Nursing and women’s health expert Beth Youngblood has been appointed executive associate dean for Lipscomb University’s School of Nursing, housed in the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, the university announced Monday.

Youngblood will continue to expand Lipscomb’s nursing program and curriculum, which focuses not only on preparing nurses clinically but also emphasizes the importance of bedside interaction with patients and their families.

“Beth brings a rich background as a practicing nurse and an educator to the School of Nursing,” Roger Davis, dean of the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, said in a release. “Having worked in the field she has a unique perspective as she leads the academic component of this program that will help our students be better prepared for their careers.”

Youngblood began her career as a nurse in a Nashville obstetrics and gynecology practice as well as for a general practice office. She also worked as a labor and delivery nurse at Maury Regional Hospital in Columbia. In addition, Youngblood taught obstetrics at Columbia State Community College for nine years. From 2002 until 2012, Youngblood was on faculty at Belmont University’s School of Nursing, where she also served as course coordinator for the maternal infant course curriculum committee leadership council.

Youngblood is also a certified women’s health nurse practitioner.

Fisk University officials on Friday released a breakdown of how they intend to allocate the $30 million they will receive from Arkansas' Crystal Bridges Museum. Half will go to the school's endowment, while almost $6 million will settle accounts with the attorneys who have represented Fisk in recent years. Also in the mix is $5 million for strategic initiatives, one heck of a tool to help recruit a successor to President Hazel O'Leary, who is stepping down at the end of this year.

Fisk University and Wal-Mart heiress Alice Walton have sealed their agreement to share the Alfred Stieglitz collection of Georgia O'Keeffe works. The $30 million deal will have the collection migrate between Nashville and Fayetteville, Ark., every two years. Court documents show that Fisk will set aside $3.9 million to create a fund that will maintain the art.

Belmont University has named Dr. Mimi Barnard as assistant provost for interdisciplinary studies and global education.

Barnard is responsible for overseeing the university’s interdisciplinary and adult degree programs; global education and partnerships (including Study Abroad/Study Away programs and Belmont’s relationship with the Cooperative Center for Study Abroad); and international student programming.

Prior to joining Belmont, Barnard served as vice president for professional development and research for the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities, an international association of 185 higher education institutions with an annual enrollment of 400,000 students.

From 1990 to 2008, Barnard served on the faculty and the administration of Abilene Christian University.