This recipient has a track record of mentoring students across universities – providing mentorship to students who both do and do not have formal placements in their lab. During Covid closures, they hosted “open lab meetings” that could be attended by scholars located anywhere in the world. In addition to their own dedication and service to SMPC, they have mentored multiple trainees who have gone on to provide service themselves, serving on SMPC Mentorship and Antiracism and Equity committees or hosting novel conferences or partnerships.

His mentees had incredible feedback to share about their experiences working and training with him. We share quotes here:

• “He centered each student’s well-being at the forefront of his guidance, as he understood that good academic work comes from a healthy and happy individual. Because of his care and concern for his (undergraduate and graduate) students, people were able to reach their full potential and felt inspired about their future in music research.”

• “What separates him from good mentors and makes him a truly special person are his ability to help his students find the question they mean to ask, and his ability to casually chat with his mentees while providing them a respite from their work day.”

• “This is one valuable lesson [he has] taught me as a mentor, in anything that you do begin from a place of empathy and understanding.”

• “[His] mentoring has inspired me to take an interest in mentoring, and I adapt elements of his approach to advising with my own students and colleagues, making students feel welcome, respected, and supported.”

He is an Associate Professor at Northwestern University where he directs the Music Cognition Lab -- Congratulations to 2024 SMPC Mentorship Award recipient, Dan Shanahan.

• As read by Miriam Lense at the 2024 SMPC Meeting