Marilyn I. Sandness, Professor Emerita, former Coordinator of the Music Therapy Program, is a Music Therapist - Board Certified. She has been at the University of Dayton since 1974, when she developed the music therapy degree program. Prof. Sandness has a Bachelor of Music degree with Distinction in music education from the Eastman School of Music; a Master of Music degree in music therapy from the New England Conservatory of Music; and additional graduate courses in music therapy from Michigan State University. She has professional experience in both public and private psychiatric hospitals, public schools, and a community mental health agency. Her professional activities have included serving as President of the Ohio Association for Music Therapy and the Great Lakes Region of the National Association for Music Therapy. She has had numerous elected and appointed positions at the state, regional, and national levels, including her present position as Chair of the American Music Therapy Association Academic Program Approval Committeeand a member of the AMTA Education and Training Advisory Board. Her publications include journal articles in Music Therapy Perspectives; and she has presented at state, regional, national, and international conferences. In 1994 Prof. Sandness received an Honorary Life Member Award from the Great Lakes Region of NAMT for "demonstrating outstanding contributions to the field of music therapy." In 1998, she received an Honorary Life Member Award from the American Music Therapy Association for "outstanding professional contributions."