Meet Our Doctoral Students
Ruth Aguirre
Ed.D. Student, Music and Music Education
Dissertation Advisor: Lori Custodero
Latinx Students in Higher Education
Diversity, Anti-Racism, Social Justice
Student Advocacy
University Music Teacher Education
Elementary Music Education
Instrumental Music Education
Research Discipline/Bio
Latinx Faculty in Higher Education
Latinx Students in Higher Education
Diversity, Anti-Racism, Social Justice
Student Advocacy
University Music Teacher Education
Elementary Music Education
Instrumental Music Education
Educational Background
Doctor of Education, Music and Music Education, Teachers College, Expected 2024
Master of Education, Music and Music Education, Teachers College, 2024
Master of Music, Texas A&M University-Kingsville, 2007
Bachelor of Music, Texas State University, 1999
Honors/Awards
Evalyn Edwards Milman Music Fellowship, Teachers College, 2024; Key Woman in Education Award, Delta Kappa Gamma Society International - Beta Chapter, 2021; SphinxConnect Fellowship Recipient, The Sphinx Organization, 2020; Provost’s Grant for Conference Presentation & Professional Development, Teachers College, 2019; Graduate Student Scholarship, Mountain Lake Colloquium, 2019; Diversity Grant, Teachers College 2017-2018
Florence K. Geffen Fellowship, Teachers College, 2016-2019.
Publications/Exhibitions
Aguirre, R. (2025) - Music Educators Journal (in press)
Article: “Building Cross-Linguistic Connections in la Clase de Música”
Last Updated: Oct 31, 2024
Denise Apodaca
Ed.D.C.T. Student, Music and Music Education
Research Discipline/Bio
Denise Favela Apodaca is an Instructor at Teachers College, Columbia University and a Master Instructor at Colorado State University and has performed as a soloist and chamber musician across the United States. Showcasing her expertise in Latin American music, she has given numerous concerts in both Mexico and the U.S. She has also served as an adjudicator for various regional music teachers' associations and has led workshops on topics such as piano technology, pedagogy, performance, and early childhood music. Her research interests focus on healing-centered education, trauma-informed teaching, as well as First Generation and Chicana studies.
Educational Background
Denise Apodaca earned her Bachelor of Music from the University of California and holds two Master of Music degrees—one in Piano Performance and another in Piano Pedagogy—from Northwestern University. Additionally, she has a Master of Education in Music and Music Education from Teachers College, Columbia University, New York. As a first-generation student, she is currently pursuing a Doctor of Education in College Teaching, Music and Music at Teachers College, Columbia University.
Honors/Awards
Denise Apodaca was awarded the Best Teacher of the Year Award in 2016 and nominated for a GRAMMY Music Educator Award. She received the College of Liberal Arts Excellence in Teaching Award and the Colorado State University Honors Professor of the Year title. Additionally, she earned the College of Liberal Arts Outstanding Service Award, is a Nationally Certified Teacher of Music (NCTM), and is a Distinguished Honorary Member of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars (NSCS).
Last Updated: Oct 13, 2024
Dillon Beede
Ed.D.C.T. Student, Music and Music Education
His current research focuses on the intersections of pedagogy, policy, and identity in trans and gender-expansive choral spaces. He has presented his research at the Pennsylvania Music Education Association Conference, College Music Society Northeast Chapter Conference, the 5th Symposium for LGBTQ Studies & Music Education, and at the 9th Social Impact of Music Making Conference in Copenhagen, Denmark.
Research Discipline/Bio
Dillon Beede currently serves as Director of Choirs at Wilson College and Artistic Director of the Harrisburg Gay Men's Chorus. He earned a BM from Hastings College and an MM in Voice Performance and Vocal Pedagogy at Westminster Choir College. While at Westminster, Dillon performed with the Westminster Symphonic Choir and studied voice with the late Julian Rodescu and Dr. Christopher Arneson. His graduate voice research studied the effects of musical exercises in combination with Stemple’s vocal function exercises for voice feminization.
His current research focuses on the intersections of pedagogy, policy, and identity in trans and gender-expansive choral spaces. He has presented his research at the Pennsylvania Music Education Association Conference, College Music Society Northeast Chapter Conference, the 5th Symposium for LGBTQ Studies & Music Education, and at the 9th Social Impact of Music Making Conference in Copenhagen, Denmark.
Educational Background
Master of Education, Music and Music Education, Teachers College, 2024
Master of Music, Vocal Performance and Vocal Pedagogy, Westminster Choir College of Rider University, 2014
Bachelor of Music, Vocal Performance, Hastings College, 2011
Honors/Awards
Dr. Beate A. Schiwek Memorial Prize, Research Stipend, Wilson College
Florence K Gelfen Scholarship, Teachers College
RM Burrows Memorial Scholarship, Teachers College
Last Updated: Sep 30, 2024
Ryan LaBoy (He/Him/His)
Ed.D. Student, Music and Music Education
Previous appointments include Director of Choirs & Voice at North Hennepin Community College and Founding Music Director of ComMUSICation – an El Sistema-inspired music program focused on social justice and youth empowerment. Such opportunities led him to work with several Grammy Award-winning musicians, including the Minnesota Orchestra and Leslie Odom, Jr. (Super Bowl LII).
Research Discipline/Bio
Ryan José LaBoy is a passionate music educator and conductor currently serving as Artistic Director of both Berkshire Children’s Chorus and Berkshire Concert Choir. His research is located at the intersection of community music and public health with a particular interest in the social impact of music making, arts and health, and the advent of Social Prescribing in the United States. As a practitioner, Ryan regularly engages singers from ages 8-80 in creative and highly collaborative concert programming that is both reflective of and responsive to the community in which it is made.
Previous appointments include Director of Choirs & Voice at North Hennepin Community College and Founding Music Director of ComMUSICation – an El Sistema-inspired music program focused on social justice and youth empowerment. Such opportunities led him to work with several Grammy Award-winning musicians, including the Minnesota Orchestra and Leslie Odom, Jr. (Super Bowl LII).
Educational Background
Master of Music, Choral Conducting, University of Minnesota Twin Cities, 2015
Bachelor of Music, Music Education, Westminster Choir College of Rider University, 2010
Honors/Awards
BIPOC Scholarship, Point Foundation, 2023
R.M. Burrows Memorial Scholarship, Teachers College, 2023
Elin J. Stene Fund Scholarship, Teachers College, 2023
Last Updated: Nov 2, 2024
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If you are a currently enrolled doctoral student at Teachers College, please visit the profile submission page for more information on how you can create your own profile.