship program No. 34 nationally and No. 7 in the South. Curb College's music business program was named a Billboard Top Music Business School, and its film program earned a spot on Variety's Education Impact Report for the eighth consecutive year, one of only a handful of programs nationwide recognized on both lists.
What's Next
Belmont's growth isn't slowing down. Two major projects are currently under construction: The CORD at the Historic Powerhouse, a 17,000-square-foot renovation and addition that will turn a century-old campus building into a hub for creativity and collaboration, funded by a $10 million lead gift from Trustee Cordia Harrington; and a new music and entertainment hub on Music Row, the next phase of Belmont's expansion into the heart of the entertainment industry.
New academic programs have launched alongside campus growth, including a Master of Science in Nursing for career-changers entering the profession, a Master of Arts in Christian Faith and Life for working professionals and a Master of Science in Instructional Design & Innovation, three more ways Belmont is meeting the moment for the students it serves. The University has also launched new programs in occupational therapy and adult degree offerings with additional degree programs forthcoming.
"Belmont stands at a pivotal moment. Our aspirations for the next decade are shaped by our commitment to forming strong leaders of character and equipping people to solve the world's most complex problems," said Jones in his contract extension announcement.