The School of Music, Theatre, and Dance is pleased to announce that Dr. Laura Beer is joining Colorado State University’s outstanding music therapy faculty as associate professor in Fall 2022. Dr. Beer comes to CSU following serving the last four years as director of music therapy at Maryville University.
“We are excited to have Dr. Beer join our faculty to help build the Ph.D. in Music Therapy program,” said Dr. Blythe LaGasse, coordinator of the music therapy area at CSU. “Dr. Beer comes to CSU with a wealth of experience in child/adolescent mental health, neonatal intensive care, and qualitative research, all areas we look forward to expanding in our current program.”
Dr. Dan Goble, director of the School of Music, Theatre, and Dance (SMTD) also commented on the growth in the music therapy area, saying, “Dr. Beer is an important addition to CSU’s outstanding music therapy faculty. Her wealth of experience will greatly enhance the new Ph.D. degree program”
In Fall 2021, SMTD began the first cohort of Ph.D. students in music therapy. 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.
About Dr. Beer
Laura Beer, Ph.D., MT-BC, Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapist, Rhythm, Breath & Lullaby/NICU Music Therapist, has extensive clinical experience as a music therapist, researcher, author, and educator. She has worked as a clinician in a range of settings, with her most recent clinical experience in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and with children who have multiple developmental challenges. She also serves as editor for Music Therapy Perspectives, one of AMTA’s two national peer-reviewed journals. She is committed to creating a more inclusive and social-justice oriented format for clinicians, students, educators, and allied health professionals. She has numerous publications including Trauma-Informed Music Therapy: Theory and Practice (co-editor) and Using Music in Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy, co-written with Jacqueline Birnbaum. Laura lives with her wife Cyndy, three cats, and little dog Gracie, and is humbled every day by their love and support.