Jessica Vaughan Marra

Dr. Jessica Vaughan-Marra is an Assistant Professor of Music Education and Program Director for the Music Education degree program at Duquesne University's Mary Pappert School of Music where she completed her B.S. in Music Education in 2006. She holds an M.M. in Music Education from Northwestern University and a Ph.D. in Music Education with an emphasis in string pedagogy from the University of Michigan.

Prior to joining Duquesne, Dr. Vaughan-Marra served as Associate Professor and Coordinator of Music Education at Seton Hill University, where she cultivated a nationally connected teacher preparation program, led annual professional development workshops for regional educators, and maintained an active research and publication record across nine years. Before entering higher education, she taught instrumental band and orchestra for nine years in the Cupertino Union School District (Cupertino, CA), where her ensembles earned Superior Ratings at large ensemble festivals.

Dr. Vaughan-Marra's research focuses on new music teacher mentoring, digital mentoring environments, and self-study approaches in music education. She has published in the Journal of Research in Music Education, the Journal of Music Teacher Education, and contributed to The Oxford Handbook of Preservice Music Teacher Education and Critical Issues in Music Education. She was honored as one of Yamaha Music's 40 Under 40 Music Educators in 2024. An active presenter and professional contributor, she holds memberships with NAfME, ASTA, PMEA, SMTE, GIML, AERA, and CMEA, among others.

Dr. Vaughan-Marra is committed to supporting the next generation of music educators with the same passion and purpose that Duquesne first inspired in her. She is grateful to return alongside her husband and colleague, Dr. Christopher Marra, and is the proud mother of three children: Everett, Connor, and Amelia.

• Ph.D. Music Education, University of Michigan
• Masters in Music Education, Northwestern University
• B.S. Music Education, Duquesne University

• Music Education