CPA Advisory Council
CPA Advisory Council
College of Performing Arts Advisory Council
The Rowan University College of Performing Arts is recognized as a leading, highly competitive college of dance, music, and theatre that is committed to transforming our world through the performing arts. Continued enhancements related to faculty, curriculum, students, staff, and funding enable the college to advance its mission and achieve its goals to prepare students to engage the world as artists. The College of Performing Arts Advisory Council is an important and valuable resource in supporting our efforts.
The College of Performing Arts Advisory Council is the primary advisory body to the college. It is made up of a diverse group of individuals who are selected to advise the dean and assist the faculty in assuring the college experience is grounded in the reality of the practice of dance, music, and theatre.
Board members serve, individually and collectively, as advisors and ambassadors for the College of Performing Arts and as counselors to faculty and students as opportunities arise. Council members are leaders in demonstrating financial commitment to the college, and they are visibly active in the major events in the life of the school.
Pamela Brant is the President of Symphony in C, where she leads the administrative operations, providing an environment where artistic and educational excellence can flourish. Prior to her position with the Symphony, Pamela served as the Director of Development and Marketing at a large performing arts center. Pamela studied Business Administration at Messiah College in Grantham, Pennsylvania. She has a certification in Real Estate from Burlington County College, is a graduate of Rutgers Institute for Ethical Leadership’s Nonprofit Executive Fellows program and a Lead NJ Class of 2016 fellow. Pamela serves as Co-Chair of Visit South Jersey, Treasurer of South Jersey Cultural Alliance, Chair of Jersey Arts Marketers South, Grant Finance Chair of Impact 100 SJ, Chair of Thrive Statewide Arts Conference, and a member of Rowan University’s College of Performing Arts Advisory Council.
Melvin Breedin
Radar Live was founded in 2012 by visionary, music and sports entertainment mogul Melvin “Mel-Man” Breeden. Breeden, the CEO of Radar Live / Big Cat Records—well known for his production credits & Music Business acumen has launched many successful artists including, Foreign Jade, Eminem, Pretty Ricky, Country music star Kurt Thomas, Gospel Grammy winner Canton Jones, Love & Hip Hop's Rasheeda, FreeBandz, reggae Super Star Buju Banton and 1017 CEO, Gucci Mane.
Dr. Jim Frankel is the Head of Digital Education for Wise Music and Director of MusicFirst. Previously, he was the Managing Director of SoundTree, and before that he was the instrumental and general music teacher for 15 years in New Jersey Public Schools. Jim is a widely published author in various state, national and international journals of music education. He is the author of The Teachers Guide to Music, Media & Copyright Law, co-author of YouTube in Music Education, contributing author for Critical Issues in Music Education and co-author of Making Music with GarageBand & Mixcraft. In addition to his writing, Jim is a highly sought-after clinician and keynote speaker in the local, national and international music education community. He is on the Board of Directors for TI:ME and is the past president of ATMI.
Robert B. Morrison has an extensive history as a supporter of music and arts education and is widely recognized as one of the nation’s leading researchers and advocates for arts education. He is the founder and CEO of Quadrant Research, the nation’s preeminent arts education data analytics and market research firm. His leadership in research, public policy, and advocacy efforts have led to significant advancements in access to music and arts education programs in America. Quadrant Research is the lead partner on the National Arts Education Data Project. Morrison also serves as the Director of Arts Ed NJ, the statewide arts education policy group for New Jersey where he also served as managing partner for the groundbreaking New Jersey Arts Education Census Project, completing the first statewide census for arts education in every school building. Through this work, New Jersey has emerged as the leading state for arts education in the country. Under his leadership, Arts Ed NJ just launched the Center for Arts Education and Social Emotional Learning to highlight the powerful intersections between the two fields. Mr. Morrison’s advocacy work has earned him both a Prime-Time EMMY and a Peabody Award. He received an honorary doctorate from the State University of New York for his work nationally to advance music and arts education for all children. Morrison is considered to be one of the nation’s leading experts in addressing how the music classroom can be a place for social and emotional growth.
Bill Roberts received his education at Harvard University (AB, cum laude, 1967) and the University of Pennsylvania Law School (JD, 1970). He was recognized in 2021–2022 by the Antitrust Law in Philadelphia and was listed in The Best Lawyers in America ©. His Non-Profit Board Activities include the following: Vice President of the Marlboro Music School & Festival, Tempesta di Mare Philadelphia Baroque Chamber Orchestra, Philadelphia Chamber Music Society, Counselor of the Musical Fund Society, Executive Committee of the Philadelphia Botanical Club, Research Asdociate in the Botany Department at the Academy of Natural Sciences, Chair of the Harvard Review of Philosophy, Advisory Board of Rowan University's Performing Arts Division, Former President of the Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia, Trustee of the Executive Committee, Chair of the Education and Accreditation Committee of the Curtis, and the Institute of Music.
Cori Solomon
Dean Richard Dammers - Staff Liaison
Rick Dammers is the Dean of the College of Performing Arts and Professor of Music Education at Rowan University. Prior to becoming Dean, Rick served as Chair of the Music Department, and led the university-wide tenure and recontracting committee. During his time as chair, the music department grew in student enrollment, faculty size, and external funding. He continues to teach courses in technology-based music education, as well as the Exploring Medicine through Musical Composition selective course at Cooper Medical School at Rowan University. In addition to his duties as Dean, his research interests include comprehensive musicianship and technology in music education, and he co-facilitates the NAMM funded TI:ME Music Technology Leadership Academy, a national program for undergraduate and graduate music education students. Before to teaching at Rowan, Rick was a music teacher (band and technology) and the Fine Arts Facilitator in the Ladue School District in suburban St. Louis for 13 years. He earned a Bachelor of Music Education from Northwestern University; and a Masters and PhD in Music Education from the University of Illinois. He is a member of Phi Mu Alpha, Phi Beta Mu, and is an honorary Friends of the Arts member of Sigma Alpha Iota.