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Dr. Deborah T. Jacobs

Deborah T. Jacobs is a graduate of Stephens College (BA) and the University of Missouri – Columbia (MEd, EdSp, PhD). She is currently Coordinator of Music Education and Associate Director for Student and Faculty Services of the Schwob School of Music. Dr. Jacobs teaches music education courses and supervises music student teachers at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. She is also the Columbus State CMENC advisor, chairman of Graduate Music Studies and the music program coordinator for Teacher Education at Columbus State University. She is a Choral Mentor for Music Educators National Conference, a test reviewer for ETS testing, and a mentor for beginning music teachers through the Knight Foundation Mentoring Program. In addition, Dr. Jacobs enjoys choral adjudicating, presenting at clinics and workshops (local, state, national, international), and being chosen as a guest clinician and conductor for choral performances. Dr. Jacobs has been nominated twice for the Faculty Service award and last year, she was nominated for the Regents’ Teaching Excellence Award in Georgia. Prior to joining the faculty at Columbus State University, Dr. Jacobs was a vocal music specialist with the Columbia Public Schools in Columbia, Missouri. Her twenty-two years of public school teaching experience concentrated in elementary and junior high vocal music, however, she has worked with students from pre-school age through adults. Her instruction included general music, select choirs, musicals, show choirs, musical theatre, mentoring first year teachers and student teachers, and youth church choir. Dr. Jacobs has also been an actress and musical director of various productions with the Columbia Entertainment company and an actress with the Lyceum Theatre in Arrow Rock, Missouri. Dr. Jacobs was awarded the recognition of Nationally Certified Music Educator through MENC in 1991. Her dissertation abstract is published in the 1998 edition of the Missouri Journal of Research in Music Education. Dr. Jacobs has been a musical director and actor at the Springer Opera House. She currently sings with the professional choral ensemble Cantus Columbus and is an instructor at the Rankin Arts Center through Continuing Education at CSU.

Professor Craig Resta

Craig Resta has earned degrees from Indiana University (MM) and Baylor University (BME) and is currently a PhD candidate in Curriculum and Instruction in Music Education at University of Maryland. His teaching experience of over ten years has encompassed rural, urban, and suburban settings in each geographical region of the United States having worked in Texas, Indiana, California, New Jersey, Maryland, and Georgia. While his primary public school positions have been in elementary and middle school orchestra and instrumental settings, he has also worked extensively with students from early elementary through graduate levels in music education. Mr. Resta’s research interests comprise string education, recruitment and retention of music teachers, leadership issues in education and arts education advocacy. He has presented at conferences for Maryland Music Educators Association (MMEA), Music Educators National Conference (MENC) Eastern Division, GMEA Collegiate Music Educators Conference (CMENC), and is published in Maryland Music Educator. In addition, he has adjudicated throughout Maryland and has served as Advocacy Chair on the MMEA Executive Board. His principal violin teachers include Kevin Lawrence, Stanley Ritchie and Davis Brooks. Research mentors are Marie McCarthy, Thomas Binkley and Harry Elzinga. Performing experience includes appearances at The Round Top Festival, The Berkeley Early Music Festival & Exhibition, and The Bloomington Early Music Festival. Mr. Resta’s recital appearances include venues in Texas, Indiana, California, and abroad in Switzerland. A string specialist, Mr. Resta is Assistant Professor of Instrumental Music Education at Columbus State University and teaches courses in string methods, music, and music education.