Music Therapy Department Faculty at Ohio University
Associate Professor of Music Therapy, Professor Kamile Geist
Professor Geist began her career first as a middle school band director and then as a music therapist serving children with special needs in the public school systems in the North Dallas, Texas area. While in Dallas, she taught undergraduate and graduate music therapy courses at Southern Methodist University and ran her own business, North Dallas Music Therapy Services. A music therapist for 15 years, currently she is Associate Professor of Music Therapy and Program Coordinator of the Music Therapy division at Ohio University, where she teaches and provides clinical supervision for both undergraduate and graduate students. She serves on various university and national committees, including the Ohio University Graduate Council, Ohio University Research Council, and the American Music Therapy Association’s Academic Program Approval Committee, for which she is Co-Chair. Professor Geist received the Distinguished Teaching Award in the School of Music at Ohio University in 2012 and was nominated for the Ohio University Presidential Teaching Scholar award in 2013. Professor Geist’s research is published in the Journal of Instructional Psychology, the Journal of Music Therapy, the College Student Journal, Music Therapy Perspectives, Imagine, the Triad, and the prestigious early childhood education journal, Young Children. Her research focus is on how rhythm effects attention behaviors in young children, which can allow for improved behavioral and academic outcomes. She has conducted studies in preschools in the Southeastern Ohio Appalachian communities, where she trains teachers on how to use rhythm to improve engagement with children who are at risk in their classrooms. The Keep a Beat (KaB) research and teacher training program she created has received funding from the Ohio University Office of Research and Sponsored Programs, the Ohio University College of Fine Arts, Ohio University College of Education, and recently from the prestigious Ohio University Baker Fund. Professor Geist presents nationally and internationally on her research, including training early childhood educators and music teachers in Mexico and Colombia, South America.
Professor Geist began her career first as a middle school band director and then as a music therapist serving children with special needs in the public school systems in the North Dallas, Texas area. While in Dallas, she taught undergraduate and graduate music therapy courses at Southern Methodist University and ran her own business, North Dallas Music Therapy Services. A music therapist for 15 years, currently she is Associate Professor of Music Therapy and Program Coordinator of the Music Therapy division at Ohio University, where she teaches and provides clinical supervision for both undergraduate and graduate students. She serves on various university and national committees, including the Ohio University Graduate Council, Ohio University Research Council, and the American Music Therapy Association’s Academic Program Approval Committee, for which she is Co-Chair. Professor Geist received the Distinguished Teaching Award in the School of Music at Ohio University in 2012 and was nominated for the Ohio University Presidential Teaching Scholar award in 2013. Professor Geist’s research is published in the Journal of Instructional Psychology, the Journal of Music Therapy, the College Student Journal, Music Therapy Perspectives, Imagine, the Triad, and the prestigious early childhood education journal, Young Children. Her research focus is on how rhythm effects attention behaviors in young children, which can allow for improved behavioral and academic outcomes. She has conducted studies in preschools in the Southeastern Ohio Appalachian communities, where she trains teachers on how to use rhythm to improve engagement with children who are at risk in their classrooms. The Keep a Beat (KaB) research and teacher training program she created has received funding from the Ohio University Office of Research and Sponsored Programs, the Ohio University College of Fine Arts, Ohio University College of Education, and recently from the prestigious Ohio University Baker Fund. Professor Geist presents nationally and internationally on her research, including training early childhood educators and music teachers in Mexico and Colombia, South America.
Visiting Associate Professor of Music Therapy, Debra Cordell
Professor Cordell's experience as a music therapist includes thirty years as a clinician and educator. Prior to coming to Ohio University in 2011, where she teaches core courses in music therapy and supervises clinical practicum, she spent 11 years at the University of Evansville (Evansville, IN) serving in the same capacity. As a clinician, she worked primarily in the geriatric field, but also with a variety of client populations in private practice. She established the music therapy internship program at Quincy United Methodist Home in Quincy, PA and served as its clinical training director for over 12 years.
Professor Cordell is an active member of the American Music Therapy Association (AMTA) and served on the executive board of the Association for Indiana Music Therapy (AIMT) for 10 years. She has presented at the national, regional, state and local levels on a variety of topics related to the practice of music therapy. Her current interest is studying the effects of music on physiological responses in humans, particularly those related to stress.
Professor Cordell's experience as a music therapist includes thirty years as a clinician and educator. Prior to coming to Ohio University in 2011, where she teaches core courses in music therapy and supervises clinical practicum, she spent 11 years at the University of Evansville (Evansville, IN) serving in the same capacity. As a clinician, she worked primarily in the geriatric field, but also with a variety of client populations in private practice. She established the music therapy internship program at Quincy United Methodist Home in Quincy, PA and served as its clinical training director for over 12 years.
Professor Cordell is an active member of the American Music Therapy Association (AMTA) and served on the executive board of the Association for Indiana Music Therapy (AIMT) for 10 years. She has presented at the national, regional, state and local levels on a variety of topics related to the practice of music therapy. Her current interest is studying the effects of music on physiological responses in humans, particularly those related to stress.
Adjunct Professor of Music Therapy, Professor Erin Spring
Erin Spring holds a bachelor's and master's degree in music therapy from Ohio University where she studied under Anita Louise Steele and Mrs. Kamile Geist.Ms. Spring has interned as a music therapist at the Cleveland Music School Settlement and in the Cleveland Clinic Palliative Care Unit.Currently, Erin is the owner of Central Ohio Music Therapy in Circleville, Ohio, which provides music therapy services throughout 10 counties in central and southeast Ohio.Erin is a neurologically trained music therapist serving a variety of populations including the terminally ill, individuals with autism and developmental disabilities, geriatric adults, patients receiving obstetric and general hospital care and children experiencing grief. Her thesis research focused on collaboration, exploring the collaborative terminology and the teaching models used to train upcoming professionals in collaborative work.
Along with presenting music therapy talks to community groups, high schools and colleges throughout Ohio, Ms. Spring is also a regular presenter at the American Music Therapy Association (AMTA) national and regional conferences. In addition to her music therapy practice, Erin is also an accomplished vocalist.Erin has studied voice with Dr. Patricia Pease, Mrs. Stephanie Mouat and Mrs. Lorna Frank. She has performed around her community as a soloist and with various ensembles.Erin is also the director of the Circleville Presbyterian Handbell Choir and the Roundtown Ringers Community Handbell and Chime Choir.When she's not leading music therapy sessions, you will often find her volunteering with her therapy dog Oscar, providing pet therapy services to patients, students, and anyone else who's quality of life is improved when there's a dog around. Erin is also a member of the Ohio Music Education Association, and is an active marching band adjudicator.
Erin Spring holds a bachelor's and master's degree in music therapy from Ohio University where she studied under Anita Louise Steele and Mrs. Kamile Geist.Ms. Spring has interned as a music therapist at the Cleveland Music School Settlement and in the Cleveland Clinic Palliative Care Unit.Currently, Erin is the owner of Central Ohio Music Therapy in Circleville, Ohio, which provides music therapy services throughout 10 counties in central and southeast Ohio.Erin is a neurologically trained music therapist serving a variety of populations including the terminally ill, individuals with autism and developmental disabilities, geriatric adults, patients receiving obstetric and general hospital care and children experiencing grief. Her thesis research focused on collaboration, exploring the collaborative terminology and the teaching models used to train upcoming professionals in collaborative work.
Along with presenting music therapy talks to community groups, high schools and colleges throughout Ohio, Ms. Spring is also a regular presenter at the American Music Therapy Association (AMTA) national and regional conferences. In addition to her music therapy practice, Erin is also an accomplished vocalist.Erin has studied voice with Dr. Patricia Pease, Mrs. Stephanie Mouat and Mrs. Lorna Frank. She has performed around her community as a soloist and with various ensembles.Erin is also the director of the Circleville Presbyterian Handbell Choir and the Roundtown Ringers Community Handbell and Chime Choir.When she's not leading music therapy sessions, you will often find her volunteering with her therapy dog Oscar, providing pet therapy services to patients, students, and anyone else who's quality of life is improved when there's a dog around. Erin is also a member of the Ohio Music Education Association, and is an active marching band adjudicator.
For more information about the extraordinary Music Therapy staff or programs at OU,
visit MUSIC THERAPY AT OHIO UNIVERSITY
visit MUSIC THERAPY AT OHIO UNIVERSITY