We know it’s hard to believe, but professors have whole lives outside of the classroom (wild, right?!). We sat down with some professors to give you a glimpse of the human behind the title and the syllabus. It turns out they have favorite foods and pets and hobbies, too. Professors… they’re just like us!
What part of your work makes you most proud?
When someone benefits in a very real way from the knowledge they learned from me.
What makes your day better?
A good night’s sleep and the absence of meetings.
What is the most exciting thing happening in your field right now?
Artificial Intelligence is bringing both new opportunities and challenges to the music industry.
How do you recharge?
I chill at the beach with a great audiobook.
What is the most unusual food you have eaten?
Marmite, which is a yeast-extract spread that many Brits have on toast but Americans generally consider yucky.
What part of your work makes you most proud?
The opportunity to collaborate with talented students and professionals while helping shape the next generation of composers and media storytellers. Seeing a student grow into their own creative voice is incredibly rewarding.
What makes your day better?
Moments of music discovery, whether it’s hearing an inspiring piece, making progress on a new work, or sharing creative breakthroughs/mistakes with my students. And any moment to play a video game.
What is the most exciting thing happening in your field right now?
The integration of new technology, like AI and immersive audio, is transforming how we compose and experience music for film, TV, and video games. It’s a thrilling time to experiment with these tools to enhance storytelling.
How do you recharge?
Spending time traveling with my family, or exploring new music or films. Running while listening to audio books or podcasts.
What is the most unusual food you have eaten?
I once ate an oxymoron, jumbo shrimp, in Costa Rica.
What part of your work makes you most proud?
Every time I see one of my performance students breaking out of their shells- whether mental, physical, or emotional- on stage or in their art.
What makes your day better?
Truly anything rainbow related–from seeing one after a storm to sprinkles!
What is the most exciting thing happening in your field right now?
AI is truly exciting and changes with each moment. It is something we all must pay attention to and learn to harness but especially within the field of music. I'm proud to be a co-teacher of the first ever AI ensemble.
How do you recharge?
Early mornings are my meditation- whether I am running, savoring the quiet peace or watching a sunrise over the ocean, those moments set me up for success.
What is the most unusual food you have eaten?
I was coerced to try crickets because they 'taste like chips'. But they taste like crickets.
You’ve met the humans behind the syllabi—next up, meeting you! We’ll see you on campus soon!
