Renee Gaarder

Dr. Renee Gaarder is an academic administrator and lecturer at Purdue University's College of Liberal Arts, holding roles as Academic Program Manager, Scholarship Coordinator, and Schedule Deputy for the Cornerstone Integrated Liberal Arts program. She concurrently serves as a Limited Term Lecturer.

Her educational background includes:

• Ph.D. in History, Purdue University (2019)
• M.A. in History, Purdue University (2014)
• M.A. in Musicology, Brigham Young University (2012)
• B.A. in Music History and Literature, University of Idaho (2006)

Her research examines the interplay of music, popular culture, and identity formation within historical contexts. Key areas include American cultural history, musicology, and the sociopolitical role of music programs like the Federal Music Project—the focus of her dissertation exploring Midwest regional impacts during the 1930s-1940s.