Revised: July 2023

Dean (Tayloe Harding)
The dean is the chief administrative officer for the School of Music and provides leadership in matters related to program development, personnel, workload, annual review, resource management, support services, public relations, and external funding. The dean acts as the School's liaison with the University Administration and is a member of the University Council of Deans.

Associate Dean and Director of Graduate Studies (Clifford Leaman)
Dr. Leaman is responsible for the coordination, implementation, and administration of all graduate programs, appointment of graduate assistants (in consultation with the dean and appropriate faculty); review and evaluation of admission applications; administration of diagnostic, oral and comprehensive examinations; the formulation of audition, master's and doctoral committees; and the scheduling of graduate classes. In addition, Dr. Leaman edits the School portion of the USC Graduate Bulletin and serves as the School's liaison with the Graduate School and Chair of the School of Music Graduate Committee; ex officio on the Music Executive Committee, when required.

Associate Dean and Director of Undergraduate Studies (Tina Stallard)
Tina Stallard is responsible for the coordination, implementation, and administration of all undergraduate programs. She serves as the chair of the School of Music Undergraduate Committee, produces the School of Music Undergraduate Handbook, and edits School of Music information for the USC Undergraduate Studies Bulletin. She prepares senior checks for, and certifies the graduation of, all undergraduate students. She is the director of advisement, supervising the School of Music undergraduate advisor and advising music minors. In addition, she coordinates academic scheduling, makes classroom assignments, and participates in undergraduate curriculum development; ex officio on the Music Executive Committee, when required.

Associate Dean for Administration (Jacob Will)
Jacob Will advises the Dean on all academic and administrative matters in the School of Music and acts as liaison with the provost’s office on matters such as research, outside faculty activities, assessment and academic programs.  In coordination with the SOM building manager, he works with UofSC facilities to organize building repairs and upgrades, facilitates executive-level communication between faculty, staff, and students and the School's administration; participates in curriculum development, and serves as the Dean's proxy in his absence. He is a member of the Academic Program Liaison Committee; ex officio on the Music Executive Committee, when required.

Associate Dean of Diversity and Inclusion (Birgitta Johnson)
Dr. Johnson chairs the School of Music Diversity Committee, consisting of faculty, staff, and student representatives and serves on the University’s Council of Academic Diversity Officers.  She works to ensure that acceptance and understanding is widespread in the School of Music and to foster a greater sense of community among our students. She serves as ex officio on the Music Executive Committee.

Director of Student Teaching (Wendy Valerio) 
Wendy Valerio is responsible for coordinating the advisement of all undergraduate and MAT music education students, program assessment data related to music education for NASM or other accreditation agencies, instructor of record for MUED 477, and serves as liaison between the School of Music and the College of Education, coordinating placement of student teachers and representing the School of Music on the CITEP committee.

Director of Spark (Rachel Calloway)
Prof. Calloway coordinates Spark's programming and offerings at UofSC and beyond, including community initiatives, entrepreneurial skill building, wellness programming, and creative support. Spark aims to assist the next generation of professional musicians develop the multitude of skills required to be productive artist citizens.

Assistant Director of Spark (Ashley Emerson)
Ashley is Assistant Director of Spark and assists with all aspects of the Music Leadership Laboratory and Entrepreneurship program, including event design and management, marketing, grant writing, constituency building, website and social media content creation, and guest artist coordination. She assists with community engagement activities and the creation of programs and activities that benefit faculty, staff, and students. Ashley is also on the voice faculty.

Coordinator of Community Engagement (Claire Bryant)
Prof. Bryant is responsible for the oversight and coordination of the community engagement and activities in the School of Music.

Recording Engineer (Jeff Francis)
Jeff is the chief audio recording technician for the School of Music and is responsible for supervising and maintaining the School's Recording Control Center, Recital Hall Control Room, and classroom audio-video systems. He develops policies and procedures for audio technology and designs and implements the installation of audio equipment. He develops and teaches the School of Music courses in audio technology and assists in the development of recorded archives of musical performances.

 

ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF

Undergraduate Student Advisor (Jillian Carey Bigony) 
Jillian advises undergraduate music majors at the School of Music, providing information about degree requirements and major changes. She can provide referrals for students as needed and information to campus resources. She assists students with registration issues, overrides, college petitions, and graduation applications. She runs Music Freshman Orientation during the summer, assisting incoming freshmen and transfer students with registering for classes.

Administrative Assistant to Bands (Connor Burney)
Connor serves as assistant to the Band faculty, preparing materials, schedules, and registration for special projects: UofSC Band Clinic, Summer Clinics, and the Carolina Band Camp. He coordinates band recruitment efforts, maintains the band membership file, and tracks enrollment of all band courses.

Director of Marketing (Marlena Crovatt-Bagwell)
Marlena develops and updates the School of Music’s content strategy and maintains the website content. She promotes the outstanding achievements by School of Music faculty and students through press releases and entries in various publications and websites; creates graphic design for brochures and flyers; serves as the School of Music media coordinator and is the liaison with USC Media. She creates the e-calendar and is editor of the DaCapo magazine.

Director of Alumni and Donor Engagement / Executive Director of the Southeaster Piano Festival (Carolina Earp)
Caroline manages all donor and alumni relations for the School of Music Advancement Department including alumni and donor events, the Alumni and Donor E-News, Scholarship donor and recipient stewardship, acknowledgement processes, giving analysis and support with prospect management, and giving reporting. She is the Board liaison for the Friends of the School of Music, and she is the lead fundraiser for the Southeastern Piano Festival. As Executive Director of the Southeastern Piano Festival, she works closely with artistic director, Phillip Bush, in running the Festival.

Administrative Coordinator for Band (Alexandra Fife)
Alexandra serves as the office and business manager for UofSC Bands and Orchestra. She is responsible for planning the annual budgets, account receivable, accounts payable, billing and procurement and related activities. She coordinates travel for the Band faculty and Band/Orchestra guest artists.

Executive Assistant to the Dean/Human Resources (Laveta Gibson)
Laveta manages the administrative office of the School of Music, and serves as administrative assistant to the Dean. She is responsible for the scheduling of space in all Music facilities, including recital reservations. She is responsible for all Human Resources activities in the School of Music and is responsible for the administration of the annual Tenure and Promotion process.

Facilities Supervisor (Michael Gibson)
Mike is responsible for the coordination and supervision of the purchasing, inventory, repair and supply of equipment for the School of Music. He plans and supervises logistics for performances and special events, maintains the inventory of instruments (coordinating rentals and lockers), and provides equipment to ensembles and classes. He oversees the operation of facilities to include the main building, String Project building, and Copenhaver Band Hall, liaising with USC Facilities. He issues keys and supervises student workers for recitals and events.

Graduate Studies Program Coordinator (Traci Hair)
Traci works with the Associate Dean and Director of Graduate Studies to administer all graduate student services, including the maintenance of current graduate student records, fielding inquiries from prospective graduate students, and processing new applicants. She processes all graduate assistant applications, hiring and financial awards; prepares faculty reminders and ballots for degree recitals; coordinates and administers candidacy exams, written comprehensive exams and history proficiency exams. She coordinates the diagnostice exams, graduate student orientation meeting, graduate student advisement, and schedules oral comprehensive exams and dissertation defenses. She is responsible for entering the School of Music's Graduate master schedule each semester.

Assistant Dean for Enrollment Management (Jennifer Jablonski)
Jennifer Jablonski is responsible for all aspects of undergraduate admissions in the School of Music. Jennifer oversees all recruiting initiatives; coordinates recruitment and admission of students in each performing discipline with the faculty in the respective areas; is the principal School of Music liaison with prospective students/families; is the principal School of Music liaison with the University Office of Admissions; represents the School of Music at state and national music conferences, performing arts high schools, and arts recruitment fairs. Jennifer coordinates all aspects of Scholarship Auditions.

Technical Support Specialist (Michael LaRoche) 
Mike assists faculty, staff and students with technical support on basic issues related to desktop computers, applications, the MTC, and the School of Music online resources. He provides technical support through installation, testing, and troubleshooting of computer systems. In addition, Mike is invaluable as production assistant/tech director to Opera at USC.

Assistant Director of Development (Brad Martin)
Brad Martin works with individual donors and partners with businesses that have a passion for the School of Music and Koger Center for the Arts. His responsibilities include securing sponsorships for School of Music and Koger Center events and ensembles and assisting with the management of fundraising campaigns and events. He is also responsible for building and directing the lead annual gift solicitation program of donor/prospect portfolios for the School of Music, focusing on the identification, qualification, solicitation and stewardship of annual gifts up to $25,000.

Assistant Director of Development (Brittany Martin)
Brittany’s focus is to be discovery work: meeting with prospects and donors. Brittany works with grant writing, as well as focusing on opera, choral, Spark, and alumni/parent/student philanthropy. She will be responsible for the development of the Koger Ambassador program. 

Assistant Director of Music Admissions and Coordinator of Summer Programs (Jennifer Mitchell)
Jennifer serves as Assistant Director of Admissions and serves as the liaison in her absence. She assists with the planning and implementation of School of Music Audition Days, correspondence with prospective students, tours of the School of Music to interested students and families, and handling phone calls and emails from prospects. She plans and assists with USC recruiting events, manages the admissions database, and assists with the Music Community. She is responsible for ordering office supplies. Jennifer is also Coordinator of Music Summer Programs.

Marketing/Communications Coordinator (Jay Overbay)
As Marketing/Communications Coordinator, Jay directs social media activities for the School of Music and Koger Center for the Arts. He ensures all events, news and student/faculty accomplishments are publicized to both entities' many audiences. Jay coordinates undergraduate/graduate students interning with the School of Music and Koger Center marketing teams. He assists faculty and ensembles with marketing events, creating graphics, photography and website updates. Jay also assists The Carolina Band with social media marketing and leads their team of media coordinators. He also provides support to the Koger Center through website updates, providing content for its monthly newsletter and photographing performances, events, and happenings at the Koger. 

Assistant Dean for Finance (Mary Peak)
Mary coordinates all business operations for the School of Music. She directs, coordinates and implements the practices needed to manage all funds. She manages the approval of fiscal transactions pertaining to procurement, expenditure requests, budget formulation and management, to ensure compliance with USC, State, and Federal regulations. She communicates School of Music financial information on a timely basis to the Dean and other personnel, where appropriate.

Administrative Assistant for Choral Activities and Opera at USC (Lisa Smith)
Lisa serves as administrative assistant for the choral and opera faculty. She develops and coordinates publicity for the choral and opera programs, supervises choral graduate assistants, assists with vocal/choral/conducting recruitment and admissions. She coordinates national and international concert tours and coordinates annual choral events such as Honors Chorus and Summer Chorus.

Information Technology Director (Jason Trenary)
Jason directs the development, design, and operation of data processing systems and computer labs for the School of Music. He plans, configures, and provides maintenance for all server implementation; directs support and maintenance for workstations; and provides network troubleshooting when necessary. He develops and implements database systems, web systems and applications, file-sharing systems, computer security systems and future solutions for the school. He manages the IT budget and is liaison to DoIT. He telecommutes but can be reached through email and phone.

Assistant Dean for Advancement (Audra Vaz)
Audra oversees the coordination and management of effective, comprehensive, and ongoing development and marketing programs for the School of Music and the Koger Center for the Arts. Her responsibilities include the oversight of annual, major, planned, corporate/foundation, and campaign fundraising strategies and implementation, as well as the administration of marketing for both entities. Audra’s fundraising portfolio is a focus on the identification, qualification, solicitation, and stewardship of major gifts of $25,000 and more.

Director of Piano Services (Paul Williams)
Paul is responsible for the piano inventory in the School of Music. He maintains Recital Hall pianos, piano and voice faculty studio pianos, and piano major practice room pianos. Supervises the rebuilding of piano action and keyboards and supervises the work of any piano technicians working in the School of Music.

Undergraduate Studies Program Coordinator (Margee Zeigler)
Margee works with the Associate Dean/Undergraduate Director to administer all undergraduate services, including the maintenance of student records, implementation of University and School of Music policies and procedures, and undergraduate registration processes. She processes all undergraduate scholarship recommendations, implements and processes faculty teaching evaluations, and oversees all correspondence and communication related to undergraduate academics. She is also responsible for entering the School of Music's Undergraduate master schedule each semester.