Collegiate Chapter Leadership Training 2026

All current, future, and potential NAfME Collegiate Chapter leadership and chapter advisors are invited to join members of the NAfME Collegiate Advisory Council and NAfME Collegiate Program Manager Ben Reyes for a special leadership training this fall. This virtual training will cover general chapter leadership expectations as laid out in the NAfME Collegiate Chapter Quickstart Guide along with some general tips and best practices. Brand new to your role? This is a great opportunity to meet chapter leaders from around the country as this rally will place a special emphasis on collaboration and network-building.

New this year!

This year’s training will feature a unique Chapter Advisor Training track. All chapter advisors are welcome to learn tips, best practices, and expectations of NAfME Collegiate chapter advisors.

Steve Kelly is a Professor of Music Education at the College of Music at Florida State University. He received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in music from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and his Ph.D. in music education from the University of Kansas. At FSU, he teaches undergraduate and graduate music education classes, coordinates the music education internship program, and directs the FSU Summer Music Camps. Prior to his appointment at FSU, Steve taught in the Virginia public schools and on the faculties at Brevard College in North Carolina and the University of Nebraska in Omaha. He is an active clinician, adjudicator, consultant and guest conductor, has published and presented numerous research papers, served on several journal review boards, and is the author of the book Teaching Music in American Society: A Social and Cultural Understanding of Music Education.

Katrina Cox began her career as the Director of Choral Activities and Drama at Centralia High School in Southern Illinois, where she created a wide array of music course curricula, conducted a variety of ensembles, and directed a multitude of theatrical productions. As Assistant Professor of Choral Music Education at the University of Nebraska in Omaha, she teaches undergraduate and graduate music education and research courses, directs the Treble University and Nebraska Medical Choirs, supervises practicum students and clinical teachers, advises undergraduate music education majors, and serves as faculty advisor for the UNO student chapter of NAfME. Her research interests center on conductor, teacher, and collaborative expertise, community engagement in music, and impacts of instructional strategies on student performance outcomes. She maintains an active schedule presenting her research regionally, nationally, and internationally, and providing professional development for in-service teachers locally and nationally.

Michelle S. McConkey is an Associate Professor of Music Education at California State University in Chico, where she teaches courses in music education, aural musicianship, and music for children for liberal studies students. Michelle received her doctorate from Arizona State University, a Masters of Music at Brigham Young University, and a Bachelor of Music from the Crane School of Music at the State University of New York in Potsdam, all in music education. Michelle has taught children for more 20 years, nine years in public and private schools in New York State, Utah, and Arizona. She has completed Kodàly certification and has presented professional development workshops and research sessions at various state, national, and international conferences. Michelle’s research interest includes the health and wellness of undergraduate music education students, the music teacher’s role in the emotional development of children, and social emotional learning. She is the author of Social Emotional Learning for the Pre-service and In-service Music Teacher: Your Wellbeing Matters.

Lorelei Batisla-ong (BM, Southwest Texas State University; MM Instrumental Conducting, Texas State University; Ph.D. Music and Human Learning, The University of Texas at Austin) is Assistant Professor of General Music Education at the Peck School of the Arts, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Lorelei taught elementary music in San Antonio and Austin public schools for 14 years, in addition to teaching Music Education courses at UT Austin, University of the Incarnate Word, and Anderson University for five years. Prior to teaching at UWM, Lorelei worked with music education students at Baldwin Wallace University outside of Cleveland, Ohio.

Ben Reyes, Senior Manager of Member Programs for the National Association for Music Education, is an eastern North Carolina native and joins the team with a varied background in music education. After serving as a high school and middle school band director, Ben’s most recent appointment was that of Academic Advisor for the East Carolina University School of Music where he advised more than 200 music majors across multiple programs. Throughout his graduate studies, Ben assisted with the operations of ECU’s athletics band, including the 200+ member ECU Marching Pirates and ECU Basketball Pep Band.

NAfME presents this live virtual event at no charge to all as a service to the music education profession. To register, you must enter your NAfME member information or create a nonmember account. After registering, check your email for instructions. A recording of this program will be available to all registrants for one week following the live event. Members can also view archived NAfME webinars in the NAfME Academy.

The views expressed are those of the presenter; they do not necessarily reflect the views of NAfME.