Employed Since
July 1, 2025
Educational History
B.M., M.M., Ph.D., New York University
Professional Bio
Jennifer Smolos Steele is a leader, scholar, educator and artistic professional in higher education. Prior to her appointment as the dean of Shenandoah Conservatory, Steele served as the dean of the School of Visual & Performing Arts and the artistic director for the Santa Clarita Performing Arts Center at College of the Canyons in Los Angeles, California. She holds a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership & Administration, a Master of Music in Vocal Performance, an advanced certificate in Vocal Pedagogy, and Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance – all from New York University – and completed two years of training in the Actors Studio Drama School’s Master of Fine Arts in Acting Program at New School University. Before moving to Los Angeles in 2019, Steele served on the faculty at NYU and the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, and has presented masterclasses and lectures at Yale University, Tufts University, Savannah College of Art and Design, Vanderbilt University, Bucknell University, and Franklin & Marshall College. She is a proud member of SAG-AFTRA, the Actors’ Equity Association, NATS, and VASTA.
Her experience in universities, conservatories, and community colleges inspires her scholarship regarding how post-secondary visual and performing arts programs balance traditional technique and innovative practice, with important implications for theory and praxis. Steele believes that transformation lies at the heart of art, of artists and of education. Art awakens us and connects us to our history, our common humanity, and ourselves. Through the creative process, words and images on pages are transformed into works that can inspire, enlighten, entertain, and change an audience. Similarly, education is an ongoing transformative process comprising committed learners, professors, and administrators who desire to deepen their understanding of and engagement with the world around them. The interdisciplinarity of our fields requires a breadth and depth of ever-evolving styles, specific skills and tools within those styles, and a collaborative spirit. She is delighted to join the vibrant artistic and academic community at Shenandoah University!
I am incredibly honored to serve as the next dean of Shenandoah Conservatory. The institutional mission, rich history of growth, innovation, scope of programs offered, and active engagement with the world of professional practice are all profoundly exciting to me. I look forward to collaborating with Shenandoah’s exceptional faculty, staff, and students in the years to come.”
– Dr. Jennifer Smolos Steele
Research
As a scholar, Dr. Jennifer Smolos Steele’s research focuses on how various types of performing arts institutions and programs (e.g. four-year, two-year, university, college, graduate/undergraduate) work to train their students and graduates for the ever-evolving challenges of working in the world of professional practice.