A Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College (SMWC) faculty member was honored by the Great Lakes region of the American Music Therapy Association (AMTA) in March. Only one, if any, of this particular honor is given a year.
Tracy Richardson, Ph.D., dean of graduate therapy and counseling programs, was presented with the Honorary Life Award from AMTA during a virtual event. This designation is awarded to an individual residing within the Great Lakes Region who has made varied and distinguished contributions to the field of music therapy.
“It was totally unexpected, but I am grateful and appreciative,” Richardson said. “Most of us who are in this profession do it because we love music therapy, and we want to spread that. We want more people to know about it.”
“It’s a big feather in our cap,” Richardson said. “The region only gives one of these awards, some years they don’t give any. I think The Woods is seen as a pioneer in music therapy. We’ve done things bigger schools would never do, like starting a hybrid equivalency program. I think Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, being this little bitty school in the middle of the woods, is big on the map of music therapy.”
In January 2020, she became the first faculty member to be promoted to dean at The Woods for some years as the College continues its mission of academic growth. The credit helps distinguish SMWC’s program as innovative, she said.
The fact that the College has reestablished deans helps elevate the institution, she said. Although it’s a challenge, it was one she was ready for. Being dean means she is over a broader group of programs at The Woods including the music therapy and art therapy graduate programs.
“Not every school has music therapy or art therapy, so I think those are really unique things we have at The Woods,” she said.
Richardson has been with SMWC for 26 years. In 2000, she started the Master of Arts in Music Therapy. This served as one of the first graduate music therapy programs in the hybrid formats. She implemented the Music Therapy Equivalency Distance program in 2012.
She has also been thoroughly involved in the professional organization, AMTA, serving as previous president of the region and Assembly representative. She currently serves on the Competency Review Task Force and the Commission on the Education and Clinical Training of 21st Century Music Therapist.