Ronald Lee, Professor of Music, Chairperson of the Department of Music
Academic Credentials
Bachelor of Arts in Music, Luther College, Iowa
Master of Music in Music Education, University of Michigan
Ph.D. in Music/Music Education, University of Michigan
Teaching Area
Music education, arts education, portfolio, music convocation,
Introduction to the music profession
Profile
Ronald Lee came to the University of Rhode Island as Chair of the Department of Music in 1992. During his tenure, the yearly enrollment of music majors increased from 80 to over 150. Twelve hundred music students have worked on B.A., B.M. or M.M. degrees, and in the past six years 30 to 40% of freshman class music majors have received URI Centennial scholarships based on academic excellence.
The expanded curriculum, with double-major and double-degree programs, is one of the most diverse among university music programs. A ten-year outreach effort to all University students has filled 30,000 seats In music courses, generating 65,000 credit hours.
Support for the Music Department since 1992 has resulted in nearly $1,500,000 in gifts and grants and the creation of nine new scholarship endowments. New performance peaks have been reached. Over the past ten years, 450,000 people have attended 1,500 music performances on and off campus. Fifty University Artist Series Concerts have been held, as well as 30 outreach festivals and nine summer music camps.
Dr. Lee’s previous faculty appointments were at Wagner College in Staten Island, NY and Syracuse University. He was recently recognized by URI for outstanding outreach work and has written and published extensively in the areas of arts education and music education. Dr. Lee is very active as a national accreditation evaluator for the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM).
