Dr. Michael Smith

Dr. Michael Smith




Michael V. Smith is the E. Desmond Lee Endowed Professor of Music Education at the University of Missouri – St. Louis. He directs the E. Desmond Lee Fine Arts Education Collaborative and teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in the Music Department. He is also the Director of Graduate Studies in Music Education and the Coordinator of Music Education.

Prior to coming to the University of Missouri – St. Louis in January, 2016, Dr. Smith headed the Music Education Division of the Benjamin T. Rome School of Music at The Catholic University of America in Washington, DC. He continues to be a Fellow of the Institute for Policy Research and Catholic Studies in Washington, DC, and serves on the Executive Board of The Dom Mocquereau Fund and Centre for Ward Method Studies.

Dr. Smith has also chaired and taught courses in the music education departments at DePaul University in Chicago, Illinois, Augustana College in Rock Island, Illinois, and at Ottawa University in Ottawa, Kansas. Prior to these experiences, he taught instrumental, choral and general music (K-12) for ten years in the public schools of Topeka, Kansas, finishing his years there as a band director and music instructor at Topeka West High School. Dr. Smith received his Ph.D. in Music Education from the University of Minnesota. His Master of Music in Music Education is from Kansas University and his Bachelor of Music, magna cum laude, is from Washburn University.

Dr. Smith has developed mentoring programs for the Yamaha Corporation of America, the Minnesota Music Educators Association the Illinois Music Educators Association, and the National Association of Pastoral Musicians.  He continues to actively research and work in areas that support the work of beginning music teachers.  His recent book, co-authored with University of Michigan professor, Dr. Colleen Conway, Handbook for the Music Mentor, is available from GIA Publications.  He has written numerous journal articles and book chapters in the area of mentoring and continues to be asked to speak around the country and write on this subject. 


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