Lipscomb community mourns the loss of pharmacy faculty Kim Barker

Story was originally written for Lipscomb’s website by Kim Chaudoin on May 12. The website notes, “Story updated at 6:30 p.m. on May 12, 2014, to include funeral arrangements.” The Lipscomb community is mourning the loss today of Dr. Kim Barker, associate professor of pharmacy practice and director of drug information services for the College of Pharmacy. Barker passed away last night, May 11, at her home in Nashville from complications related to a medical condition. Barker was one of only 80 board-certified Pharm. D. toxicologists in the world. “I am shocked and deeply saddened by the unexpected death of Dr. Kim Barker,” said L. Randolph Lowry, Lipscomb University president. “Her commitment to excellence in pharmacy practice and her passion for helping others was an inspiration to all who knew her.” Barker played an integral role in the pharmacy education program at Lipscomb. Her teaching responsibilities include clinical study design/evidence based practice, healthcare informatics and toxicology. Barker was an incredible resource for not only Lipscomb student pharmacists and faculty, but she also provided support for preceptors and medical professionals all throughout the nation. Barker maintained a practice site at the Tennessee Poison Control Center. Her wealth of knowledge was a true asset for the medical profession. She will be remembered for implementing a Practice Seminar course for all third year student pharmacists. Students were led by Barker to prepare and present a CE presentation, where they searched and retrieved primary literature, evaluated studies and writing objectives that brought together their skills from core coursework in pharmacy practice and pharmaceutical sciences. This course, according to current students and alumni, was...
2013 Lipscomb crime stats show rise in burglary, thefts

2013 Lipscomb crime stats show rise in burglary, thefts

Lipscomb has a generally good reputation concerning the amount of crimes that occur on campus. But, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation’s 2013 crime statistics show that the school ranks near the top of the list in comparison to nearby colleges with the number of reported burglaries and thefts. The amount of reported larcenies and thefts have gradually increased from 2010. In 2013, there were 52 reported larcenies/thefts, while in 2012, there were 29, a difference of 23 reports. The difference between burglaries and thefts/larceny, as Lipscomb Assistant Director of Campus Security Patrick Cameron described, is a matter of where the crime occurs. “If you leave your dorm room unlocked, [and] somebody comes in and steals your wallet out of your dorm room, it still counts as a burglary because it’s your residence,” Cameron said. He went on to say that theft occurs when an possession is stolen from a public place that the thief has permission to be in. To the left are the 2013 statistics compared to the past few years. Sophomore molecular biology major Mark Mitchell was a burglary victim last year. He and his roommate left their door unlocked at night quite often, and the money in his wallet was stolen. “I had [about] 100, 200 dollars in my wallet, in my desk, tucked away,” Mitchell said. The thief had walked into his room, taken the money and left. Though Mitchell was stolen from, his outlook on Lipscomb hasn’t changed. He does, however, encourage students to be more aware. “People need to be aware,” Mitchell said. “You need to recognize that this is not a bubble....

Alum Anastasia Sloan remembered for good friendship, radiant smile

Update: A celebration of life for Ms. Sloan was held in the Ezell Swang Chapel Wednesday night at 7 p.m. Former Lipscomb University student Anastasia Sloan died in a highway accident late Monday night. Ms. Sloan was driving on Interstate 40 West when her vehicle went off the right shoulder. She over-corrected and crossed both lanes of traffic before going into a guardrail. The vehicle overturned and rested in the middle of the road, and Ms. Sloan was ejected, according to the Tennessee Highway Patrol’s report. The report says she was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the accident. Ms. Sloan, 23, graduated from the university in May 2013 with a degree in organizational communication and public relations. She was also a member of the Pi Delta social club during her time as a student. The university released a statement on Ms. Sloan’s passing, sharing their condolences to all impacted by the loss. “The Lipscomb community is saddened by the sudden loss of alumna Anastasia Sloan, as we are with the loss of any of our alumni across the country and around the world,” the statement read. “Our thoughts and prayers are with her family and friends as they navigate this difficult time.” Aerial Ellis, one of Ms. Sloan’s teachers, spoke to the kind of person she was. “Anastasia was an awesome person,” Ellis said. “She was very bold and confident. I can always depend on her to be a leader and to stand out. “She always had a heart for community, and she loved learning about public relations and was really excited about the career ahead...
May 2014 graduation ceremonies send record number out into world

May 2014 graduation ceremonies send record number out into world

Due to a record number of graduates, Lipscomb University held two commencement ceremonies for the spring 2014 graduates Saturday afternoon in Allen Arena. Over 800 students received their undergrad, graduate or doctorate degrees in the ceremonies, including those who received Lipscomb’s first ever doctorate of ministry degrees. During the undergraduate ceremony, Director of the Beaman Library and 30-year faculty member Carolyn Wilson offered words of wisdom for the graduating students. “My father told me when I began my first career, which was teaching, that I should not determine success in terms of just monetary rewards,” Wilson said. Lipscomb president Randy Lowry also spoke during the ceremony, commenting on the bittersweet feelings of graduation day. “You’re on a path right now, and I know it’s hard to look back and look forward at the same time, but I want you to take a moment to think about that,” Lowry said. “Every path connects you not only to where you are going, but also to where you’ve been. “I hope you spend time celebrating. The past is a wonderful thing for us to recognize. But then there’s the future. The future is in some ways very uncertain and in other ways not so much.” During the undergraduate ceremony, David Sampson, President and CEO of the Property Casualty Insurers Association of America, was awarded with the prestigious Alumnus of the Year award. Sampson has also worked in the government as the deputy secretary of the U.S. Department of Commerce and assistant secretary of commerce for economic development in the George W. Bush administration. In a change from the usual solo performance, Lipscomb’s Alma Mater...

Former Yellow Ribbon student, Metro Police Officer Andrew Nash honored for heroic life in memorial service

Metro Police Officer Andrew Nash, a former Yellow Ribbon scholar, was remembered as “a hero” during a memorial service Thursday in the Ezell Center’s Swang Chapel. “Andy was, by all measures, a hero,” said Jim Thomas, the executive assistant to university president Randy Lowry, during the memorial. “One who has given his or her life to something bigger than self – that was Andrew David Nash. A person who is admired for great or brave acts or fine qualities – that was Andrew David Nash.” Nash, 30, who graduated from Lipscomb in December 2013, died April 14 of apparent natural causes. “This is a person who had a strong adherence through his faith and through his daily practice of life, of adhering to character and sacrifice,” said Thomas, a professor in the communications department and a veteran himself. Nash had been a member of the Metro Police Department since 2007. He also served the Andrew Jackson Lodge of the Fraternal Order of Police as a board member. “Officer Nash was an extremely well-liked and respected officer who was carrying on his father’s fine tradition of service to Nashville and its citizens,” said Chief Steve Anderson in a press release.“The Nashville Police Department is a family. Our hearts are deeply saddened by Andy’s untimely passing.” Nash’s father, Bob Nash, is a retired East Precinct Commander. Nash served in the Marine Corps from 2003 to 2007 and served two tours in Iraq. A Yellow Ribbon student, he completed his bachelor’s degree in law, justice and society in December. Randy Spivey, academic director of the institute for law, justice and society, met...