Office Location:
Horace Mann 520COffice Hours:
By appointment; https://teacherscollege.zoom.us/j/93686987644TC Affiliations:
Educational Background
Ed.D. in Music Education, 2019 – Teachers College, Columbia University, New York, NY
M.B.A., 2014 – Metropolitan College Of New York, New York, NY
M.A. in Jazz Performance, 2013 – Queens College, City University Of New York, New York, NY
B.M. in Music Business, 2011 – Crane School Of Music, State University Of New York At Potsdam, Potsdam, NY
Scholarly Interests
Dr. Drew X Coles is an accomplished educator, researcher, and leader in the field of music education, with a distinguished record of scholarship, teaching, and service. He currently serves as a Lecturer in the Music & Music Education Program at Teachers College, Columbia University, where he also directs the Hybrid Master of Arts in Music & Music Education Program. Dr. Coles has previously held leadership positions, including Executive Director of the Crane Institute for Music Business and Chair of Music Business at the Crane School of Music, State University of New York at Potsdam, where he led strategic curriculum development, recruitment, and alumni engagement initiatives.
As a scholar, Dr. Coles has published extensively in leading music education and arts management journals, including Music Educators Journal, College Music Symposium, Journal of Educational Thought, School Music News (NYSSMA), INform (Indiana MEA), TEMPO (NJMEA), the American Journal of Arts Management, and the Journal of Arts Entrepreneurship Education. His research explores collaborative pedagogy, music technology, culturally responsive teaching, and the psychology of performance, with ongoing IRB-approved studies in these areas.
Beyond academia, Dr. Coles is actively engaged in editorial service, serving on advisory and review boards for Issues in Teacher Education, Music Educators Journal, College Music Symposium, and the Journal of Educational Thought. He is a board member of the College Music Society and the College Music Society Fund and serves on the Network for Music Career Development Officers' steering committee. His expertise in arts entrepreneurship and leadership has made him a sought-after speaker at national and international conferences, including the College Music Society, the National Association for Music Education, the Association for Technology in Music Instruction, and the American Educational Research Association.
Dr. Coles’ professional experience extends into arts administration, having founded and led Pro Arts Management & Consulting LLC and served as Executive Director of the International Chamber Orchestra of America. He has played a pivotal role in program development, fundraising, and strategic planning, securing significant financial support for institutional initiatives.
Dr. Coles continues to advance the field through his leadership, scholarship, and advocacy for innovation in music education, working at the intersection of pedagogy, technology, and professional practice.
Selected Publications
Biographical Information
Dr. Drew X. Coles is a scholar-administrator and educator committed to advancing equity, access, community, and institutional transformation in higher education. He currently serves as assistant dean of students and director of Educational Opportunity Programs at Bard College, where he leads student-facing initiatives that support historically underserved populations, facilitate inclusive learning environments, and foster systems-level change through student support, mentorship, and policy implementation.
With a background in academic leadership, arts entrepreneurship, and student affairs, Dr. Coles brings a unique cross-sectoral lens to his work. He previously served as Director of the Hybrid Master of Arts in Music & Music Education Program at Teachers College, Columbia University, where he also held a full-time faculty appointment and contributed to major institutional committees related to accreditation, diversity, and faculty policy. His earlier administrative posts include Executive Director of the Crane Institute for Music Business and Chair of Music Business at the Crane School of Music (SUNY Potsdam), where he spearheaded curriculum innovation and strategic enrollment initiatives.
Dr. Coles is a published scholar with articles in Journal of Educational Thought, Issues in Teacher Education, Music Educators Journal, American Journal of Arts Management, and College Music Symposium, among others. His interdisciplinary research explores culturally responsive pedagogy, collaborative learning design, arts-based leadership, and the intersection of student identity and institutional culture. He is also an active editorial board member for several peer-reviewed journals and frequently presents at national and international conferences including AERA, CMS, NAfME, and ISME.
Holding advanced degrees in education, business, and music, Dr. Coles has also earned executive certificates from Harvard Business School, the University of Michigan, Yale, and Stanford in areas such as strategic management, equity leadership, and disruptive innovation. He is the founder of Pro Arts Management & Consulting LLC and has consulted for nonprofits, arts organizations, and academic institutions.
At the center of his work is a deep investment in change leadership—cultivating environments where students thrive, faculty innovate, and institutions evolve toward greater equity, inclusion, and purpose.