Jared Rawlings

Appointed Fall 2025.

Jared R. Rawlings, Ph.D. (he/him) is an accomplished scholar, educator and arts administrator who assumed the role of director of the School of Music and tenured professor of music education at the University of Maryland on July 1, 2025. He joins Maryland after serving as director of the School of Music and tenured professor of music education at the University of Missouri-Columbia, where he catalyzed forward-thinking curricula and interdisciplinary collaborations, strengthening both the unit’s academic profile and artistic distinction.

At Missouri, Rawlings launched a comprehensive strategic planning process that fostered collaboration among faculty and staff, reversed enrollment declines, and secured institutional funding for a major renovation project of music facilities. Under his leadership, the School balanced its operating budget, completed numerous faculty and staff searches, including new tenure-track and staff lines and expanded its music endowment funds. Rawlings also played a pivotal role in responding to challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and enhanced webcasting capabilities across concert venues. Throughout his tenure, he cultivated a culture that embraced diverse perspectives, encouraged creative problem-solving, and established an enduring legacy by advancing equity through intentional efforts to bolster belonging.

Prior to his time at Missouri, Rawlings served as associate dean for faculty & academic affairs in the College of Fine Arts at the University of Utah. During his tenure from 2016 to 2023, he guided interdisciplinary curricular advancements, expanded resources for student wellness, and successfully led the School’s re-accreditation with the National Association of Schools of Music. He also developed cross-campus initiatives and launched a faculty leadership development program. Earlier in his career, Rawlings held positions at Stetson University as assistant professor and director of Music Education.

As a scholar, Rawlings is widely recognized for his research on issues inextricably-linked to arts equity, music teacher pedagogy, and adolescent social interactions within educational settings. His work has been published and disseminated to international and national audiences while his award-winning studies on bullying in music classrooms have earned accolades from organizations such as the American Educational Research Association and the World Anti-Bullying Forum. His book "Reflections on Elizabeth A. H. Green’s Life and Career in Music Education" (Routledge Press, 2022) illustrates his commitment to uncovering the complex work of music teacher education through the narratives of teachers who led musical lives, well lived.  

Rawlings holds a Ph.D. in Music Education with a cognate in wind band conducting from the University of Michigan, a Master of Music degree in wind band conducting from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and a Bachelor of Music Education degree (cum laude) from Baldwin Wallace University. He is deeply engaged with professional organizations such as the National Association for Music Education, the National Associate of Schools of Music, Academic Chairpersons Conference, College Band Directors National Association, College Music Society and the International Society for Research on Aggression.