معرفی
Dr. Michael Buckles serves as Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs while maintaining his faculty appointment as Professor of Music at McNeese State University, where he has been a core academic figure since 2002. Previously leading the W.A. and Dorothy Hanna Department of Performing Arts from 2011-2017, he successfully navigated National Association of Schools of Music accreditation and secured $25,000 in endowed faculty development funds.
His educational foundation includes a Doctor of Musical Arts from Louisiana State University, Master of Music from the Cleveland Institute of Music, and Bachelor of Arts in Music from Tulane University. These qualifications underpin his dual expertise in academic administration and performance artistry.
Dr. Buckles' professional focus centers on violin performance and innovative music education methodologies, particularly through community engagement. He established McNeese's National String Project Consortium site—a $10,000 grant-funded initiative making it Louisiana's sole participant among 40 national universities—specializing in accessible string instrument instruction for underserved communities. His approach integrates performance pedagogy with service-learning principles, evidenced by his UL System Service-Learning Council membership.
His recognition includes:
- McNeese President’s Award for Outstanding Community Service
Dr. Buckles has secured significant external funding including the National String Project grant and previously served as university service-learning coordinator. His leadership extends to board positions with the F.G. Bulber Youth Orchestra and Our Lady Queen of Heaven Catholic School, demonstrating commitment to arts education beyond campus boundaries.
As an active performer, he maintains concertmaster roles with the Lake Charles Symphony and principal violin positions in multiple regional ensembles including the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra, bridging academic scholarship with professional artistry through regular collaborations with the Lake Charles Civic Ballet and Louisiana Choral Foundation.
