The Cordell and Ava Haymon Endowed Chair of Music Therapy – Louisiana State University

THE ROLE
Louisiana State University invites applications for the position of the Cordell and Ava Haymon Endowed Chair of Music Therapy. The successful candidate will be appointed with tenure at the rank of Associate Professor or Professor and will provide visionary leadership for LSU’s rapidly growing Music Therapy program within the School of Music in the College of Music & Dramatic Arts (CMDA).

This endowed position offers a unique opportunity to shape the future of music therapy education, research, and clinical practice at a flagship Research 1 institution. Established with the support of the Haymon family, whose multigenerational commitment has been instrumental in advancing music therapy at LSU, the endowed chair provides significant annual resources to support research, instructional innovation, clinical partnerships, and program development.

LSU welcomed its first cohort of Bachelor of Music Therapy students in Fall 2023. With the undergraduate curriculum established, the next phase of growth focuses on expanding enrollment, strengthening clinical partnerships, advancing research, and developing a long-term vision for
graduate education and regional leadership in music therapy.

The Chair reports to the Director of the School of Music and will work collaboratively across LSU’s expanding flagship enterprise, including LSU Health New Orleans, LSU Health Shreveport, the LSU AgCenter, the Pennington Biomedical Research Center, and partners throughout the
healthcare, education, and community sectors.

THE OPPORTUNITY
This position offers the opportunity to lead the first music therapy degree program established at a public university in Louisiana and to help define the future of the profession across the state and Gulf South region. Supported by a significant endowment and situated within a Carnegie R1 research university, the Chair will be positioned to advance innovative research, develop transformative clinical partnerships, and expand educational opportunities in a region where access to music therapy services remains limited. Located in a state internationally recognized for its rich and varied musical traditions, LSU provides a distinctive environment in which music serves as both a cultural cornerstone and a powerful vehicle for health, healing, and community engagement. Through collaborations across LSU’s growing health and research enterprise, the successful candidate can play a pivotal role in advancing health, well-being, and healthcare equity through music therapy. The successful candidate will join LSU at a time of significant growth in health-related research and clinical collaboration. Opportunities exist to
engage with investigators and healthcare professionals across the LSU enterprise, including LSU Health New Orleans and its expanding Cancer Center, where growing interest in integrative and supportive care approaches creates promising avenues for music therapy research and practice. These partnerships offer the potential to advance innovative studies examining the role of music therapy in cancer care, survivorship,
symptom management, behavioral health, and overall patient well-being.

I. Desired Attributes
The successful candidate will:
• Earned doctorate (PhD, DMA, or equivalent terminal degree) in Music Therapy or a closely related discipline with a demonstrated focus on music therapy.
• Board Certification in Music Therapy (MT-BC) or equivalent professional credential.
• Eligibility for appointment with tenure at the rank of Associate Professor or Professor.
• Demonstrated excellence in university-level teaching.
• Evidence of mastery of professional music therapy competencies and advanced clinical practice.
• Experience developing clinical partnerships in medical, educational, behavioral health, or community settings.
• Record of scholarly achievement, including peer-reviewed publications and other evidence of sustained research
activity.
• Demonstrated ability to mentor student scholarship.

II. Minimum Qualifications
• Demonstrate exceptional teaching informed by a strong foundation of clinical practice and experience.
• Provide strategic vision and leadership for a growing academic and clinical program.
• Produce a coherent and impactful scholarly trajectory supported by a clear research agenda.
• Build interdisciplinary collaborations that advance both scholarship and clinical practice.
• Secure extramural funding and expand research opportunities.
• Lead by influencing workforce development, healthcare innovation, and access to music therapy services.
• Embrace the opportunity to shape the future of music therapy throughout Louisiana.

III. Preferred Qualifications
• Established national or international reputation in music therapy research, clinical practice, education, or leadership.
• Experience working within a research-intensive university environment.
• Experience pursuing federal funding opportunities, including NIH or related agencies.
• Experience supervising music therapy clinical training programs and overseeing internship or practicum experiences.
• Record of interdisciplinary collaboration involving healthcare, psychology, education, neuroscience, rehabilitation,
public health, or related fields.
• Leadership in local, regional, national, or international professional organizations.
• Leadership in program development, enrollment growth, accreditation, or strategic planning