Our Commitment
to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

 

Organizations

Student Diversity and Inclusion Organization

The LSU School of Music Student Diversity and Inclusion Organization (SDIO) is committed to cultivating a safe learning environment for all music students regardless of identity. We are motivated to support our students by creating a space for creative thought and dialogue that encourages any who wish to pursue a career in music.

Co-Chairs

Weston Lewis
(MM Wind Conducting)

Dali Calo
(BA Music Education)

Mentorship Committee

Carla Salas-Ruiz
(PhD Music Education)

Kayla Ramos
(BA Music Education)

Callie Ancelet
(BA Music Education)

 

Social Media Committee

David Walters
(DMA, Choral Conducting)

Tia Young
(BA Music)

Charity Thomas
(BS, Marketing) 

Futures and Initiatives Committee

Weston Lewis
(MM Wind Conducting)

Robert Tobias
(Alumni)

 

At-Large

Ethan Archer
(BA Music Education)

Joshua Burgos
(MM Music Education)

Futures and Initiatives Committee

Weston Lewis
(MM Wind Conducting)

Robert Tobias
(Alumni)

About

The Student Diversity and Inclusion Mentorship Committee works to provide a positive, helpful, safe, and welcoming environment to musicians of all backgrounds in the LSU School of Music. We offer the following for current, prospective, transfer, and international students:

One-on-One Mentoring

  • Students will meet bi-weekly with their mentor to discuss a variety of topics including classes, college life, identities, etc.

Personal and Academic Development

  • Mentors will work with students to embrace the best versions of themselves as students, musicians, and people.

Community Support

  • Mentors will work with mentees to ensure that they feel comfortable and safe within the LSU School of Music Community. Mentors will assist in any concerns that students may have regarding their identity.

How To Apply

To apply to join the program, click the button below to fill out a brief form. For the time being, we are only accepting a few students at a time, so it may take some time before we are able to reach out to each applicant. Despite this, we strongly encourage all students to apply!

Mentorship Program Application

 

Inclusion Diversity Equity Alliance

As a catalyst for real change, the Inclusion Diversity Equity Alliance (IDEAL) challenges every member of the School of Music community to prioritize Culture, Community, and Curriculum in creating a more just society, one in which difference is valued and all individuals have an equal opportunity to flourish.

Jesse Allison
Associate Professor, Experimental Music & Digital Media

Jason Bowers
Instructor, Music Education

James Byo
Director, School of Music

Trey Davis
Associate Professor, Associate Director of Choral Studies

Laurence Hebert
Instructor, LSU Gospel Choir

Kelvin Jones
Assistant Director of Bands, Director of Tiger Band

Steve Koivisto
Instrument Technician

Tim Love
Executive Assistant to the Dean

Alison McFarland
Associate Professor, Musicology

Amy Trahan
Business Manager

A just society reveals itself in actions that are moral, fair, impartial, and fully informed.

Individuals flourish when human dignity is the driver of action. They flourish in a culture imbued with respect, optimism, opportunity, and collaboration. Human flourishing persists in contexts free of barriers to it.

An inclusive, diverse, and equitable society values a full range of human qualities including but not limited to race, ethnicity, religion, class, sexual orientation, gender identity, ability, disability, experience, and perspective.

Implemented with School, Academic Area, and Individual Accountability

Nurture a Culture of Inclusion

  • Take responsibility for eliminating bias and oppression
  • Develop support mechanisms to ensure a fair shake for all students
  • Prioritize positive relationship-building

 

Diversify the Community

  • Diversify faculty and staff through revised university policy on hiring
  • Diversify the student population by engaging underrepresented peoples

 

Expand and Diversify the Curriculum

  • Interrogate our curricula and pedagogical processes
  • Increase relevance

James Byo
Director, LSU School of Music
jbyo@lsu.edu
(225) 578-4905

 

Campus Resources

The Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (ODEI) is a division of the Office of Academic Affairs committed to fostering inclusive educational opportunities and an equitable workforce environment at LSU.

Visit the ODEI Website

The Office of Multicultural Affairs (OMA), a unit of the Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, creates an environment at LSU that embraces individual difference, advocates for social justice and cultivates a campus atmosphere of inclusion.

Visit the OMA Website

Located within the Student Health Center, the Mental Health Service (MHS) provides clinical services that enhance LSU students' personal growth and development, address psychological needs, and support the pursuit of academic goals. MHS staff includes licensed professionals and graduate students from the fields of clinical psychology, clinical social work, professional counseling and psychiatry.

Visit the Mental Health Service Website

As part of the Office of Multicultural Affairs, the LSU LGBTQ+ Project provides educational opportunities, ongoing professional development, and programming for students, staff, faculty, and administration with attention to the unique challenges that lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning (LGBTQ+) individuals and their allies often encounter.

Visit the Project Website

 

School of Music Diversity Data

AY 2019 - 2020

  Undergraduate (261 Total) Graduate (160 Total)
Black 24 (9%) 15 (9%)
Asian 11 (4%) 19 (12%)
Hispanic 25 (10%) 28 (18%)
White 196 (75%) 86 (54%)
Other 5 (2%) 11 (7%)
     
Female 111 (43%) 77 (48%)

 

 

AY 2018 - 2019

  Undergraduate (275 Total) Graduate (143 Total)
Black 24 (9%) 10 (7%)
Asian 12 (4%) 21 (15%)
Hispanic 29 (11%) 25 (17%)
White 205 (74%) 79 (55%)
Other 5 (2%) 8 (6%)
     
Female 110 (40%) 62 (43%)