DEIB in Music
Excellence in Diversity Awards
Each year, representatives on the College of Music Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging Committee choose faculty/staff members and students to receive College of Music Excellence in Diversity awards. Each recipient is also nominated for MSU's All Diversity Award. Congratulations to all of the awardees! The DEIB Committe and the entire Music community thank you for your hard work on behalf of diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging efforts in the College of Music.
Excellence in Diversity Awards
2020 - 2021 | 2019 - 2020 | 2018 - 2019 | 2017 - 2018
2020 - 2021 Faculty/Staff Honorees
Mark and Sadie Rucker, international faculty artists, co-created the vocal arts outreach and recruiting initiatives in underserved school systems in Michigan, elevating the College of Music Voice Area's diversity and recruitment efforts where 33% are African-American.
Juliet Hess, MSU associate professor of music education, has research interests in anti-oppression education, activism, social justice and ethical issues in music education. She also provides leadership in diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging in the College of Music and throughout the world. She has published numerous articles and is the author of Music for Social Change: Constructing and Activist Music Education.
Benjamin Ebener is director of admissions, student services, and scholarships at the College of Music, providing leadership in the College's diversity efforts. Ben helped to create a new bridge program in the College and collaborated on a grant awarded to the MSU Community Music School in Detroit entitled "Ready-Set-Audition." He also played a leading role in implementing the program.
2020 - 2021 Student Honorees
Jadrian Tarver, who completed his DMA in 2021, co-founded and established a student organization called Color Me Music: Alliance for Students of Color and Allies (CMM). He was appointed as Project Manager of DEIB at the College of Music and Wharton Center for Performing Arts. Jadrian also presented his lecture recitals on the works of Edmond Dede and Lena McLin.
Jessica McKiernan, a Ph.D. candidate in Music Education with a choral cognate, focuses her dissertation on the experiences of choir directors of traditionally single-gender choral ensembles and how they address issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion in their choirs.
Sequoia Snyder, who completed her undergraduate degree in Jazz Studies in 2021, has produced and co-produced several recording and video projects centered on social justice. A founding member of Color Me Music and a member of its executive board, she also received a Michigan State University Social Justice Arts Festival Most Inspiring Award in the category of Performance Art for original music put to video entitled "Delight."
2019 - 2020 Faculty/Staff Honorees
Deborah Moriarty, professor of piano and chair of the Piano Area, and Derek Polischuk, professor of piano and director of piano pedagogy, created and continue to lead Celebrating the Spectrum: A Festival of Music and Life. An annual week-long festival in July, Celebrating the Spectrum is held at the College of Music on the MSU campus and is designed to give qualified advanced pre-College students on the Autism Spectrum a preview of a life in music.
Marcie Ray, MSU associate professor of musicology, is recognized for her research and courses that investigate issues of gender, class, and sexuality. Her book, Coquettes, Wives, and Widows: Gender Politics in French Baroque Opera and Theater, illustrates how composers and librettists transformed and diminished early feminist literary characters when they adapted them for the French Baroque stage.
2019 - 2020 Student Honorees
Kendra Wheeler (DMA) and Kakia Gkoudina (master’s) co-created a platform for organizations that are run by and/or fight for underrepresented and people of color in the arts.
Liany Mateo is a female role model in the male-dominated field of Jazz. As an undergraduate in Jazz Studies, she earned recognition as an outstanding bass soloist at the Jazz at Lincoln Center inaugural Jack Rudin Jazz Championship in 2020.
2018 - 2019 Faculty/Staff Honorees
Christine Beamer: Excellent Progress Toward Achieving Diversity and Pluralism
David Biedenbender: Excellence within Community
Gwendolyn Dease: Advancing Global Competency
2018 - 2019 Student Honorees
Latasha Thomas-Durrell, DMA
Markus Howell, Masters
Jordyn Davis, Undergraduate
2017 - 2018 Faculty/Staff Honorees
Michael Largey: Advancing Global Competency (recipient of All University Diversity Award in same category)
Talitha Wimberly: Excellence Within Community
Jill Woodward: Excellent Progress Toward Achieving Diversity and Pluralism
