Alejandra Ferrer

Associate Professor of Music and Coordinator of Music Therapy

College of Music & Performing Arts

Dr. Ferrer holds a BM in music therapy from The Florida State University (2004), an MM in music therapy from The Florida State University (2005), and a PhD in music education from The Ohio State University (2012)

615-460-5777
alejandra.ferrer@belmont.edu

Biography

Alejandra J. Ferrer, PhD, MT-BC, is Associate Professor of Music and Coordinator of Music Therapy at Belmont University in Nashville, TN. Dr. Ferrer holds a BM in music therapy from The Florida State University (2004), an MM in music therapy from The Florida State University (2005), and a PhD in music education from The Ohio State University (2012). Prior to joining Belmont, Dr. Ferrer worked as an adjunct professor at Ohio University and The Ohio State University, where she taught music therapy and music education courses. Concurrently, she practiced music therapy at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, specifically working with infants and toddlers in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. During this time, she supervised undergraduate and graduate practicum students and interns, participated in interdisciplinary research efforts, and engaged in outpatient program development. Dr. Ferrer developed the first music therapy program at the Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute. During her tenure at The James, she established a strong outpatient music therapy program that supported the psychosocial needs of adult cancer survivors. Dr. Ferrer has also served adults with mental illness and substance abuse disorders in both acute care and forensic units, older adults in memory care and assisted living settings, and children and adults with developmental disabilities. Dr. Ferrer is a regular presenter at regional and national music therapy conferences on topics pertaining to college student mental health, accessibility in music therapy education, and professional issues. She has authored multiple book chapters and her work has been published in the Journal of Music Therapy, Music Therapy Perspectives, and Imagine. In the past, Dr. Ferrer served on the American Music Therapy Association’s (AMTA) Academic and Program Approval Committee and the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee. Currently, Dr. Ferrer serves on the AMTA’s Board of Directors as Council Coordinator for Education and Clinical Training.