Faculty Profile for Dr. Mary Ellen Cavitt

Biography Section

Biography and Education

Mary Ellen Cavitt is Professor of Music Education at Texas State University. Dr. Cavitt received the Texas State University Alumni Teaching Award of Honor, Everette Swinney Faculty Senate Teaching Award, Presidential Awards of Distinction in Service and Teaching, and the College Achievement Award for Excellence in Scholarly/Creative Activity. She received Bachelor's and Master's degrees in horn performance from The Juilliard School and Ph.D. in music education from The University of Texas at Austin. Dr. Cavitt is a 2013 graduate of Harvard University’s Management Development Program for higher education leaders. She has served as Texas State University Director of Graduate Studies in Music, Associate Director of the School of Music, Associate Dean of the College of Fine Arts and Communication, Interim Assistant Vice President of Academic Affairs at the Round Rock Campus, Interim Vice President for Student Affairs, Assistant Vice President for Academic Services, Associate Vice President for Academic Success, and Dean of University College. In 2024, she served as president of the Texas State University chapter of the Phi Kappa Phi ​Honor Society.

During her tenure in the Texas public schools, she was named Outstanding Young Bandmaster of the Year at the Texas Bandmaster Convention in San Antonio. Dr. Cavitt has served on the music education faculties of Michigan State University, The University of Arizona, and The University of Texas at San Antonio and as an administrator of instrumental music for North East ISD in San Antonio, Texas. Additionally, she served as horn instructor at Texas Lutheran University, Southwestern University, and The University of Texas at Arlington. She is an active clinician and adjudicator (having been appointed a Conn-Selmer Educational Consultant in 2018), and her research has been presented at regional, national, and international conferences. She served as editor for the Texas Music Education Research Journal for 13 years and is past Chair for the Instructional Strategies Research Interest Group for the National Association for Music Education. Texts include "On Teaching Band: Notes from Eddie Green" published by Hal Leonard and "Music Theory for Beginning Instrumentalists: A Scripted Curriculum" published by RBC Music (JWPepper.com) with co-author Randallyn Kelso Holdford. Cavitt was named one of the Top 50 Women Leaders for Austin for 2022 awardee by the Women We Admire.com, and Killeen Independent School District Distinguished Alumna award by the Education Foundation Alumni Association in 2023.

Teaching Interests

Instrumental Music

Research Interests

Instrumental Music Education
Student Success and Mentoring