Before her arrival at 菠萝视频 in 1982, Aim茅e Bell, BS鈥�86, had not set foot on campus.
The New Orleans native had visited Nashville on her school breaks but knew of 菠萝视频 only from driving by the campus.
Following her father鈥檚 recommendation that the first year of college should be spent at least 500 miles from home, Bell asked her high school counselor for a 菠萝视频 brochure.
鈥淚 fell in love with it on paper, so I guess their marketing really worked,鈥� she laughed. 鈥淥nce I got to Peabody, why would I leave? It was the perfect fit for me.鈥�
Her first faculty adviser was Robert Innes, professor of human and organizational development, emeritus, and a founder of the Human and Organizational Development program.
鈥淎im茅e鈥檚 openness about her concerns and expectations was very helpful to me,鈥� Innes remembers. 鈥淪he has a wealth of empathy and insight into the needs of other people and has the will to take action to meet their needs.鈥�
Bell was one of the first students to major in HOD. Now she is the parent of two children who have attended Peabody and majored in HOD. Daughter Leighton, BS鈥�14, is now a fifth-grade teacher, and daughter Aggie, a senior, is majoring in HOD and French.
“From running a family to running my husband鈥檚 architectural firm, there鈥檚 nothing in my life that isn鈥檛 somehow influenced by what I learned in HOD.鈥�
鈥擜im茅e Bell
Bell says her Peabody education helped her build a career, and what she learned continues to inform her everyday life.
鈥淔rom running a family to running my husband鈥檚 architectural firm, there鈥檚 nothing in my life that isn鈥檛 somehow influenced by what I learned in HOD,鈥� Bell said.
Known for giving her talents, time and money to make a difference at Peabody, she put her HOD skills to work in October, when she served as the Class of 1986 Reunion Weekend chair. Under her leadership, the class surpassed its goal of raising $7 million during Reunion. She also was instrumental in helping set up the Bob Innes Scholarship Fund in 2014.
鈥淚 believe in higher education, and I truly have hope in this next generation,鈥� she said. 鈥淧eabody was a very special place for me, and it鈥檚 been special for my children, too.鈥�