Board of Advisors
Andrea Brandes Newsom – Chair
Andrea is the Chief Deputy Corporation Counsel for the City of Indianapolis. She is a certified mediator and graduated from the Indiana University School of Law – Indianapolis in 1999 and earned a bachelor’s degree in history, magna cum laude with honors, from William Jewell College in 1995. She previously served as a Deputy Prosecuting Attorney in the major felony narcotics division of the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office, as Assistant General Counsel and Administrative Law Judge for the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission and, most recently, oversaw London-based education loan operations and regulatory compliance as a Director of Sallie Mae International and Sallie Mae UK.
Andrea serves on the Board of Directors of Christ Lutheran Church of Irvington were she also sings in the choir and plays her cello. She is a past member of the Liberty Symphony Orchestra and the Cambridge University Musical Society, as well as the Indianapolis Festival Chorus, the Indianapolis Baroque Singers, and the Christ Church Cathedral Girls’ Choir.
Andrea serves on the Board of Directors of Christ Lutheran Church of Irvington were she also sings in the choir and plays her cello. She is a past member of the Liberty Symphony Orchestra and the Cambridge University Musical Society, as well as the Indianapolis Festival Chorus, the Indianapolis Baroque Singers, and the Christ Church Cathedral Girls’ Choir.
Elizabeth Brandes
Elizabeth currently is employed as Director of Strategic Initiatives for USA Funds, Inc. in Fishers, IN, where she coordinates efforts for new business development with sales and marketing, communications, market research, product development, and philanthropic activities for colleges and universities nationwide. She most recently served as Director of Business Development for Sallie Mae International and Sallie Mae UK, and she was First Vice President of Education Loan Marketing for JP Morgan Chase prior to that. Elizabeth holds a Bachelor’s degree with honors in German and French from Indiana University, Bloomington, and a Master’s degree in Germanic Languages and Literatures from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Elizabeth also studied at the University of Hamburg, Germany, and the University of Regensburg, Germany.
Elizabeth is a member of the Indianapolis Baroque Singers and also has sung with the Indianapolis Festival Chorus. She is a regular member of the church choir at Christ Lutheran Church, Irvington, in Indianapolis and sang with the Christ Church Cathedral Girls’ Choir in her youth.
Elizabeth is a member of the Indianapolis Baroque Singers and also has sung with the Indianapolis Festival Chorus. She is a regular member of the church choir at Christ Lutheran Church, Irvington, in Indianapolis and sang with the Christ Church Cathedral Girls’ Choir in her youth.
Peggy Brandes
Peggy Brandes is a magna cum laude graduate of William Jewell College with a BA in music, piano major. Her graduate study includes Indiana University School of Music (piano with Frederick Baldwin) and Rutgers University (studies in Baroque music with Robert Donington).
She has taught public school music in Missouri and in Indianapolis Public Schools, has written elementary school operettas, and has extensive accompanying experience. In addition she has served as a choral and piano adjudicator for Indiana State School Music Association (ISSMA), and currently serves as choir director for Christ Lutheran Church of Irvington.
Peggy also served as administrative assistant to the President and CEO of Lumina Foundation for Education.
She has taught public school music in Missouri and in Indianapolis Public Schools, has written elementary school operettas, and has extensive accompanying experience. In addition she has served as a choral and piano adjudicator for Indiana State School Music Association (ISSMA), and currently serves as choir director for Christ Lutheran Church of Irvington.
Peggy also served as administrative assistant to the President and CEO of Lumina Foundation for Education.
Jeffrey Dean
Jeffrey A. Dean, DDS, MSD; Ralph E. McDonald Professor of Pediatric Dentistry and Professor of Orthodontics
Indiana University School of Dentistry
Dr. Jeffrey Dean is the Ralph E. McDonald Professor of Pediatric Dentistry and a Professor of Orthodontics at the Indiana University School of Dentistry and Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis. He received his bachelor’s degree in biochemistry from Purdue University (1979) and his master’s and doctoral degrees in dentistry, as well as his specialty certificates in pediatric dentistry (1985) and orthodontics (1996) from Indiana University. Jeff is board certified by both the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry and the American Board of Orthodontics. He served as the Pediatric Dentistry Advanced Specialty Education Program Director from 1998 to 2005 and was Chair of the Department of Oral Facial Development (Orthodontics, Pediatric Dentistry and Oral Facial Genetics) from 2002 until 2007. He now serves as the Indiana University School of Dentistry Executive Associate Dean and the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs. In addition, he continues to teach in the Departments of Pediatric Dentistry and the Orthodontics, with a special emphasis on service as the Chief of Orthodontics for the Riley Hospital Craniofacial Anomalies Team. He is a Past President of both the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry and the College of Diplomates of the ABPD. Jeff has also had the pleasure of serving with Drs. Ralph McDonald and David Avery as coauthor and coeditor of the comprehensive pediatric dentistry textbook titled, McDonald and Avery’s Dentistry for the Child and Adolescent. The text is popular throughout the world, has been published in six languages and is currently in its 9th edition. In addition to his full-time academic work, he maintains an extramural pediatric dentistry and orthodontic private practice. Jeff is married to Barbara, and has three children, and 5 grandchildren.
Indiana University School of Dentistry
Dr. Jeffrey Dean is the Ralph E. McDonald Professor of Pediatric Dentistry and a Professor of Orthodontics at the Indiana University School of Dentistry and Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis. He received his bachelor’s degree in biochemistry from Purdue University (1979) and his master’s and doctoral degrees in dentistry, as well as his specialty certificates in pediatric dentistry (1985) and orthodontics (1996) from Indiana University. Jeff is board certified by both the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry and the American Board of Orthodontics. He served as the Pediatric Dentistry Advanced Specialty Education Program Director from 1998 to 2005 and was Chair of the Department of Oral Facial Development (Orthodontics, Pediatric Dentistry and Oral Facial Genetics) from 2002 until 2007. He now serves as the Indiana University School of Dentistry Executive Associate Dean and the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs. In addition, he continues to teach in the Departments of Pediatric Dentistry and the Orthodontics, with a special emphasis on service as the Chief of Orthodontics for the Riley Hospital Craniofacial Anomalies Team. He is a Past President of both the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry and the College of Diplomates of the ABPD. Jeff has also had the pleasure of serving with Drs. Ralph McDonald and David Avery as coauthor and coeditor of the comprehensive pediatric dentistry textbook titled, McDonald and Avery’s Dentistry for the Child and Adolescent. The text is popular throughout the world, has been published in six languages and is currently in its 9th edition. In addition to his full-time academic work, he maintains an extramural pediatric dentistry and orthodontic private practice. Jeff is married to Barbara, and has three children, and 5 grandchildren.
Nancy Eaton
Convening Officer, Lumina Foundation for Education
Nancy Eaton joined Lumina Foundation for Education in 2002, where she has served in a variety of roles. As the corporate secretary, she focused primarily on board of director-related issues, including acting as liaison between the executive staff, internal and external legal counsel, and the board. She also provided executive administration support to the president. In late 2008, Eaton moved into Lumina’s organizational learning and program development area assuming primary responsibility for convening development and meeting design. In this role, now a part of the External Affairs department, Eaton leads the organizing of stakeholder meetings, forums and seminars (convenings) to accelerate achievement of Lumina’s strategic and operational goals.
Eaton earned a bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Southern Indiana.
Nancy Eaton joined Lumina Foundation for Education in 2002, where she has served in a variety of roles. As the corporate secretary, she focused primarily on board of director-related issues, including acting as liaison between the executive staff, internal and external legal counsel, and the board. She also provided executive administration support to the president. In late 2008, Eaton moved into Lumina’s organizational learning and program development area assuming primary responsibility for convening development and meeting design. In this role, now a part of the External Affairs department, Eaton leads the organizing of stakeholder meetings, forums and seminars (convenings) to accelerate achievement of Lumina’s strategic and operational goals.
Eaton earned a bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Southern Indiana.
Khaula Murtadha
Khaula Murtadha, Ph.D., Associate Vice Chancellor for Life Long Learning at IUPUI; Professor in Educational Leadership; Executive Associate Dean, School of Education, 2001-2007
Khaula Murtadha, Ph.D., is Associate Vice Chancellor for Lifelong Learning at IUPUI and professor of Educational Leadership in the School of Education at IUPUI. She is a champion of urban education and has worked tirelessly to create collaborative programs with Indianapolis Public Schools (IPS). Murtadha created a program that pairs student teachers with urban classrooms in an effort to help IUPUI student teachers learn to adapt their skills to the unique needs of the urban classroom and to provide support to IPS as it tries to revitalize its educational programming. Murtadha has also worked to expand the activities of the Center for Urban and Multicultural Education at IUPUI.
From 2001 to 2007 Murtadha served as Executive Associate Dean of the IU School of Education at IUPUI. In 2008, Murtadha received the Mme C. J. Walker Outstanding Woman of the Year Award for her commitment to IUPUI and the Indianapolis community.
Khaula Murtadha, Ph.D., is Associate Vice Chancellor for Lifelong Learning at IUPUI and professor of Educational Leadership in the School of Education at IUPUI. She is a champion of urban education and has worked tirelessly to create collaborative programs with Indianapolis Public Schools (IPS). Murtadha created a program that pairs student teachers with urban classrooms in an effort to help IUPUI student teachers learn to adapt their skills to the unique needs of the urban classroom and to provide support to IPS as it tries to revitalize its educational programming. Murtadha has also worked to expand the activities of the Center for Urban and Multicultural Education at IUPUI.
From 2001 to 2007 Murtadha served as Executive Associate Dean of the IU School of Education at IUPUI. In 2008, Murtadha received the Mme C. J. Walker Outstanding Woman of the Year Award for her commitment to IUPUI and the Indianapolis community.
G. David Peters
G. David Peters is a recognized leader in the field of computer-based education and music technology. Peters holds an M.S. and Ed.D. from the University of Illinois (UIUC) and was the first to receive a doctoral degree from UIUC that specialized in computer-based music instruction. Peters was a founding member and past President of the National Consortium for Computer-based Instruction Systems (NCCBMI), later named the Association for the Development of Computer Instruction Systems (ADCIS).
Dr. Peters served as professor and chair of music education at the University of Illinois for 17 years. As an administrator at UIUC, he served as Assistant Dean for seven years, then for three years as Associate Dean of the College of Fine and Applied Arts. During his tenure at Illinois, Peters was an author and software designer for the prestigious Computer-Based Education Systems named, PLATO. He also was Director of the Plato Music Project research initiative.
In 1981, he co-founded and served as President of Electronic Courseware Systems, Incorporated, a music software publishing company. He is the author and composer of numerous articles, sixty music software programs, twenty published music compositions, and a book on computer-based music performance assessment detailing his funded research by the National Endowment of the Arts and the United States Department of Education. He is also co-author of two additional textbooks related to music learning and computer instruction.
After 25 years at the University of Illinois, Peters joined the Indiana University music faculty at IUPUI as head of graduate studies in 1993. In 1994, he developed the IUPUI Master of Science in Music Technology degree, the first graduate degree in music technology. He became Director of the IUPUI School of Music in 2001 and expanded the scope of music courses and curricula, concerts and recitals, and degree offerings in music. He recently was appointed as Head of Graduate Studies in Music and Arts Technology at IUPUI.
Dr. Peters is an advocate for arts education at national, state, and local levels. He currently serves as a member on the Board of Trustees for the National Guild for Community Arts Education (formerly National Guild of Community Schools of the Arts). He also served as President of the Music Industry Council, an organization of 500 music manufacturers and publishers that support music education. As a member of the Executive Board of the Music Educators National Conference (MENC), he attended National Arts Advocacy meetings on Capitol Hill with leading advocates for expanded support of the National Endowment for the Arts and other broad-based funding of state arts councils. He continues as an advisor to not-for-profit performing arts organizations, serves on the IUPUI Music Academy Board of Advisors, and most recently created the Indiana Performing Arts Initiative.
Dr. Peters served as professor and chair of music education at the University of Illinois for 17 years. As an administrator at UIUC, he served as Assistant Dean for seven years, then for three years as Associate Dean of the College of Fine and Applied Arts. During his tenure at Illinois, Peters was an author and software designer for the prestigious Computer-Based Education Systems named, PLATO. He also was Director of the Plato Music Project research initiative.
In 1981, he co-founded and served as President of Electronic Courseware Systems, Incorporated, a music software publishing company. He is the author and composer of numerous articles, sixty music software programs, twenty published music compositions, and a book on computer-based music performance assessment detailing his funded research by the National Endowment of the Arts and the United States Department of Education. He is also co-author of two additional textbooks related to music learning and computer instruction.
After 25 years at the University of Illinois, Peters joined the Indiana University music faculty at IUPUI as head of graduate studies in 1993. In 1994, he developed the IUPUI Master of Science in Music Technology degree, the first graduate degree in music technology. He became Director of the IUPUI School of Music in 2001 and expanded the scope of music courses and curricula, concerts and recitals, and degree offerings in music. He recently was appointed as Head of Graduate Studies in Music and Arts Technology at IUPUI.
Dr. Peters is an advocate for arts education at national, state, and local levels. He currently serves as a member on the Board of Trustees for the National Guild for Community Arts Education (formerly National Guild of Community Schools of the Arts). He also served as President of the Music Industry Council, an organization of 500 music manufacturers and publishers that support music education. As a member of the Executive Board of the Music Educators National Conference (MENC), he attended National Arts Advocacy meetings on Capitol Hill with leading advocates for expanded support of the National Endowment for the Arts and other broad-based funding of state arts councils. He continues as an advisor to not-for-profit performing arts organizations, serves on the IUPUI Music Academy Board of Advisors, and most recently created the Indiana Performing Arts Initiative.
Fred J. Rees
Dr. Fred J. Rees is Professor of Music, Chair, and Advisory Board Chair of the Department of Music and Arts Technology at IUPUI. He came to Indianapolis in 1999 from the University of Northern Iowa, where he developed the first graduate music education degree program in the country to be broadcast at a distance over the state`s interactive television network. He has contributed to adapting the Master of Science in Music Technology as a live, videostreamed degree program with worldwide student enrollments. He has also designed the Bachelor of Science in Music Technology degree program, that integrates music technology throughout the curriculum. Prior academic appointments included New York University and the University of Queensland (Australia). His career interests have included distance learning, string education, double bass and piano performance, and music technology.
Dr. Rees holds a Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of Southern California and a Bachelor of Science in Music Education and a performance certificate in double bass from the Crane School of Music (SUNY-Potsdam).
Dr. Rees holds a Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of Southern California and a Bachelor of Science in Music Education and a performance certificate in double bass from the Crane School of Music (SUNY-Potsdam).
Sarah Stoel
Sarah Stoel, piano, teaches private piano and group keyboard Harmony Road classes at the academy and the Center for Young Children on the IUPUI campus. She has been teaching group keyboard classes for 18 years. Sarah graduated with a Bachelor of Music Education from Augustana College, Rock Island, IL, where her major instrument was organ. Her previous experience includes church organist and public school band director. She enjoys volunteering for the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra Association. They do many events, including social, educational, service to the orchestra, and fundraising. Sarah also enjoys singing in her church choir and directing the handbell choir at church.