School of Music launches Diversity Fellows Program

LAWRENCE — Four students have been selected for the inaugural School of Music Diversity Fellows Program, which will provide leadership and develop opportunities for the school, with a focus on diversity. The fellows, each from underrepresented or minority communities, work with faculty and staff in the DEIB committee at the school level to identify and support academic and professional development needs as well as provide resources, mentorship opportunities and specialized programming for students across the school.

• Megan Gordon, a senior in woodwinds-bassoon from Austin, Texas
• Madison Robinson, a senior in music therapy and McNair Fellow from Wichita
• Santiago Salazar Simmonds, doctoral student in strings performance-violin from Cali, Colombia
• Matt Wilson, doctoral student in music education from Greensboro, North Carolina.

“One common theme taken from underrepresented student in music is a feeling of isolation or feeling like they need to work twice as hard as their peers,” said Anna Paradis, program creator and adviser. “The hope for our Diversity Fellowship Program is to connect with their peers to create a community of support. It is a challenge we are trying to address in a variety of ways within the school, and having student perspectives and feedback is very important. I know it will be difficult, but I think this work is valuable and that freedom to explore ideas helps promote a feeling of opportunity. We want to help our students feel excited about trying new things and build structures and systems where students feel safe expressing concerns and empowered to make the school more diverse and inclusive.” 

Applications for 2023-2024 fellows will open in April, posted on the DEIB webpage. For more information, please visit the KU Music Diversity Fellows page.