Meet Katie!

The College of the Arts at Kent State University is pleased to announce Katie Mazanetz as the Academic Recruitment and Retention Director working on the online Master of Music in Music Education program.

Mazanetz comes to Kent State University with eight years of higher education and student affairs experience at Notre Dame College. She brings a passion for empowering students and a wealth of experience in educational outreach, which has her poised to lead our initiatives in welcoming new students and ensuring their success throughout their academic journey.

Join us in welcoming Katie aboard!

Can you share a bit about your role and how you support students in the online Master’s in Music Education program?

My name is Katie, and I’m thrilled to be working with the online Master’s in Music Education program at Kent State! My official title is “Academic Recruitment & Retention Director”. The best way to summarize what I do for the recruiting part of my job title is that I get to work with our academic programs in the College to develop events and outreach programs to introduce who we are and what we do to prospective students and then I also get to work directly with interested students to answer questions and alleviate concerns during their admissions process. For students in the MMME program, that means I plan and host informational webinars to introduce our amazing program to prospective students. I also coordinate some of the “behind-the-scenes” marketing and recruiting efforts to amplify our reach to interested folks across the country. It’s a lot of fun and very different from my past roles!

What do you look forward to most in your role at Kent State University?

I really believe in the power of higher education, so this role really allows me to connect with students at various stages of their educational journey and help them find their fit at Kent State University. My background is working with predominantly undergraduate students, so getting the chance to grow myself in working with graduate students is also really exciting to me!

What makes the online program unique for music educators?

There are a few things that I think really make this program unique, and they all really lend themselves to creating a supportive, encouraging environment for our students. Teachers, regardless of content area, are some of the busiest people on the face of the planet! Their workday likely begins before the first bell and ends long after their students leave the building. Our Online Master’s in Music Education program recognizes this. I think our unique “one class at a time” model allows folks to concentrate on one course and give that course the attention it needs versus trying to overextend themselves with multiple courses at a time. It takes what could be a very overwhelming endeavor and scales it down to something that feels attainable and doable. Additionally, Jenna Sepulveda is such an incredible asset to the program. She is the dedicated Music Education academic advisor, and she walks with students every step of the way from application to graduation. She has dedicated virtual office hours for online students – just because a student is online doesn’t mean they shouldn’t have access to a real-life advisor! Many of our on-campus resources, such as IT support, are also available to students across the country. I think it’s likely common for online students to not feel like a part of the campus community, but with access to the same resources and opportunities during the summer to come to campus for electives, we want them to feel like a part of our Kent State community.

What are the most important things students should know before applying?

If I could get on my proverbial soapbox and preach one thing, it would be this: the promises of support, dedicated faculty, and caring academic advising are not empty promises; these promises are real and true. As someone not directly planted in the School of Music, I have experienced their kindness and welcoming attitude firsthand. The program faculty have been quick to share their insight and experience with the program as I seek to learn more in my role – Team calls, offers to shadow classes, and meetings over coffee are the norm.

I think the other thing I’d really want to convey is the flexibility of the program. As I shared before, educators are busy people, and life happens. Students should know they will be supported if they decide to back down from full-time to part-time, defer their start date, or anything similar. We truly want you to succeed, so if that means a pivot from time to time, that’s totally ok!

What advice would you give to students considering this program?

Ask questions! Never be afraid to ask something during a webinar, send multiple emails, or attend Jenna’s virtual office hours. We are literally here to make sure you feel comfortable and confident in your decision to pursue a graduate degree at Kent State University. So, don’t be bashful or feel like you’re annoying us – ask away!

What’s your favorite part about higher education?

Um… all of it? Hah! But, really, I believe higher education gifts students so much more than textbook knowledge. It unlocks experiences, connections, and knowledge that you didn’t even know were possible. The catalyst to my career in higher education was not one specific moment but a collection of lots of little moments. There were so many people across my undergraduate institution who gave me skills and opportunities that helped shape me into the person I always wanted to be but didn’t know how to become. I wanted to pay that forward to other students – so here I am!

About Kate Mazanetz

Katie Mazanetz is the Academic Recruitment and Retention Director for the College of the Arts. Katie earned her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from The Ohio State University in 2013 and her Master of Education in College Student Personnel from Ohio University in 2016. Katie comes to Kent State University with eight years of higher education and student affairs experience at Notre Dame College, where she was involved with campus activities, new student experiences, student conduct, student success and retention, and Title IX work. When working with students, Katie’s personal philosophy is to create a space fueled with kindness, caring, and compassion to help support students in finding academic and personal success. A life-long Clevelander, Katie is thrilled to continue supporting students finding their educational home in the Buckeye State. Outside of her professional life, Katie is married to her husband Aaron and they reside in Strongsville, OH. She is an avid CYCLEBAR rider who loves trying new restaurants, wineries, and breweries and is always open to new suggestions.

Kent State University Online Master of Music in Music Education

The Online Master of Music degree in Music Education allows music teachers to develop and refine their professional skills. The program is differentiated from others in that it is practitioner-oriented and offers elective courses in specialized music teaching areas.

With this degree, you will have the opportunity to focus your course of study on the aspects of music teaching that are most relevant to your career now and in the future. A master’s degree opens opportunities to teach in post-secondary institutions or apply for further doctoral study in music education or related fields. This degree in music education may also help you climb the salary scale and qualify you for leadership positions within your school, district, and state. Begin today!