Cordell and Ava Haymon Endowed Chair of Music Therapy & Associate or Full Professor of Music

Louisiana State University invites applications for the position of the Cordell and Ava Haymon Endowed Chair of Music Therapy, an endowed, tenured faculty appointment at the rank of Associate Professor or Professor. The successful candidate will provide visionary leadership for LSU's rapidly growing Music Therapy program within the School of Music in the College of Music & Dramatic Arts (CMDA).This endowed position offers a rare opportunity to lead the first music therapy degree program established at a public university in Louisiana and to shape the future of music therapy education, research, and clinical practice across the state and the Gulf South. Established through the generosity of the Haymon family, whose multigenerational commitment has been instrumental in advancing music therapy at LSU, the endowed chair provides significant annual resources to support innovative research, instructional excellence, clinical partnerships, faculty and student development, and strategic program growth.

LSU welcomed its inaugural Bachelor of Music Therapy cohort in Fall 2023. With a strong undergraduate curriculum now established, the program is poised for its next phase of growth, including expanded enrollment, transformative clinical partnerships, externally funded research, and the development of graduate education opportunities. Situated within a Carnegie R1 research university, the Chair will play a central role in defining a long-term vision for the program while expanding access to high-quality music therapy education and services in a region where such opportunities remain limited.

The Chair reports to the Director of the School of Music and will collaborate extensively across LSU's expanding research and healthcare enterprise, including LSU Health New Orleans, LSU Health Shreveport, the LSU AgCenter, the Pennington Biomedical Research Center, and partners throughout the healthcare, education, and community sectors. These collaborations create exceptional opportunities to advance interdisciplinary research and clinical innovation in areas such as cancer care, behavioral health, rehabilitation, integrative medicine, survivorship, symptom management, and healthcare equity.

Located in a state internationally recognized for its rich and diverse musical heritage, LSU provides a distinctive environment where music serves as both a defining cultural force and a powerful vehicle for health, healing, and community engagement. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to build a nationally recognized program that advances scholarship, transforms clinical practice, and strengthens the role of music therapy in improving health and well-being throughout Louisiana, the Gulf South, and beyond.

Job Responsibilities:

Background Check - An offer of employment is contingent on a satisfactory pre-employment background check.

Benefits - LSU offers outstanding benefits to eligible employees and their dependents including health, life, dental, and vision insurance; flexible spending accounts; retirement options; various leave options; paid holidays; wellness benefits; tuition exemption for qualified positions; training and development opportunities; employee discounts; and more!

Positions approved to work outside the State of Louisiana shall be employed through Louisiana State University’s partner, nextSource Workforce Solutions, for Employer of Record Services including but not limited to employment, benefits, payroll, and tax compliance. Positions employed through Employer of Record Services will be offered benefits and retirement as applicable through their provider and will not be eligible for State of Louisiana benefits and retirement.

All candidates must have valid U.S. work authorization at the time of hire and maintain that valid work authorization throughout employment. Changes in laws, regulations, or government policies may impact the university’s ability to employ individuals in certain positions.