Our Commitment
to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Organizations
Student Diversity and Inclusion Organization
The LSU School of Music Student Diversity and Inclusion Organization (SDIO) is committed to cultivating a safe learning environment for all music students regardless of identity. We are motivated to support our students by creating a space for creative thought and dialogue that encourages any who wish to pursue a career in music.
Co-Chairs
Weston Lewis
(MM Wind Conducting)
Dali Calo
(BA Music Education)
Mentorship Committee
Carla Salas-Ruiz
(PhD Music Education)
Kayla Ramos
(BA Music Education)
Callie Ancelet
(BA Music Education)
Social Media Committee
David Walters
(DMA, Choral Conducting)
Tia Young
(BA Music)
Charity Thomas
(BS, Marketing)
Futures and Initiatives Committee
Weston Lewis
(MM Wind Conducting)
Robert Tobias
(Alumni)
At-Large
Ethan Archer
(BA Music Education)
Joshua Burgos
(MM Music Education)
Futures and Initiatives Committee
Weston Lewis
(MM Wind Conducting)
Robert Tobias
(Alumni)
About
The Student Diversity and Inclusion Mentorship Committee works to provide a positive, helpful, safe, and welcoming environment to musicians of all backgrounds in the LSU School of Music. We offer the following for current, prospective, transfer, and international students:
One-on-One Mentoring
- Students will meet bi-weekly with their mentor to discuss a variety of topics including classes, college life, identities, etc.
Personal and Academic Development
- Mentors will work with students to embrace the best versions of themselves as students, musicians, and people.
Community Support
- Mentors will work with mentees to ensure that they feel comfortable and safe within the LSU School of Music Community. Mentors will assist in any concerns that students may have regarding their identity.
How To Apply
To apply to join the program, click the button below to fill out a brief form. For the time being, we are only accepting a few students at a time, so it may take some time before we are able to reach out to each applicant. Despite this, we strongly encourage all students to apply!
Inclusion Diversity Equity Alliance
As a catalyst for real change, the Inclusion Diversity Equity Alliance (IDEAL) challenges every member of the School of Music community to prioritize Culture, Community, and Curriculum in creating a more just society, one in which difference is valued and all individuals have an equal opportunity to flourish.
Jesse Allison
Associate Professor, Experimental Music & Digital Media
Jason Bowers
Instructor, Music Education
James Byo
Director, School of Music
Trey Davis
Associate Professor, Associate Director of Choral Studies
Laurence Hebert
Instructor, LSU Gospel Choir
Kelvin Jones
Assistant Director of Bands, Director of Tiger Band
Steve Koivisto
Instrument Technician
Tim Love
Executive Assistant to the Dean
Alison McFarland
Associate Professor, Musicology
Amy Trahan
Business Manager
A just society reveals itself in actions that are moral, fair, impartial, and fully informed.
Individuals flourish when human dignity is the driver of action. They flourish in a culture imbued with respect, optimism, opportunity, and collaboration. Human flourishing persists in contexts free of barriers to it.
An inclusive, diverse, and equitable society values a full range of human qualities including but not limited to race, ethnicity, religion, class, sexual orientation, gender identity, ability, disability, experience, and perspective.
Implemented with School, Academic Area, and Individual Accountability
Nurture a Culture of Inclusion
- Take responsibility for eliminating bias and oppression
- Develop support mechanisms to ensure a fair shake for all students
- Prioritize positive relationship-building
Diversify the Community
- Diversify faculty and staff through revised university policy on hiring
- Diversify the student population by engaging underrepresented peoples
Expand and Diversify the Curriculum
- Interrogate our curricula and pedagogical processes
- Increase relevance
James Byo
Director, LSU School of Music
jbyo@lsu.edu
(225) 578-4905
Campus Resources
The Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (ODEI) is a division of the Office of Academic Affairs committed to fostering inclusive educational opportunities and an equitable workforce environment at LSU.
The Office of Multicultural Affairs (OMA), a unit of the Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, creates an environment at LSU that embraces individual difference, advocates for social justice and cultivates a campus atmosphere of inclusion.
Located within the Student Health Center, the Mental Health Service (MHS) provides clinical services that enhance LSU students' personal growth and development, address psychological needs, and support the pursuit of academic goals. MHS staff includes licensed professionals and graduate students from the fields of clinical psychology, clinical social work, professional counseling and psychiatry.
As part of the Office of Multicultural Affairs, the LSU LGBTQ+ Project provides educational opportunities, ongoing professional development, and programming for students, staff, faculty, and administration with attention to the unique challenges that lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning (LGBTQ+) individuals and their allies often encounter.
School of Music Diversity Data
AY 2019 - 2020
Undergraduate (261 Total) | Graduate (160 Total) | |
---|---|---|
Black | 24 (9%) | 15 (9%) |
Asian | 11 (4%) | 19 (12%) |
Hispanic | 25 (10%) | 28 (18%) |
White | 196 (75%) | 86 (54%) |
Other | 5 (2%) | 11 (7%) |
Female | 111 (43%) | 77 (48%) |
AY 2018 - 2019
Undergraduate (275 Total) | Graduate (143 Total) | |
---|---|---|
Black | 24 (9%) | 10 (7%) |
Asian | 12 (4%) | 21 (15%) |
Hispanic | 29 (11%) | 25 (17%) |
White | 205 (74%) | 79 (55%) |
Other | 5 (2%) | 8 (6%) |
Female | 110 (40%) | 62 (43%) |