EDUCATION

2019

DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY IN CREATIVE ARTS THERAPIES

Department of Creative Arts Therapies, College of Nursing and Health Professions, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA 

Dissertation Title: Between Lines: A critical multimodal discourse analysis of Black aesthetics in a Vocal Music Therapy group for chronic pain

Committee Members: Joke Bradt (Chair) (Drexel University), Stephanie Brooks (Drexel University), Susan Hadley (Slippery Rock University), Guthrie Ramsey (University of Pennsylvania), & Seran Schug (Rowan University)

Coursework in Religion, Faith, Spirituality and Public Health, Department of Community Health and Prevention, Dornsife School of Public Health, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA 

Coursework in Africana Studies, Department of Africana Studies, College of Liberal and Professional Studies, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 

2010

MASTER OF ARTS IN CREATIVE ARTS THERAPIES, SPECIALIZATION: MUSIC THERAPY

Department of Creative Arts Therapies, College of Nursing and Health Professions, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA 

2006

BACHELOR OF MUSIC IN VOICE & VOCAL PEDAGOGY; BACHELORS OF ARTS IN MUSIC 

Department of Music, Oakwood College, Huntsville, AL 

BACHELOR OF ARTS IN PSYCHOLOGY

Department of Psychology, Oakwood College, Huntsville, AL

BOARD-CERTIFIED MUSIC THERAPIST (#09200)

Certification Board of Music Therapists, Downingtown, PA

INTERCULTURAL DEVELOPMENT INVENTORY QUALIFIED ADMINISTRATOR (#6344)

Intercultural Development Inventory, LLC, Olney, MD

WINTER 2021

DIRECTOR OF MUSIC THERAPY & ASSISTANT CLINICAL PROFESSOR

Department of Creative Arts Therapies, College of Nursing and Health Professions, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA

2018 - 2020

ASSISTANT PROFESSOR

Expressive Therapies & Counseling Division, Graduate School of Arts & Social Sciences, Lesley University, Cambridge, MA

2017 - 2018

VISITING ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF MUSIC THERAPY 

Shenandoah Conservatory, Shenandoah University, Winchester, VA

2015 - 2017

ADJUNCT INSTRUCTOR 

Department of Creative Arts Therapies, College of Nursing and Health Professions, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA

2012 - 2017

CLINICAL SUPERVISOR

Department of Creative Arts Therapies, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA

2016

SENIOR LECTURER

Department of Liberal Arts, University of the Arts, Philadelphia, PA

2012 - 2016

ADJUNCT FIELD INSTRUCTOR

Department of Creative Arts Therapies, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA

2013 - 2017

CLINICAL COORDINATOR & MUSIC THERAPIST

C.A.F.E. Program, Family Court of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA

2012 - 2017

MUSIC THERAPIST

All-Together Sing, Philadelphia, PA   

2010 - 2012

MUSIC THERAPIST 

Carrier Clinic, Belle Mead, NJ        

2019 - 2020

JUNIOR FACULTY FELLOWSHIP

Center for Teaching, Learning, & Scholarship, Office of the Provost, Lesley University, Cambridge, MA

2019-2020

LARGE FACULTY DEVELOPMENT GRANT

Faculty Life & Development, Lesley University, Cambridge, MA

2019

CENTER FOR TEACHING, LEARNING, & SCHOLARSHIP GRANT

Center for Teaching, Learning, & Scholarship, Lesley University, Cambridge, MA

2009

AWARD FOR CLINICAL EXCELLENCE IN MUSIC THERAPY

Department of Creative Arts Therapies, College of Nursing & Health Professions, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA

FUNDED RESEARCH

2014-2015

The Promise of Digital Communication Technology to Advance Car Seat Installation, Linda Fleisher (PI), University of Pennsylvania

Funder: National Science Foundation Technology Transfer (STTR) Grant

Role: Research Assistant/Qualitative Data Analyst

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2012-2014

The Effects of Vocal Music Therapy on Core Outcomes in Chronic Pain Management: A Pilot Study, Joke Bradt (PI), Drexel University

Funder: R03, National Institute for Nursing Research

Role: Research Assistant

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NON-FUNDED RESEARCH

2015-2017

Navigating the Landscape of Race in Music Therapy, Elizabeth Templeton (PI), Drexel University

Role: Co-PI

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2012-2013

Teaching Stories: How memorable moments as a student contribute to the development of faculty performance and identity, Nancy Gerber (PI), Drexel University

Role: Research Assistant

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2009

Understanding Vulnerable Populations’ Use of Common Information and Communications Technologies (ICTs) to Access Health Care Information, Michelle L. Rogers (PI), Prudence W. Dalrymple (co-PI), Lisl Zach (co-PI), Drexel University

Role: Research Assistant

EDITED BOOK

Norris, M., Crooke, A., & Hadley, S. (Forthcoming, 2020). (Post)Colonial Music Therapy. Dallas, TX: Barcelona Publishers.

BOOK CHAPTERS

Norris, M. (Forthcoming, 2020). Re-imaging the real: Africanisms and the politics of alterity in music therapy. In M. Norris, A. Crooke, and S. Hadley,  (Eds.), (Post)Colonial Music Therapy. Dallas, TX: Barcelona Publishers.

Norris, M. (Forthcoming, 2020). Me: A personal and professional necessity. In S. Hadley (Ed.), Exploring the whole person of the music therapist: A social justice multicultural approach. Dallas, TX: Barcelona Publishers.

Norris, M. & Hadley, S. (2019). Engaging race in music therapy supervision. In M. Forinash (Ed.), Music Therapy Supervision (2nd ed.) (pp. 101-126). Dallas, TX: Barcelona Publishers.

EDITED PERIODICALS

Guest Co-Editor, Journal of Music Therapy, (In Progress, 2022). Special issue on Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion in Music Therapy Research & Practice.

Guest Co-Editor, Voices: A World Forum for Music Therapy, (In Progress, 2021). Special Multidisciplinary Issue on Black Aesthetics in the Arts Therapies.

PEER-REVIEWED PUBLICATIONS

Norris, M., Bradt, J., Brooks, S., Hadley, S., Ramsey, G., & Shug, S. (2019). Between Lines: A critical multimodal discourse analysis of Black aesthetics in a Vocal Music Therapy group for chronic pain (Doctoral dissertation). Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA. 

Fleisher, L., Erkoboni, D., Halkyard, K., Sykes, E., Norris, M. S., Walker, L., & Winston, F. (2017). Are mHealth interventions to improve child restraint system installation of value? A mixed methods study of parents. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 14(10), 1122. doi:10.3390/ijerph14101122

Bradt, J., Norris, M., Shim, M., Gracely, E. J., & Gerrity, P. (2016). Vocal music therapy for chronic pain management in inner-city African Americans: A mixed methods feasibility study. Journal of Music Therapy, 53(2), 178. doi: 10.1093/jmt/thw004

Hadley, S., & Norris, M. (2016). Musical multicultural competency in music therapy: The first step. Music Therapy Perspectives, 34(2), 129-137. doi:10.1093/mtp/miv045

PEER-REVIEWED PRESENTATIONS

International

Norris, M., Awais, Y., Chang, M., Hadley, S., & Williams, B. (2020, July). Critical Pedagogy in the Arts Therapies: A roundtable discussion. Concurrent session at the 16th Annual World Congress of Music Therapy, Pretoria, South Africa.

Sangeeta, S., Norris, M., Thomas, N., Low, M. Y., Hadley, S., & Viega, M. (2020, July). Multiculturalism to Culturally sustaining music therapy: Evolving narratives in practice, scholarship, research and pedagogy. Concurrent session at the 16th Annual World Congress of Music Therapy, Pretoria, South Africa.  

Hadley, S., Norris, M., Webb, A., Moonga, N., Leonard, H., Roestenburg, W., Bhatia, A., Zambonini, J. P., Low, M. Y., Oosthuizen, H., Hoskyns, S., Baines, S., Abrams, B., & Crooke, A. (July 2020). Colonialism and Music Therapy. Concurrent session at the 16th Annual World Congress of Music Therapy, Pretoria, South Africa.

Sajnani, N., Awais, Y., Chang, M., Gallo-Jermyn, C., Gipson, L., Hadley, S., McAdams, E., Norris, M., Talwar, S., & Williams, B. (2019, September). Imagining utopias: Critical pedagogy in the arts therapies, European Consortium of Arts Therapies Education, Alcalá de Henares, Spain. 

Schug, S. & Norris, M. (2016, March). Negotiating identity at the intersection of art and science: Anthropological perspectives on the creative arts therapies.  Presentation at the 76th Annual Meeting of the Society of Applied Anthropology, Vancouver, B.C. Canada.

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Bradt, J. & Norris, M. (2014, June). The Impact of Vocal Music Therapy on chronic pain Management: A mixed methods study.  Presentation at the Mixed Methods International Research Association Conference, Boston, MA.

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National 

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Norris, M. & Thomas, N. (Forthcoming). Weathering in Music Therapy: the eroding impact of racism (and what we can do about it). Concurrent session at the American Music Therapy Association National Conference.

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Norris, M. (2019, November). Between Lines: Exploring Black aesthetics in a Vocal Music Therapy for chronic pain. Concurrent session at the American Music Therapy Association National Conference, Minneapolis, MN.

Norris, M., Batista, E., Chang, M., Edwards, J., Gipson, L., Hadley, S., & Thomas, N. (2019, November). Critical Pedagogy in the Arts Therapies: A roundtable discussion. Concurrent session at the American Music Therapy Association National Conference, Minneapolis, MN.

Hadley, S. & Norris, M. (2019, November). Culturally Responsive Music Therapy Supervision: Reflexivity and ethical practice. CMTE session at the American Music Therapy Association National Conference, Minneapolis, MN.

Webb, A., Norris, M., Low, M. Y., & Swamy, S. (2018, November). Making Safe Spaces: Roundtable Discussion for Music Therapists of Color. Concurrent session at the American Music Therapy Association National Conference, Dallas, TX.

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Belgrave, M., Kahn, R., King, K., Meyer, P., Norris, M., Gonsalves Schimpf, M., & Robinson, B. (2018, November). Diversity and Multiculturalism Committee Presents: A Status Report for 2018. Concurrent session at the American Music Therapy Association National Conference, Dallas, TX.

Awais, Y., Chang, M., Gallo-Jermyn, C., Gipson, L., Hadley, S., McAdams, E., Norris, M., Sajnani, N., Swamy, S., Talwar, S., & Williams, B. (2018, September). Critical Pedagogy in the Arts Therapies: Restoring & re-storying the disciplines. A roundtable discussion, Creative Art Therapies Consortium, Steinhardt School of Education, New York University, New York, NY.

Belgrave, M., Kim, S., Kahn, R., King, K., Meyer, P., Norris, M., Gonsalves Schimpf, M., Thomas, N., & Robinson, B. (2017, November). Diversity and Multiculturalism Committee Presents: A Status Report. Concurrent session at the American Music Therapy Association National Conference, St. Louis, MO.

Forinash, M., Hadley, S, Whitehead-Pleaux, A., & Norris, M. (2017, November). Culture Centered Music Therapy Supervision: Diverse Perspectives and Practical Applications. Concurrent session at the American Music Therapy Association National Conference, St. Louis, MO.

Norris, M., Freeman, D., & Hadley, S. (2017, November). Continuing the Conversation: Doing Race in Music Therapy. CMTE session at the American Music Therapy Association National Conference, St. Louis, MO.    

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Norris, M., Hadley, S., Viega, M., Fisher, C., Ramos-Watt, S., Freeman, D., & Fletcher, J. (2016, November). Courageous Conversations: Race and Music Therapy. Roundtable presentation at the American Music Therapy Association National Conference, Sandusky, OH.

Ireradi, F., Horowitz, S., Kesslic, A., Matthias, A., & Norris, M. (2016, November). Safety, Security, and Sanctuary in Trauma-Informed Music Therapy Practice. CMTE session at the American Music Therapy Association National Conference, Sandusky, OH.

Belgrave, M., Kim, S., Meyer, P., Norris, M., Robinson, B., & Thomas, N. (2016, November). Introducing the New Diversity and Multiculturalism Committee. Presentation at the American Music Therapy Association National Conference, Sandusky, OH.

Norris, M. (2015, November). Navigating the Landscape of Race in Music Therapy Spaces: African American perspectives. Presentation at the American Music Therapy Association Conference, Kansas City, MO.

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Regional 

Hadley, S. & Norris, M. (Forthcoming, 2020, March). Culturally Responsive Music Therapy Supervision: Reflexivity and ethical practice. CMTE session at the Western Regional Conference of the American Music Therapy Association National Conference, San Diego, CA.

Hadley, S. & Norris, M. (2019, March). Culturally Responsive Music Therapy Supervision: Reflexivity and ethical practice. Concurrent session at the New England Regional Conference of the American Music Therapy Association, Falmouth, MA.

Zarate, R. & Norris, M. (2019, March). Women and Music Aesthetics: Planting new seeds and growing the conversation. Concurrent session at the New England Regional Conference of the American Music Therapy Association, Falmouth, MA.

Hadley, S. & Norris, M. (2019, March). Culturally Responsive Music Therapy Supervision: Reflexivity and ethical practice. The David Ott Pre-Conference Institute at the Mid-Atlantic Regional Music Therapy Conference, Reston, VA.    

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Norris, M., Hadley, S., Pinna-Perez, A., & Chang, M. (2019, March). Roundtable discussion on Critical Pedagogy and the Arts Therapies. Concurrent session at the Mid-Atlantic Regional Conference of the American Music Therapy Association, Reston, VA.

Hadley, S. & Norris, M. (2018, April). Culture Centered Music Therapy Supervision: Diverse perspectives and practical applications. Concurrent session at the Mid-Atlantic Regional Conference of the American Music Therapy Association, Pittsburgh, PA.

Hadley, S., Norris, M., & Freeman, D. (2018, April). Racially Responsive Clinical Practice: Understanding each other. CMTE session at the Mid-Atlantic Regional Conference of the American Music Therapy Association, Pittsburgh, PA.    

Freeman, D., Norris, M., Viega, M., Low, M., & Hadley, S. (2017, March). Continuing the Conversations: Doing Race in Music Therapy. CMTE session at the Mid-Atlantic Regional Conference of the American Music Therapy Association, Rochester, NY.

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Bradt, J. & Norris, M. (2015, June). The impact of Vocal Music Therapy on chronic pain management: A mixed methods study.  Presentation at the Mixed Methods International Research Association Regional Conference, Philadelphia, PA.

Norris, M. (2015, March). Navigating the landscape of race in Music Therapy Spaces: African American perspectives. Presentation at the Mid-Atlantic Regional Conference of the American Music Therapy Association, Ocean City, MD.    

Ireradi, F., Horowitz, S., Houser, J., & Norris, M. (2015, March). Safety, Security, and Sanctuary in Trauma-Informed Music Therapy Practice. The David Ott Pre-Conference Institute at the Mid-Atlantic Regional Music Therapy Conference, Ocean City, MD.                    

INVITED TALKS & WORKSHOPS

International 

Norris, M. (2020, July). A Call for Radical Imagining: Exploring anti-Blackness in the music therapy profession. Spotlight Session at the 16th World Congress of Music Therapy, Pretoria, South Africa.

National 

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Norris, M. (2020, April). Between Lines: Exploring Black aesthetics in a Vocal Music Therapy for chronic pain. Keynote. Oakwood University Research Symposium, Huntsville, AL.

Norris, M. (2020, March). Between Lines: Exploring Black aesthetics in a Vocal Music Therapy for chronic pain. Panel Discussant. Association of Women in Psychology Symposium, Austin, TX.

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Norris, M. (2019, October). Black Clients’ Aesthetics: Implications for the creative arts therapies. Guest lecture in ARTS703: Interdisciplinary Seminar I, Creative Art Therapies Department, College of Nursing and Healthcare Professions, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA. 

Norris, M. (2018, October). Navigating race in music therapy. Guest lecture in Current Issues in Music Therapy, Conservatory of Music, University of the Pacific, San Francisco, CA.

Norris, M. (2018, October). Black Aesthetics and creative art therapies. Guest lecture in ARTS703: Interdisciplinary Seminar I, Creative Art Therapies Department, College of Nursing and Healthcare Professions, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA

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Norris, M. (2018, April). Between Lines: A critical multimodal discourse analysis of cultural memory and Black aesthetics in a Vocal music therapy program for chronic pain. Guest lecture in the Department of Music, Slippery Rock University, Slippery Rock, NY.

Hadley, S. & Norris, M. (2018, April). YWCA Examining Bias Diversity Training for Music Therapists. CMTE session at the Mid-Atlantic Regional Conference of the American Music Therapy Association, Pittsburgh, PA.

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Awais, Y., Chang, M., Gallo, C., Gipson, L., Hodermarska, M., McAdams, E., Norris, M., Ramos-Watt, S., Sajnani, N., Talwar, S., & Williams, B. (2018, March). Critical Pedagogy in the Arts Therapies: A public conversation. A roundtable discussion, Creative Art Therapies Consortium, Steinhardt School of Education, New York University, New York, NY.

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Norris, M. (2018, February). Navigating culture in music therapy spaces: A music therapy workshop on working within social systems in academic and supervisory spaces. Guest facilitator in Music Therapy, Music & Performing Arts Professions, Steinhardt School of Education, New York University, New York, NY. (CEU-LCAT)

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Norris, M. (2018, February). Navigating culture in music therapy spaces: A music therapy workshop on cultural humility. Guest facilitator in Music Therapy, Music & Performing Arts Professions, Steinhardt School of Education, New York University, New York, NY.

Norris, M. (2017, March). Music therapy: An introduction. Guest lecture in Arts & Medicine, Sociology & Anthropology Department, College of Humanities & Social Sciences, Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ.

Norris, M. (2016, December). Convergence: At the intersection of Critical Race Theory & music therapy. Guest lecture in Foundations of Music Therapy, Department of Music, School of Fine & Performing Arts, State University of New York (SUNY), New Paltz, NY.

Norris, M. (2016, October). An introduction to cultural competence for creative art therapies. Guest lecture in Introduction to Art Therapy, College of Art, Media, & Design, University of the Arts, Philadelphia, PA.

Norris, M. (2016, October). Cultural Aesthetics: Clinical application & implications for the creative art therapies. Guest lecture in Interdisciplinary Seminar I, Creative Art Therapies Department, College of Nursing and Healthcare Professions, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA.

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Norris, M. (2016, March). Music Therapy: a culture-centered approach. Guest lecture in Arts & Medicine, Sociology & Anthropology Department, College of Humanities & Social Sciences, Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ.

Norris, M. (2015, October). Black Aesthetics: Clinical application & implications for the creative art therapies. Guest lecture in Interdisciplinary Seminar I, Creative Art Therapies Department, College of Nursing and Healthcare Professions, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA.

Norris, M. (2014, October). Black Aesthetics: Clinical application & implications for the creative art therapies. Guest lecture in Interdisciplinary Seminar I, Creative Art Therapies Department, College of Nursing and Healthcare Professions, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA.​

2019 - 2020

CO-CHAIR, Social Justice in Teaching and Learning, President’s Council on Inclusive Excellence, Lesley University, Cambridge, MA

2019 - 2020

FACULTY REPRESENTATIVE, Division Change Team, Expressive Therapies & Counseling Division, Graduate School of Arts and Social Sciences, Lesley University, Cambridge, MA

2019 - 2020

CO-CONVENOR, Arts Therapies People of Color Collaborative, Expressive Therapies & Counseling Division, Graduate School of Arts and Social Sciences, Lesley University, Cambridge, MA

2019 - 2020

COURSE MENTOR, GEXTH 6105: Examining Power, Privilege & Oppression in Clinical Practice (Low Residence & On-Campus), Expressive Therapies & Counseling Division, Graduate School of Arts and Social Sciences, Lesley University, Cambridge, MA

2018-2019

MEMBER, Drama Therapy Search Faculty Committee, Expressive Therapies Division, Graduate School of Arts and Social Sciences, Lesley University, Cambridge, MA

2017 - 2018

MEMBER, Internal Review Board, Shenandoah University, Winchester, VA

2017-2018

MEMBER, Diversity Taskforce, Shenandoah Conservatory, Shenandoah University, Winchester, VA

2015-2017

MEMBER, Dean’s Advisory Board on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, College of Nursing & Health Professions, Drexel University- Philadelphia, PA

2020 - present

AT-LARGE MEMBER, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee, American Music Therapy Association, Silver Spring, MD

2020 - present

MEMBER, Racial Justice in Academia Work Group, Critical Pedagogies in the Arts Therapies Think Tank, New York, NY

2019 - present

APPOINTED MEMBER, Commission on the Education and Clinical Training of 21st Century Music Therapists, American Music Therapy Association, Silver Spring, MD

2018 - present

COORDINATING MEMBER, Critical Pedagogies in the Arts Therapies Think Tank, New York, NY

2016 - present

FOUNDER & CHAIR OF THE EXECUTIVE STEERING COMMITTEE, Black Music Therapy Professional Network, Inc., Philadelphia, PA

2018 - 2020

MEMBER, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Taskforce, New England Region, American Music Therapy Association, Silver Spring, MD

2018 - 2020

NEW ENGLAND REGIONAL REPRESENTATIVE, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee (formerly the Diversity and Multiculturalism Committee), American Music Therapy Association, Silver Spring, MD

2018

CO-CHAIR, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Ad-hoc Committee, Mid-Atlantic Region, American Music Therapy Association, Silver Spring, MD

2016 - 2018

MID-ATLANTIC REGIONAL REPRESENTATIVE, Diversity and Multiculturalism Committee, American Music Therapy Association, Silver Spring, MD

2016-2017

VICE PRESIDENT OF MEMBERSHIP, Mid-Atlantic Region, American Music Therapy Association, Silver Spring, MD

2016 - 2017

MID-ATLANTIC REPRESENTATIVE, National Membership Committee, American Music Therapy Association, Silver Spring, MD

2015 - 2017

CONTRIBUTOR, The R.A.T.T.L.E. (Rethinking Art Therapies- Taking on Legitimacy and Equality) Project, Philadelphia, PA

2012

CO-CHAIR, Acute Care Unit Revitalization/Special Projects Committee, Carrier Clinic, Belle Mead, NJ

2012

MEMBER, Wellness Committee, Carrier Clinic, Belle Mead, NJ

2010 - 2012

MEMBER, Acute Care Unit Seclusion and Restraints/ I-Care Committee, Carrier Clinic, Belle Mead, NJ    

2019 - 2020

ORGANIZING COMMITTEE, Pathways to Practice: Conversations in the Art Therapies Education, Lesley University, Cambridge, MA

2017 - 2018

ORGANIZING COMMITTEE, Black Music Therapy & Allies Gathering, Dallas, TX

Special Guests: Lee Merrit, Esq., Civil Rights Activist & Attorney, Merritt Law Firm & Clyde Valentin, Director, Ignite/Arts Dallas

Honorees: Nellie T. Doty, June Pulliam, Dr. Melita Belgrave, & Dr. Hakeem Leonard

2016 - 2017

ORGANIZING COMMITTEE, Black Music Therapy & Allies Gathering, St. Louis, MO

Special Guests: Adolphus Pruitt II, President, St. Louis NAACP; Rev. Darryl Commings, Bethany Way Fellowship; & Allison Cole, President, St. Louis Music Therapy Association

Honorees: Fran Goldberg, Dr. Deforia Lane, Dr. Dale Taylor, Dr. Darlene Brooks