Longtime Music Therapy Faculty Member Retires, Awarded Emerita Status

Since she began working at the Mary Pappert School of Music (MPSOM) in the fall of 2008, she has been integral in the development of the Music Therapy program, serving as Program Director of the Bachelor of Science in Music Therapy (BSMT) degree for many years and also as Chair of the Music Education and Music Therapy department since 2019. Under her direction, the music therapy program has grown from one full-time faculty member to three with the recent addition of a Master of Music Therapy (MMT), a MMT Equivalency program, and a progressive degree pathway that allows for the completion of a BSMT, an internship, and a MMT in 6 years.

Elaine has a robust research history. Her work has been published in numerous books and scholarly journals including Music Therapy Perspectives and Qualitative Inquiries in Music Therapy, and she has presented at dozens of conferences such as the National and Mid-Atlantic Region conferences of the American Music Therapy Association.

“Elaine has played a unique role in our university,” said David Allen Wehr, Dean of the MPSOM. “She made an extremely significant and valuable contribution to shared governance through her years as Chair of the University Grievance Committee and has served as a mentor and friend to her students and faculty colleagues. We were able to celebrate her at our April 26 Faculty Retreat, including all of the current music therapy students, and look forward to her being a frequent visitor back in our building.”

Recently, President Ken Gormley has bestowed the title of Professor Emerita on Elaine. She joins the ranks of several professors who are directly responsible for the MPSOM’s elite status among colleges and universities around the world.

Although Elaine is retiring from Duquesne, she has plans to continue working full-time in counseling.

Find out more about Elaine.