Meet Jenna!
You may have already received some emails and phone calls from her!
Jennelizabeth Sepúlveda is a Senior Academic Advisor for the Online Master of Music in Music Education.
Jenna and Kent State University’s Master of Music in Music Education (MMME) program recently earned Intelligent.com’s “Best Student Support Services” award! Congrats! Learn more about this award.
Read on for a short interview with Jenna.
Tell us about yourself and your work/time at Kent State University.
My name is Jenna, and I’m a proud Kent Stater. I graduated with my BA in Theatre from the College of the Arts and my M.Ed. in Higher Education and College Student Development from the College of Education, Health, and Human Services. I’m currently pursuing my Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration, and I am in the exciting dissertation phase.
I’ve been working at Kent State for almost 11 years, and I’ve been fortunate to work in the College of the Arts the entire time. Prior to being the advisor for the online Master of Music in Music Education program, I advised undergraduate students pursuing majors and minors in Theatre, Dance, and Music. I love working with students, helping them accomplish their goals, and celebrating their successes. Being a graduate student myself, I understand the balancing act our MMME students perform, and I appreciate the opportunity to help them on their educational journey and beyond.
What drew you to music?
Music has always been a part of my life. When I was younger, I studied violin and was a member of the Cleveland Youth Orchestra. I then found love in musical theatre and performing, which led me to Kent State and studying theatre. With this position specifically, I was approached by the previous Dean of the College of the Arts, Dr. John Crawford-Spinelli, about the opportunity to migrate the online program completely in-house and work with graduate music students earning their Master of Music in Music Education. This sounded exciting to me because I would have the ability to learn new skill sets, advise different students, and expand my comfort with policies and regulations pertaining to graduate degree work.
What do you look forward to most in your role at Kent State University?
Connecting and meeting with the students and prospective students. They are all so unique, and I love learning more about them. The Music Education faculty are also wonderful. They are just as student-centered as I am, and we all genuinely care about student success. I also really enjoy writing graduation postcards to celebrate the students’ achievements.
Why should students choose this program?
Students will have dedicated support, guidance, and advising. I always tell students that I’m the only advisor for the program, and I’m with them from admissions all the way to graduation, so they’re stuck with me. I find that to be a unique feature of our program. Students have this consistency, and they always know I am there to help with questions or concerns. Also, our program was created by our music education faculty for busy music educators. We understand the demands music educators are being asked, and we are here to help students achieve this degree, but more importantly, actively utilize what they are learning in their courses to impact their music students in their classrooms directly.
Also, the students are wonderful and have such a great community. They communicate with each other outside of the online platform and make long-lasting relationships.
What podcast are you currently listening to, or what book are you currently reading?
School-related reading is Stephen C. Ehrmann’s Pursuing quality, access, and affordability: A field guide to improving higher education, and my fun selection is L. Frank Baum’s Oz Chronicles. My niece and I read a chapter together each time she visits.
What’s your favorite part about higher education?
Tough question. . .I have two answers. Of course, the students are number one. I also love puzzles and learning. Higher Education can sometimes be this gigantic puzzle to see how everything fits together and which policies apply to which programs. I love helping students, faculty, and administrators solve these puzzles and being a part of that process.
Jennelizabeth Sepúlveda, Senior Academic Advisor II for the Online Master of Music in Music Education program, has worked at Kent State University for over a decade and has been serving the Master of Music in Music Education program for the last four years. She is responsible for recruitment, enrollment management, student support services, and other areas to best support student success. As a proud Kent State alumna, she earned her M.Ed. in Higher Education and College Student Development and a B.A. in Theatre Studies. She is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration. She is certified in career construction, and her recognitions include being a recipient of the ACE Women’s Network professional development scholarship, NACADA’s scholarship for the professional development of advisors through graduate studies, and the Terry Kuhn Undergraduate Advising Award for Senior Advisor I.
Enroll today in the Online Master of Music in Music Education Program at Kent State University
The Online Master of Music degree in Music Education program is designed to offer music teachers the opportunity to develop and refine their professional skills. The degree program allows for enhancement and specialization relative to music teaching and learning in contemporary school contexts.
Kent State University is synonymous with music education. Some of the leading voices in the field have earned a degree here. Our 100% online program can be completed in as few as 23 months. Our curriculum is created for the music teaching professional. Classes are seven weeks, and you can enroll in two classes per semester, including summer. This format allows you to focus on one area of study and then begin another music education course after a brief recess. We are dedicated to helping you design a program that provides exciting new perspectives in your teaching right from the beginning.
For more information on Kent State’s Online Master of Music in Music Education, visit https://onlinedegrees.kent.edu/degrees/master-of-music-in-music-education
