Ad hoc Committees and Working Groups

Academic Leadership Team

Position Member
Dean Sabrina Madison-Cannon
Associate Dean of Faculty Affairs Steve Vacchi
Associate Dean for Graduate Studies Leslie Straka
Associate Dean for Undergraduate Studies Christian Cherry
Associate Dean of Finance and Operations Melynn Bates
Academic Music Department Head Steve Rodgers
Dance Department Head Patty Delaney
Music Performance Department Head Sharon Paul
Executive Assistant to the Dean Tiffany Benefiel

Operations Leadership Team

Position Member
Dean Sabrina Madison-Cannon
Associate Dean of Faculty Affairs Steve Vacchi
Associate Dean for Graduate Studies Leslie Straka
Associate Dean for Undergraduate Studies Christian Cherry
Associate Dean of Finance and Operations Melynn Bates
Assistant Dean for Admissions Julie Koch
Executive Assistant to the Dean Tiffany Benefiel
Director of Programming and Administration – OBF James Boyd
Director of Strategic Communications and Marketing Josh Gren
Director of Development Kelsey Isaacs
Director of Facilities Services Steve Dunn

Distinguished Alumni Award Committee

Position Committee Member
Dean Sabrina Madison-Cannon
Associate Dean of Faculty Affairs Steve Vacchi
Associate Dean for Graduate Studies Leslie Straka
Associate Dean for Undergraduate Studies Christian Cherry
Academic Music Department Head Steve Rodgers
Dance Department Head Patty Harrington Delaney
Music Performance Department Head Sharon Paul
Director of Development Kelsey Isaacs
Director of Strategic Communications and Marketing Josh Gren
Committee staff support Wakako Stevens

Ensemble Petition Committee

Position Committee Member
Brass or Percussion Area Chair Pius Cheung
Woodwinds Area Chair Melissa Peña
Strings Area Chair Leslie Straka
Voice Area Chair Craig Phillips
Director of Wind Ensemble Dennis Llinás
Director of Wind Symphony Jason Silveira
Director of Choral Activities Sharon Paul
Director of Orchestral Activities David Jacobs
Associate Dean for Graduate Studies* Leslie Straka
Associate Dean for Undergraduate Studies* Christian Cherry

* Associate Dean for Undergraduate Studies calls meetings and chairs when there are undergraduate petitions to be considered, or Associate Dean for Graduate Studies calls meetings and chairs when there are graduate petitions.


Marketing Committee

Position Committee Member (term)
Director of Strategic Communications and Marketing Josh Gren
Communications Specialist Alyssa Hinojosa
Admissions Assistant Sara Spicer
Academic Music Department Faculty VACANT
Dance Department Faculty VACANT
Music Performance Department Faculty VACANT
SOMD Development Staff Wakako Stevens
SOMD student representative
Student assistants from SOMD communications or development offices

*inactive


Technology Committee

Position Committee Member
SOMD Recording Engineer Lance Miller
Associate Dean of Finance and Operations Melynn Bates
Director of Facilities Services Steve Dunn
Academic Music Department Faculty
Academic Music – Music Technology Area Faculty
Dance Department Faculty
Music Performance Department Faculty
Student representative from Music
Student representative from Dance
IT Staff

*inactive

 

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updated 7/14/2025