معرفی
Jessica C. Hajek serves as Assistant Professor of Music, Program Head of Music, and Chair of the Humanities & Social Science Department at Our Lady of the Lake University, dedicated to interdisciplinary research and inclusive academic leadership.
Her educational background includes:
- PhD in Musicology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
- Master of Music in Musicology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
- Master of Music, Northern Illinois University
- Bachelor of Music in Clarinet Performance, Millikin University
- Bachelor of Arts in Spanish, Millikin University
Dr. Hajek's research specializes in urban popular music of Latin America through ethnographic investigation of carnival and the Haitian diaspora in the Dominican Republic since 2009. Her work bridges sound studies, public musicology, and applied ethnomusicology while innovating inclusive music curricula and assessment methodologies to advance cultural proficiency in higher education.
Her scientific recognition features the Society for American Music's Adrienne Fried Block Fellowship, awarded as co-winner in 2018.
Committed to pedagogical excellence, she holds Cornell University's Diversity and Inclusion Certificate (2022), Gardner Institute's Humanity of Inclusive Practices Certificate (2023), and consecutive Teaching Excellence Certifications (2023-2024). As an OLLU Certified Online Course Instructor and Peer Reviewer, she implements culturally responsive teaching to foster respectful, engaging learning environments that prioritize student connection and academic growth.
Outside academia, she performs clarinet with the Heart of Texas Concert Band and enjoys salsa dancing and cycling.
