UPEI alumna named dean of Music at Western

UPEI alumna and former UPEI lecturer, Dr. Betty Anne Younker has been named the new dean of the Don Wright Faculty of Music at the University of Western Ontario. Younker will begin her five-year term on August 1.

Younker is currently at University of Michigan, where she is associate dean for academic affairs and associate professor of music (music education) in the School of Music, Theatre & Dance. Since joining the University of Michigan in 2000, Younker has also served as chair of the Music Education Department (2004-06).

Prior to joining Michigan, she was assistant professor of music (music education) at Western (1997-2000) and a lecturer in the Faculty of Arts, Department of Music, at UPEI (1991-97).

Younker was also an instructor at several junior and senior high schools in PEI and Newfoundland (1981-90). Among her many honours and distinctions, Younker was named Distinguished Alumnus of the Year by Pennsylvania State University College of Arts and Architecture (2008), and served as president of the Michigan Music Educators Association.

Younker earned her BMus in performance and music education from UPEI (1978), MEd in music education from Pennsylvania State University, State College (1980) and PhD in music education from Northwestern University (1997). Her research interests include the philosophy and pedagogy of music education and critical and creative thinking. Her scholarly publications and presentations number in excess of 100 in a variety of state, national and international journals and conferences.

As a musician, Younker is presently a member of the Vocal Arts Ensemble in Ann Arbor, where she also guest teaches in area schools and serves as a solo, ensemble and band adjudicator.