WMU announces Dr. Joanna Bosse as director of Irving S. Gilmore School of Music

KALAMAZOO, Mich.—The College of Fine Arts is pleased to announce that Dr. Joanna Bosse will join Western Michigan University as the Director of the Irving S. Gilmore School of Music on July 1, 2025. 

Dr. Bosse is a distinguished scholar and academic leader with extensive experience in Ethnomusicology and music in higher education. She is coming to us from Michigan State University, currently serving as the Associate Dean of Administrative Affairs and Strategic Initiatives at the College of Music, where she oversaw operations, facilities, and technology, and advised on strategic initiatives, including diversity, equity, and inclusion projects. She also served as the Interim Head of the Carnegie Mellon University School of Music from 2023 to 2024, where she implemented a new budget model and, with a faculty advisory committee, enhanced the unit's infrastructure and empowered faculty through more transparent, equitable, and rational governance structures. 

Dr. Bosse earned a Bachelor of Music in Clarinet Performance from Houghton College, a Master of Music in Clarinet Performance from Michigan State University, and a Ph.D. in Ethnomusicology from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. She also attended the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music for her doctoral studies in Historical Musicology. 

“I am thrilled that Dr. Bosse has agreed to join us as the next Director of the Irving S. Gilmore School of Music,” said Dan Guyette, dean of the College of Fine Arts. “I am impressed with her advanced leadership qualities, her ability to manage complex projects, her keen interpersonal skills, and the vision needed to address the many challenges facing higher education in the coming years.”

Dr. Bosse's research contributions are impressive, with notable works such as the ethnographic documentary Becoming Beautiful and the book Becoming Beautiful: Ballroom Dance in the American Heartland. Her numerous publications span various topics, including the emotional wellbeing of musicians during the pandemic and the role of music in social life. She has presented her research at numerous prestigious conferences, including the Society for Ethnomusicology and the Dance Studies Association. Dr. Bosse's dedication to innovative pedagogy, her leadership in academic administration, and her impactful research establish her as a leading figure in the field of music education and ethnomusicology.

As director, Dr. Bosse will lead the School of Music’s strategic initiatives, oversee its financial stability, manage all aspects of daily operations, provide a vision to meet the challenges facing the arts in higher education, foster innovation and continued excellence, lead recruiting and retention efforts, evaluate accreditation standards, and elevate the School's reputation and opportunities for success in the ever-evolving landscape of music and the arts.

“The Irving Gilmore School of Music is an extraordinary community of musician-scholars poised to become national leaders in the changing landscape of music and higher education,” said Dr. Bosse. “I am thrilled to join them in this important work.”

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