Shenandoah Conservatory announces the appointment of Maevon Gumble ’27 (Doctor of Musical Arts in Pedagogy – Voice), M.M.T., MT-BC, LPC, as assistant professor of music therapy beginning in August 2026. In this role, Gumble will teach undergraduate and graduate music therapy courses, advise students and supervise clinical training while contributing to the conservatory’s collaborative faculty community and advancing innovative approaches to music therapy education.

“Having personally grown within Shenandoah University’s community over the past several years, I am thrilled to officially plant my roots in the music therapy program,” said Gumble. “It is an absolute privilege to continue supporting the success and well-being of our students while collaborating with a compassionate, dedicated team of colleagues to shape the future of the field.”

Gumble is a board-certified music therapist and licensed professional counselor whose work centers on the intersections of gender, sexuality, identity, voice, embodiment, trauma and mental health. They completed a Bachelor of Music in Music Therapy with a Gender Studies minor (2016) and a Master of Music Therapy with a Counseling Endorsement (2019) at Slippery Rock University (Pennsylvania), and are a Doctor of Musical Arts in Pedagogy (Voice) candidate at Shenandoah University. As a co-developer of the Liberatory Music Therapy Model of Gender Affirming Voicework, they co-created the first training program of its kind to support music therapists in learning how to facilitate this work. In 2021, Gumble was awarded the Benedikte Scheiby Innovative Spirit Award by the Mid-Atlantic Region of the American Music Therapy Association, specifically for their accomplishments, passion and dedication to the individuals they work alongside. Gumble has published and presented regionally and nationally on topics related to gender affirming voicework, vocal pedagogy and queering music therapy practice and serves on the editorial team for Voices: A World Forum for Music Therapy, a journal that invites interdisciplinary and global dialogue about music, health and social change with a focus on inclusiveness, socio-cultural awareness and social justice. Their current research interests center on perceptual listening competency development for music therapists learning how to facilitate gender affirming voicework.

“Maevon has played a vital role in the music therapy program for the past two years, most recently as a visiting assistant professor teaching undergraduate and graduate courses,” said Director of Music Therapy, Coordinator of Graduate Music Therapy and Professor of Music Therapy Anthony Meadows, Ph.D. “They bring a range of clinical and professional experiences that complement our faculty and enrich student learning. Of particular note are the ways their work intersects with the voice division and their efforts to create interdisciplinary collaborations with our colleagues in the health professions. I’m so excited for the year ahead and the ways Maevon will build upon their work to create new partnerships and teaching opportunities.”

Gumble was previously appointed visiting assistant professor of music therapy at Shenandoah Conservatory in August 2025. They began teaching at the conservatory as an adjunct assistant professor of voice in January 2025 where they conducted weekly applied voice lessons with undergraduate voice students to develop an increased level of vocal function and singing technique in both classical and CCM styles, and also supported end-of-semester juries, recitals and related performances.