Dr. Donna Emmanuel
About me
My roots are in poverty, my work ethic inspired by an independent self-sufficient mountain perspective, and my tenacity a result of struggle followed by achievement. I am passionate about learning and teaching, pushing myself towards excellence, and refuse to give up on any client, regardless of the circumstances.
Bio
Dr. Donna Emmanuel came to higher education via a circuitous path starting in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. Being born into poverty, she later sought out working with students who are outsiders in any way. She taught in inner-city and urban schools, including downtown Detroit. In addition, her background in the world of music business, public relations, and marketing also helped form her philosophy, impact her teaching and scholarship, and helps drive her passion for service.
Dr. Emmanuel is retired faculty emerita in music education at the University of North Texas, where she taught undergraduate and graduate courses, chaired doctoral dissertations, started UNT’s first mariachi, served two years as chair of the university faculty senate, and was appointed by the President of the University to the UNT Division of Community Engagement.
With her latest publication a chapter in a text on trauma and music education, she delved into the scholarly and practical worlds of trauma and moral injury. Given the results of the recent pandemic, she focuses much of her work on supporting teachers through their own trauma and helping them nurture their students through their own traumatic experiences.
Dr. Emmanuel’s interests and scholarship focus on intercultural competence, community engagement, trauma, urban education, study abroad experiences, the role of mariachi in the United States, the development of presence, and the use of multiple art forms in developing self-awareness.
Some of Dr. Emmanuel’s Work
BOOK CHAPTERS
“Multiple Wounds, Liminality, and Crisis: Exploring Arts Based Approaches for Trauma, PTSD, and Grief”
Chapter in (Bradley & Hess) Trauma and Resilience in Music Education
“Community Music through Authentic Engagement: The Algría of Mariachi”
Chapter submitted in (Veblen, Silverman, & Elliot, Eds.) Community Music Today
“Globalizing Music Education a Contextual Approach to Developing Students’ Intercultural Competence”
Chapter in (Schmidt, M., Ed.) Collaborative Action for Change: Selected proceedings from the 2007 Symposium on Music Teacher Education, p. 71-86.
“Voices from the City: Choral Programs in Urban Settings”
Chapter in (Holt, M. and Jordan, J., Eds.) The School Choral Program: Philosophy, Planning, Organizing, and Teaching, p. 441-469
“A Collaborative Project Between Elementary Music Students in Urban Dallas and Music Education Undergraduates”
Chapter in (Frierson-Campbell, Ed.) Teaching Music in the Urban Classroom, Volume 1
“Cultural Clashes: The Complexity of Identifying Urban Culture”
Chapter in (Frierson-Campbell, Ed.) Teaching Music in the Urban Classroom, Volume 2
JOURNALS – REFERRED
“Developing Intercultural Competence: A Music Education Immersion Internship”
From the International Journal of Music Education, 23(1)
“An Immersion Field Experience: An Undergraduate Music Education Course in Intercultural Competence”
From the Journal for Music Teacher Education, 3(1), 33-41
PRESENTATIONS
“Reconceptualizing Community Engagement: An Ecology of Wholeness”
Mayday International Conference, Limerick, Ireland
“Teaching for Change: Social Justice in the Music Classroom”
Texas Music Educators Association Conference, San Antonio, Texas
“Knowing Self, Knowing Others: Success in Urban Settings”
Texas Music Educators Association Conference, San Antonio, Texas
“Community Engagement through the Lens of Intercultural Competence: Knowing Ourselves to Know Others”
College of Music Society National Conference, Santa Fe, New Mexico
“The Role of Mariachi in the United States”
Cross-Border Challenges and Opportunities Conference on Education and Culture, Denton, Texas
“Do I Really Want To Be A Music Teacher? The Power of Reflection in a Music Education Undergraduate Course”
Mountain Lake Symposium, Blacksburg, Virginia
“How Can Music Be Used to Engage Those Who Might Feel Marginalized within A Particular Community and How Might Marginalized Groups Use Music to Give Themselves A Voice?”
College of Music Society National Summit, Dallas, Texas
“Community Engagement Beyond Educational Institutions”
Conference for Civic Engagement through Service Learning, Dallas, Texas
“Study Abroad with Orff”
American Orff Schulwerke Association National Conference, Spokane, Washington
“Transformational Learning at the Undergraduate Level: Developing Intercultural Competence through a Study Abroad Experience”
10th International Conference on Diversity in Organizations, Communities and Nations, Belfast, Ireland
“Exploring Identity: Knowing Self, Knowing Others”
Sociology of Music Education Conference, Limerick, Ireland
These are just some of the many opportunities I have had over the years to share my wealth of knowledge and experience with colleagues from around the world.
You can download my complete curriculum vitae to explore all of my contributions to the education community throughout my career.
