A History of Excellence

With a distinguished history of over 45 years, the Ph.D. program has hosted and taught some of the finest music educators in the country with graduates working in institutions around the world. The lists below provide examples of the scope and depth of its history from faculty and alumni to job placements and dissertation topics.  

*Theses list covers the years of 1976 to 2020. If we may have missed you, this was unintentional! Please let us know by visiting our Alumni Update page. 

Music Education Faculty
  • William Anderson
  • Benjamin Ayling
  • Dawn Baker Carson
  • Robert Cutietta
  • Jay Dorfman
  • Robert Duke
  • Patricia Grutzmacher
  • Donald Hamann
  • Phyllis Kaplan
  • Daryl Kinney
  • Terry Kuhn
  • Joy Lawrence
  • Keitha Lucas Hamann
  • Virginia H Mead
  • Melvin Platt
  • Stanley Schleuter
  • Craig Resta
  • Christopher Venesile
  • Linda Walker Angotti
  • Dwayne Wasson
Graduates of the Program
  • Suzanne Banister, 1993
  • William I Bauer, 1994
  • Robert R Bayless, 1996
  • James D Belcher, 2010
  • Donald P Berger, 1991
  • Patricia A Boehm, 1999
  • Gregory D Booth, 1986
  • Donald W Carroll, 1983
  • Lee Ann G Conover, 1989
  • James W Cox, 1987
  • Michael Crist, 1998
  • Joyce A Decarbo, 1981
  • Nicholas J DeCarbo, 1981
  • Deborah M Devore, 1989
  • Brian D Ebie, 1999
  • Marilyn M Egan, 1995
  • Katherine Ferguson, 2017
  • Maria Foustalierake, 1997
  • Darla J Funk, 1985
  • R Tag Greig, 2003
  • Pat Grutzmacher, 1985
  • William K Guegold, 1989
  • Linda A Hartley, 1991
  • Dennis J Hayslett, 1991
  • Bryan Helsel, 2019
  • Jenna J Jones, 1992
  • Craig B Kepner, 1986
  • Richard Klinedinst, 1989
  • Betty L Kluth, 1986
  • Laurie Lafferty, 2001
  • Darren LeBeau, 2020
  • Terri B Lenzo, 2014
  • Eun-Jung Lim, 2012
  • Nancy E Lineburgh, 1994
  • Carol V Linsenmeier, 2004
  • Chet-Yeng Loong, 1999
  • Maria T Maroon, 2002
  • Michael D Martin, 2011
  • Nada Martinovic, 2010
  • Peter A McAllister, 1995
  • Gene F Milford, 2002
  • Jennifer Mishra, 1999
  • Jerrold A Moore, 1993
  • Maria L Navarro, 1989
  • Beatrice Olesko, 2020
  • Rosemary Omniewski, 1999
  • John T Owens, 2017
  • Marcia M Paladino, 1991
  • Kenneth H Phillips, 1983
  • Joseph M Pisano, 2007
  • Linda F Pucciani, 1982
  • Milagros A Quesada, 1992
  • Esther Rhee, 2001
  • John P Roebke, 2005
  • David M Royse, 1989
  • Lois J Schleuter, 1988
  • Pat Shehan Campbell, 1981
  • Joni L Stoll, 2008
  • Charles E Szabo, 1992
  • David J Teachout, 1997
  • Ann L Usher, 2005
  • John E Veneskey, 2014
  • Terese M Volk, 1993
  • Ann W Waters, 1991
  • Travis J Weller, 2014
  • Ted S Williams, 2003
  • Thomas J Zumpella, 1993
Where Alumni Have Taught
  • American School of Japan
  • Ball State University (IN)
  • Butler University (IN)
  • California State University (LA)
  • Case Western Reserve University (OH)
  • Grove City College (PA)
  • Ithaca College (NY)
  • Kent State University (OH)
  • Lima Schools (OH)
  • Mercer Schools (PA)
  • Nordonia Schools (OH)
  • Orange High School (OH)
  • University of Akron (OH)
  • University of Arizona
  • University of Auckland (NZ)
  • University of Dayton (OH)
  • University of Florida
  • University of Iowa
  • University of Miami (FL)
  • University of St. Louis (MO)
  • University of North Carolina
  • University of Tennessee
  • University of Toledo (OH)
  • University of Washington
  • Washington University (MO)
  • Wayne State University (MI)
  • Westminster College (PA)
  • Youngstown State University (OH)
Example Dissertation Topics
  • History of Multicultural Music Education
  • Musical Influences in the Lives of Senior Citizens
  • Looking at the Music Student Teaching Experience
  • Impacts on Hearing Amongst Band Directors
  • Online Preparation of Early Childhood Music Teachers
  • Personality and Effectiveness of Music Student Teachers
  • Elementary General Music Teachers and Curriculum
  • Middle School Teachers and Adolescent Male Voice
  • Sight-reading Practices and Beliefs in US HS Bands
  • Rhythm Reading Achievement in Instrumentalists
  • Music Education and World Music Experiences and Influences
  • Meter Discrimination and Rhythm Aptitude in Young Children
  • Choral Repertoire and Selection for Adjudicated Events
  • Incorporation of Technology into Korean Music Programs
  • Music Teachers and State/National Music Education Standards
  • A History of the Dana School of Music at Youngstown State
  • High School Band Directors Assessment Practices and Beliefs
  • Perspectives on Emerging Wind Band Literature in HS Bands
  • Predictors of College Band Participation of Non-Music Majors
  • Effects of Environmental Context on Performing Memorized Music
© 2025 Kent State University All rights reserved.