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)
615-460-5777alejandra.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 bachelor’s and master’s degrees in music therapy from The Florida State University and a PhD in music education from The Ohio State University. 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 biopsychosocial needs of adult cancer survivors through participation in ensembles and therapeutic lessons. Dr. Ferrer has also served adults with mental illness and substance use 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, national, and international music therapy conferences on topics pertaining to college student mental health, curriculum development, and professional issues. Alejandra has co-authored multiple book chapters and her work has been published in the Journal of Music Therapy, Music Therapy Perspectives, and Imagine. Most recently, Dr. Ferrer became the co-recipient of a grant from the Creative Arts Collective. In the past, she has participated in grant-funded projects supported by the National Institutes of Health and the National Endowment for the Arts.
Dr. Ferrer is an active member of the American Music Therapy Association. She has served on the AMTA’s Board of Directors as Council Coordinator for Education and Clinical Training and on the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee. Currently, she serves on the Academic and Program Approval Committee.