John Michael McCluskey

Dr. John Michael McCluskey is currently the Interim Dean of the School of Fine and Performing Arts and a Tenured Associate Professor of Music at Shorter University. He previously taught at Transylvania University and the University of Kentucky before joining Shorter's faculty. His roles include teaching courses on Western music history, world musics, and interdisciplinary music studies.

• Education:
  • Ph.D. and M.A. in Musicology and Ethnomusicology, University of Kentucky
  • Bachelor’s degree in Music Education, Lee University

Dr. McCluskey's research explores intersections between music and cultural phenomena. Key areas include:

• Music's role in American college football
• Relationships between music and religious experiences
• Commercial music dynamics
• Music's integration into video games

His publications in American Music and Journal of the Society for American Music demonstrate engagement with musicological and ethnomusicological frameworks. Conference presentations span international, national, and regional levels, showcasing his interdisciplinary approach.

Professional affiliations include:

• Society for American Music (SAM): Website Committee member, former Layout Editor for SAM Bulletin
• Society for Ethnomusicology (SEM): Active member
• American Musicological Society (AMS): Past-President of South-Central chapter, former Vice-President and Program Committee Chair

His scholarly work combines archival research with ethnographic methods, particularly evident in his dissertation on music in American college football. Current projects likely expand on music's performative and symbolic functions in contemporary cultural contexts.