Faculty Profiles

Michael Wilder completed his undergraduate studies in music at Iowa State University where he graduated with distinction in an honors program that combined music education and music performance. His M.Mus. and Ph.D. degrees were received from the University of Michigan in clarinet performance and music education. He formerly served as the Chair of the Division of Fine Arts at Friends University and at Southwestern College as Chair of the Department of Music and of the Division of Fine Arts. In addition to his teaching and administrative work, Dr. Wilder served for many years as a member of the Wichita Symphony Orchestra.

Wilder is currently the President of the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM; Wheaton's Conservatory of Music accreditor) and served previously as the Chair of the Commission on Accreditation and Vice President.  For NASM, he is also a visiting evaluator, consultant, and a member of the Executive Committee and Board of Directors.  He is currently a member of Camerata Chicago and has served on the faculty of the Credo Festival at Oberlin, as well as with the MasterWorks Festival in England and the U.S., having served previously as the Chair of that organization’s Board of Directors.

University of Michigan
Ph.D. Music

University of Michigan
M.Mus Music

Iowa State University
B.Mus. Music

• Music education
• Music theory
• Music Performance
• Creativity as a transferable skill
• Applied creativity
• Theories of creativity
• Music accreditation
• Higher education administration