Faculty - MMT

All Programs Creative Arts Music Therapy

MASTER OF MUSIC THERAPY

Creative Arts

Rob Collier, DMA, MA

Assistant Professor, Music Theory
rob.collier@alverno.edu

Full Bio

Rob Collier, DMA, MA

Assistant Professor, Music Theory
rob.collier@alverno.edu

Rob Collier is a composer and performer originally from Louisville, Kentucky. He writes music that is meditative and hypnotic, utilizing repetition and simple compositional processes as a means of development. Recordings of Rob’s compositions have been released on Auralgami Sounds and Capstone Records in the United States, and Unlabel, WM Recordings, and Greed Recordings in Europe. He has collaborated with filmmakers, choreographers, visual artists, producers, and performers in a wide variety of genres. Rob’s music has been choreographed by Alight Dance Theater, the Starr Foster Dance Project, Beth Rodriguez, and the Louisville Ballet Youth Ensemble. His most recent solo release is Canon in 9 Sections on the Pittsburgh record label Ongoing Box.

Nancy Dexter-Schabow, MMT, MT-BC

Adjunct Instructor
nancy.dexter-schabow@alverno.edu

Full Bio

Nancy Dexter-Schabow, MMT, MT-BC

Adjunct Instructor
nancy.dexter-schabow@alverno.edu

Nancy is a clinical specialist and expert in state taskforce leadership.

Rebecca L. (Becky) Engen, PhD, MT-BC

MT-BC, Associate Professor, Director of Graduate Music Therapy
becky.engen@alverno.edu

Full Bio

Rebecca L. (Becky) Engen, PhD, MT-BC

MT-BC, Associate Professor, Director of Graduate Music Therapy
becky.engen@alverno.edu

Becky Engen is a music therapist, educator and researcher. Her clinical work has specialized in the treatment of adults, particularly in mental health and long term acute medical settings. She is a regular presenter regionally, nationally, and internationally. Having published in both the Journal of Music Therapy and Music Therapy Perspectives, Becky’s research interests center on the voice, vocal health, and music therapy pedagogy. Her most recent publication is as co-author of the book, Functional Voice Skills for Music Therapists through Barcelona Press.

Lisa Gallagher, PhD, MT-BC

Adjunct Instructor
lisa.gallagher@alverno.edu

Full Bio

Lisa Gallagher, PhD, MT-BC

Adjunct Instructor
lisa.gallagher@alverno.edu

Lisa Gallagher is the Research Program Manager for the Arts & Medicine Institute at Cleveland Clinic. She is a board certified music therapist, researcher, author; and she is a frequent presenter at the local, national, and international level. Her clinical work has focused on palliative care, mental health, resilience, and well-being. Lisa is the recipient of the GLR of AMTA Scholarly Activity Award and the Blair L. Sadler International Healing Arts Award.

Leslie A. Henry, MM, MT-BC

Assistant Professor, Director of Music Therapy
leslie.henry@alverno.edu

Full Bio

Leslie A. Henry, MM, MT-BC

Assistant Professor, Director of Music Therapy
leslie.henry@alverno.edu

Leslie joined the college in 2016, bringing a wide variety of clinical experiences from Milwaukee County Behavioral Health, Veteran’s Administration, Seasons Hospice, to St. Ann Center for Intergenerational Care. She holds a Fellow designation with the Robert F. Unkefer Academy of Neurologic Music Therapy and is the Co-chair of the Professional Advocacy Committee of the American Music Therapy Association. Leslie teaches Psychology of Music, Geriatric Clinicals, Design and Application of Music Therapy, Creative Music Making, and Internship in our Undergraduate Program and Advocacy Skills for the Music Therapist, and Advanced Practice Skills in our Graduate Program.

Meredith Pizzi, MPA, MT-BC

Adjunct Instructor
Meredith.Pizzi@alverno.edu

Full Bio

Meredith Pizzi, MPA, MT-BC

Adjunct Instructor
Meredith.Pizzi@alverno.edu

Meredith has founded and led several music therapy organizations and programs, including Roman Music Therapy Services, Raising Harmony and Sprouting Melodies®, an award-winning early childhood music program with worldwide reach. Regionally and nationally, Meredith is in demand as a keynote speaker, program leader, business coach, and consultant, offering insights on clinical and professional topics that appeal to a wide range of professional and consumer audiences. Meredith’s publications include co-editor of Leading the Way – Music Therapy Businesses of the Future, published by The American Music Therapy Association and Early Childhood Mental Health and Music Therapy: Defining Universal and Preventative Models, Published in Ricerche di Psicologia (2016).

Sarah Richardson, DMA, MM, MFA

Adjunct Instructor, Voice, Performance Coordinator
sarah.richardson@alverno.edu

Full Bio

Sarah Richardson, DMA, MM, MFA

Adjunct Instructor, Voice, Performance Coordinator
sarah.richardson@alverno.edu

Sarah Richardson is a Wisconsin native and an active local performer and teacher, having worked with Milwaukee Opera Theatre, Florentine Opera, Bel Canto Chorus, Milwaukee Chamber Choir, the Milwaukee Choral Artists, East Side Chamber Players, and Ensemble Musical Offering. Recent opera credits include Königin der Nacht (Die Zauberflöte) with Milwaukee Opera Theatre, Barbarina (Le Nozze di Figaro) with the Lyric Opera Studio Weimar, Germany, and Miss Wordsworth (Albert Herring) with UW Opera in Madison. She has also performed for UW-Madison’s annual Schubertiade and Le Domaine Musical concerts. Sarah enjoys collaborating with local performers, composers and performing new music. For her dissertation project, Sarah commissioned and recorded a new song cycle for soprano and piano which pays homage to her family’s farming heritage through the writing of an influential Wisconsin woman from the turn of the century. Sarah’s website is www.forgingresonance.com.

Jennifer Sokira, MMT, LCAT, MT-BC

Adjunct Instructor
jennifer.sokira@alverno.edu

Full Bio

Jennifer Sokira, MMT, LCAT, MT-BC

Adjunct Instructor
jennifer.sokira@alverno.edu

Jennifer is the founding director of Connecticut Music Therapy Services, where her clinical work focuses on people who are healing from trauma and complex PTSD using music psychotherapy methods. Her advocacy for increased knowledge and training for music therapists working with clients who have experienced trauma lead to her to presenting regionally, nationally, and internationally on trauma-informed practice and disaster response, as well as developing curriculum and teaching CMTE courses with EnlightenCE. Recent publications include Considerations For Music Therapy in Long-Term Response to Mass Tragedy and Trauma in Music Therapy Today and co-author of The Resilience Framework for Trauma-Informed Music Therapy, forthcoming in Trauma-Informed Practice in Music Therapy: A Clinician’s Guide (Routledge).

Apply Now

Overview
Faculty

Request Information

Schedule a Visit

Academics

Apply & Afford

Campus

Current Students

Resources

MASTER OF MUSIC THERAPY

Rob Collier, DMA, MA

Nancy Dexter-Schabow, MMT, MT-BC

Rebecca L. (Becky) Engen, PhD, MT-BC

Lisa Gallagher, PhD, MT-BC

Leslie A. Henry, MM, MT-BC

Meredith Pizzi, MPA, MT-BC

Sarah Richardson, DMA, MM, MFA

Jennifer Sokira, MMT, LCAT, MT-BC

Overview
Faculty

Ready for what's next

MASTER OF MUSIC THERAPY

Rob Collier, DMA, MA

Rob Collier, DMA, MA

Nancy Dexter-Schabow, MMT, MT-BC

Nancy Dexter-Schabow, MMT, MT-BC

Rebecca L. (Becky) Engen, PhD, MT-BC

Rebecca L. (Becky) Engen, PhD, MT-BC

Lisa Gallagher, PhD, MT-BC

Lisa Gallagher, PhD, MT-BC

Leslie A. Henry, MM, MT-BC

Leslie A. Henry, MM, MT-BC

Meredith Pizzi, MPA, MT-BC

Meredith Pizzi, MPA, MT-BC

Sarah Richardson, DMA, MM, MFA

Sarah Richardson, DMA, MM, MFA

Jennifer Sokira, MMT, LCAT, MT-BC

Jennifer Sokira, MMT, LCAT, MT-BC

Overview Faculty

Ready for what's next

Overview
Faculty