GSU Information
Georgia State University is a national model for innovation and opening opportunities for all, among the top five most innovative by U.S. News & World Report, ranked 1st among public universities in undergraduate teaching, the number 1 nonprofit university to award bachelor’s degrees to African American students, 4th in the country for its first-year student experience, and highly ranked for enabling the social and economic mobility of its students. Among the most diverse universities in the nation, Georgia State opens global perspectives as the number 1 U.S. public university sending African American students to study abroad.

A regional gateway to higher education, the five suburban Perimeter College campuses provide more than 30 associate degree pathways. The downtown Atlanta campus offers more than 250 degree programs in 100 fields of study at the undergraduate, graduate and first-professional degree levels.

With five university-wide research centers and numerous centers and institutes at the college and school levels, Georgia State’s interdisciplinary, dynamic and productive research enterprises address major health and societal challenges. It is one of only 146 universities with an R1 designation from the Carnegie Foundation, an honor reserved for the nation’s most active research institutions. Outgoing research expenditures have doubled in the last decade and topped $1.2 billion over the last six years, an indication of the University’s rapid research growth.

Georgia State is vital to the regional economy, with a more than $2.9 billion economic impact, and
is also a vital part of Atlanta’s vibrant arts and entertainment community, with highly regarded programs in music, art, creative writing and film, the Rialto Center for the Arts, and the Creative Media Industries Institute that contributes to innovation and the workforce for interactive media and media entrepreneurship.
Department School of Music
College College of the Arts
Campus Atlanta
Position Type Full Time Faculty
Posting Type Internal/External
About the Department
Georgia State University is seeking a dynamic leader to serve as the Director of the School of Music. Located within the College of the Arts at our vibrant research university in downtown Atlanta, the School of Music offers an exciting opportunity to lead a thriving program dedicated to excellence in music. The next Director will play a central role in contributing to Georgia State’s strategic goals of highlighting the arts and media as vital to the quality of all major cities and demonstrating that students from all backgrounds can achieve academic and career success at high rates. Our faculty and students take advantage of facilities that include the 833-seat Rialto Center for the Arts, the 400-seat Kopleff Recital Hall, and the Aderhold Learning Center.


Located in the historic Fairlie-Poplar district of downtown Atlanta, the Georgia State University School of Music enrolls more than 450 undergraduate and graduate-level students in numerous concentrations including: performance, music education, music management, music production and audio recording, composition, instrumental and choral conducting, and jazz studies. Its faculty cohort is comprised of more than 70 dedicated performers, teachers, and scholars, and enjoys a strong reputation for high-level research and creative activities.


Faculty members perform at some of the world’s most prestigious venues, present at national and international conferences, and are successful in obtaining external funding to support their creative and scholarly activities. The School of Music partners with arts organizations and foundations on outreach initiatives and includes two professional ensembles-in-residence: the acclaimed new music group Bent Frequency and Ensemble ATL. Graduates of the School of Music include members of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and other major orchestras and opera companies, Grammy-winning artists, music producers, and engineers, successful executives in the music industry, and accomplished composers, conductors, and music educators in public schools and universities. The School of Music is fully accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music.


The School of Music is a part of the College of the Arts, which was established in 2016 and also includes the Welch School of Art & Design, the School of Film, Media & Theatre, The Rialto Center for the Arts, and the Office of Educational Outreach. In addition to offering some of the University’s most popular majors, the College connects faculty and students with Atlanta’s thriving arts scene and booming film and music industries.


Georgia State University is a national leader in using innovation to drive student success and research growth. The University provides its world-class faculty and almost 55,000 students significant research, teaching, and learning opportunities in one of the country’s global cities. In its 2025 edition of Best Colleges, U.S. News & World Report has ranked Georgia State University as the top public university for Undergraduate Teaching for the fifth straight year, and it continues to rank the institution among the Most Innovative. GSU is one of the most diverse campuses in the country boasting a 75% minority enrollment.

Position Description
The Director of the School of Music, reporting to the Dean of the College of Arts, plays a pivotal role in shaping the academic and operational success of the School. The Director will be an innovative, inspiring, and creative leader who can work within a diverse and dynamic cohort of faculty in creating and implementing a vision for a cutting-edge 21st-century music school in a leading urban university. This leader will not only manage the administrative and financial aspects of the unit but also drive its strategic vision, fostering an inclusive and vibrant musical environment.

Key Responsibilities:
Academic Leadership:
Oversee course assignments and instructional workload to ensure high-quality education.
Manage scheduling to optimize faculty resources and student learning experiences.
Foster faculty mentoring programs, supporting professional development and growth.
Administrative Excellence:
Direct the appointments, promotion, tenure, and post-tenure review processes—as well as annual reviews—to uphold academic standards and faculty excellence.
Supervise staff development initiatives, fostering a collaborative and productive work environment.
Strategic Planning & Budgeting:
Develop and implement a strategic plan that aligns with the School’s mission and goals.
Manage budgeting processes, ensuring responsible allocation of resources and financial sustainability.
Community Engagement:
Act as a liaison to other academic units within the College and University, promoting collaboration and interdisciplinary initiatives.
Build and maintain relationships with external stakeholders, including alumni, academic institutions, policy organizations, foundations, and private donors, to enhance support for the School.
Required Experience
Essential Qualifications
The successful candidate will have:
An established record of scholarly and/or artistic distinction, teaching, and service to warrant appointment at the rank of Associate or Full Professor with tenure at Georgia State University.
Significant successful administrative experience in higher education.
Experience with promotion and tenure assessment, personnel and budget management, curriculum development, and accreditation in higher education.

Required Education
A terminal degree in music or equivalent professional experience.

Preferred Qualifications/Experience
The ideal candidate will:
Be a visionary leader who understands the role and possibilities of a 21st-century music program located in a major metropolitan city.
Demonstrate a commitment to musical excellence, scholarly rigor, shared governance, collegiality, and engagement with faculty in strategic planning and decision-making.
Have extensive experience in the recruitment, retention, enrollment management, and graduation success of a diverse student body.
Have a proven track record in recruiting and mentoring a diverse, inclusive, and supportive faculty cohort that excels both in student instruction and within their individual professional endeavors.
Demonstrate commitment to interdisciplinary collaboration, success in community outreach with local and civic arts organizations, and a history of effective fundraising and donor development.