Kansas Wesleyan College has chosen a community well-known figure to serve as its executive director of music, with Michelle Dolan G’24 appointed to the position on Wednesday. Dolan will lead all efforts in the department, including recruiting, performance, community engagement and collaboration, music alumni relations and scheduling.
“It is a great honor to announce Michelle Dolan as executive director of university music,” said Dr. Damon Kraft, provost and executive vice president for student success at KMU. “She is respected in the community, has a wealth of experience, and understands the vitality of Salina’s arts scene as she is an active participant in it! Her strong relationships with our faculty will bring a new level of collaboration across campus, helping We showcase the tremendous talent in the department and she understands the student experience and I look forward to seeing the department continue to thrive under her leadership.
Dolan is no stranger to the KWU Music Department, having served as a part-time vocal coach for the Coyotes for nearly 15 years. Shortly before coming to KWU full-time and working in the Office of Development, she resigned from that position and was promoted to Director of Development, Administration and Alumni. In addition to his work in these areas, Dolan helps lead the School of Music’s engagement with admissions, progression, marketing and communications to ensure the music department’s business continues to move forward.
“The music department at Kansas Wesleyan University is a true passion of mine, and I am honored to serve in this role,” Dolan said. “We have a great faculty, great students, and a supportive administrator. With the addition of our new facilities, including the renovated Sams Chapel that will open in October, the department is ready to reach new heights. I look forward to Work with everyone associated with KWU Music to achieve this goal.
Dolan has served as choir director at Sacred Heart Parish since 2007 and as vocal director at Sacred Heart Junior/Senior High School for nearly 20 years (1998-2017).
While in junior high/high school, Dolan twice served as president of the KMEA North Central District Chorus. She was twice awarded a Sustaining Artist Grant from the Salina College of Arts and Humanities, helped form the Sacred Heart Music Advancement Organization and directed the institution’s high school musicals.
Dolan will become Director of Development at Sacred Heart in 2017 and will serve in that role until 2020, when he crosses Cloud Street to join KWU.
She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Music from Marymount College in 1990 and a Master of Music (Musical Theater) from Oklahoma City University in 1995. The latest class of members, in 2024, received an MBA.
Dolan will move to the new position in June.
