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Meet the Interim Dean Alicia Clair

Alicia Ann Clair is professor and Director of Music Education and Music Therapy at the University of Kansas. Dr. Clair is also a research associate in gerontology at KU. A music therapy practitioner for many years, she has specialized in music therapy practice with persons who have diagnoses of Alzheimer's Disease or related dementias and their professional and family caregivers since 1988, and with persons who are well, older adults, and older adults with disabilities since 1975.

She participates as a research associate at the Colmery-O'Neil Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Topeka, KS where she regularly conducts clinical sessions and practice research using music therapy. Dr. Clair is an instructor of music therapy courses at the University of Kansas for both undergraduate and graduate students. She participates as a member of the music therapy clinical practicum supervisory team there and has used her clinical practice skills in her ongoing work with patients at the Veteran's Affairs Medical Center, their families, and their caregivers.

Dr. Clair is nationally and internationally known for her expertise in gerontology and wellness in music therapy. She is a past president of the National Association for Music Therapy (now the American Music Therapy Association,) and was awarded the National Service Award, and the National Professional Practices Award by that organization. In 199,1 she testified before the Senate Special Committee on Aging regarding the positive effects of music therapy with persons who are elderly. Dr. Clair is in demand as a workshop presenter and consultant and is very interested in developing practical information for persons who want to use music therapeutically for health and wellness. She has presented her work on aging throughout the United States and in Denmark, Canada, Japan, and Korea.

Along with many research articles, Dr. Clair has written a book entitled, Therapeutic Uses of Music with Older Adults. The book was published in 1996 by Health Professions Press, Baltimore, MD, and is a practical approach to using music even without a musical background.