Wendy Sims

Dr. Wendy Sims is the Curators’ Distinguished Teaching Professor and Director of Music Education at the University of Missouri in Columbia, MO. She received bachelor’s and master’s degrees in music education from Kent State University, and a doctorate in music education from Florida State University. A specialist in early childhood and elementary music education, teacher preparation, and research, she teaches a variety of undergraduate and graduate music education courses, advises bachelor’s and master’s degree students, and supervises doctoral student programs and research.

Wendy is an active researcher and writer, with numerous articles appearing in national and international journals, and a long record of presentations of research sessions and workshops at state, national, and international conferences. She is a past editor of the Journal of Research in Music Education, previously chaired the Society for Research in Music Education Executive Committee, serves as the Research Chair for the Missouri Music Educators Association, and is an Editor of the Missouri Journal of Research in Music Education. Wendy has been an active leader of the International Society for Music Education (ISME), serving as a commission chair, publications chair, and member of the board. She is the recipient of several prestigious teaching and research awards, including the Kemper Fellowship for Excellence in Teaching, Missouri Governor’s Award for Teaching Excellence, the NAfME Senior Researcher Award, and ISME Honorary Life Membership.

Wendy participated in the data collection for the Blueprint and has served on the Music Teacher Profession Advisory Committee since its inception. She co-chaired one of the working groups, and in November 2025 was asked to fill a vacancy as co-chair of the committee for the remainder of that term, and to continue in that position for the 2026-2028 term.