The School of Music, Theatre, and Dance is pleased to announce that Dr. Jess Rushing is joining Colorado State University’s outstanding music therapy faculty. Dr. Rushing comes to CSU following three years at the University of Louisville as an assistant professor of Music Therapy, and receiving her Ph.D. in Rehabilitation Sciences from the University of Kentucky and a Master of Music Therapy from Florida State University.
“We are thrilled that Dr. Rushing will be joining us this fall,” said Dr. Blythe LaGasse, coordinator of the Music Therapy area at Colorado State. “Dr. Rushing comes to CSU with a wealth of experience in the medical and rehabilitation settings, and we are excited for the opportunities and connections she will develop with the Fort Collins community.”
Dr. Dan Goble, director of the School of Music, Theatre, and Dance (SMTD) also enthusiastic about the future of music therapy at the University. “Dr. Rushing joins CSU at a time of great excitement within our internationally renowned music therapy program as we also welcome our first class of students into the new Doctorate of Music Therapy program,” he said.
In March, SMTD began accepting applications to its new Music Therapy Ph.D. program. With a long tradition in clinical education, research, and scholarship in music therapy, CSU is recognized among doctoral universities by Carnegie with an R1 research activity ranking. The new Ph.D. builds on the successful reputation of the current B.M. and M.A. in Music Therapy, offering a continuation in a program that is recognized as one of the best in the nation. CSU’s Doctorate of Music Therapy has a specific focus in the neuroscience of music therapy, making the program a unique offering for doctoral education. music.colostate.edu/music-therapy
About Jess Rushing
Jess Rushing, Ph.D., MT-BC, earned her Bachelors and Masters of Music in Music Therapy from the Florida State University. Dr. Rushing received her Doctorate in Rehabilitation Sciences from the University of Kentucky. She has worked clinically with all ages from premature infants to end-of-life with considerable experience in medical, private practice, and mental health. Dr. Rushing’s research interests include music therapy in acute post-stroke care, music therapy supervision using Self-Determination Theory, and community engagement. In addition to teaching and research, she has previously owned a private practice and supervised the UofL Music Therapy Clinic. She is a Fellow of the National Institute of Infant and Child Medical Music Therapy and has completed training in Neurologic Music Therapy. Dr. Rushing is currently the chair elect of the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine (ACRM) Arts and Neuroscience Networking Group, and has served the American Music Therapy association as a past chair of the Interprofessional Collaborative Resource Committee and on the Assembly of Delegates. She enjoys continuing to be an active clinician.