Scott Spencer

Scott Spencer serves as Assistant Professor in Musicology at the University of Southern California, where he directs the Preserving the Legacy initiative at the USC Shoah Foundation. His academic journey includes prior appointments as Mellon Regional Faculty Fellow at the University of Pennsylvania (2012-2013), Visiting Research Fellow at the National University of Ireland, Galway (2010-2011), and teaching roles at Trinity College Dublin, Rensselaer Polytechnic, Drew University, and Villanova University.

He earned his PhD in Ethnomusicology from New York University in 2010, building on foundational work with oral history archives at NYU and CUNY.

Spencer's research critically examines intersections of oral tradition and digital technology, with concentrated expertise in Irish traditional music and American balladry. His investigations extend to sonic design in cultural institutions, analyzing how museums represent indigenous heritage through soundscapes. A recurring theme explores technology's role in sustaining musical traditions across diaspora communities, particularly through recording practices and digital networks.

His publication trajectory reveals consistent ethnomusicological rigor across Irish and American folk traditions, emphasizing historical recording technologies, transnational music migration, and contemporary digital preservation. Museum sound studies form a distinct thread, highlighting representation ethics in cultural heritage spaces.

Key recognitions include:

• Mellon Regional Faculty Fellow, Penn Humanities Forum (2012-2013)
• Irish American Cultural Institute’s Visiting Research Fellowship (2010-2011)

No formal student advising roles or external research grants beyond fellowship appointments are documented in source materials.

At USC, Spencer leads the Preserving the Legacy initiative, leveraging oral history methodologies to safeguard cultural narratives through digital archiving frameworks developed from his ethnomusicology expertise.