Arts Administration Student Selected for League of American Orchestras Leadership Council
Published: January 21, 2026 | Author: Kol Gibson | Read Time: 4 minutes
Southern Utah University’s Master of Fine Arts in Arts Administration candidate, Megan Rasmussen, has been selected to serve a second term on the Student Leadership Council for the League of American Orchestras. Rasmussen is one of just six students from across the country chosen to serve during the 2025-26 season, and is one of two returning council members.
Originally from Hyrum, Utah, Rasmussen is the youngest of five children and brings a strong musical and academic background to her work with the League. She earned her Bachelor of Music in Flute Performance from Utah State University, graduating summa cum laude, and is currently completing her graduate studies at SUU while working at Southern Utah Museum of Art (SUMA). Outside her academic and professional commitments, she enjoys reading, quilting, practicing piano and flute, listening to movie soundtracks, taking walks, and spending time with friends and family.
Rasmussen says SUU’s MFA in Arts Administration program stood out to her because of its experiential learning opportunities and strong sense of community. “During my application interview, I was struck by the commitment to student success and well-being,” she said. “I appreciated the tight-knit culture of the school and community, and having already experienced Cedar City and its artistic, festive spirit, SUU was an obvious choice.”
During her first term on the Student Leadership Council, Rasmussen planned and facilitated the student experience at the 2025 League Conference in Salt Lake City, Utah. Her current term focuses on expanding the student constituency nationwide and organizing events that allow students to network, explore careers, and engage more deeply with the orchestral field. One of her proudest accomplishments was collaborating with Rebecca Cain of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra to design and lead a discussion between students and orchestra general managers and operations staff.
“I learned a lot about the industry and myself during the planning process,” Rasmussen said. “I am so grateful for the personal development and growth that came from this experience.”
In her second term, Rasmussen’s focus has shifted toward expanding the League’s student constituency and organizing events that help students across the country explore careers in orchestral music and arts administration. She is especially passionate about encouraging student involvement in the League, noting that the organization offers free student memberships and a limited number of free student conference registrations.
“Participating in League events is a great opportunity to network, engage with the industry, and build skills and qualifications,” Rasmussen said. “The League played such an important role in my own professional development, and I’m always excited to help other students find their way to opportunities that can shape their careers.”
Rasmussen credits her coursework at SUU with preparing her for national leadership roles. Classes in arts marketing and administration have directly supported her contributions to council initiatives, while presentations and discussions have helped her build confidence as a leader and collaborator. She also cites the mentorship of faculty members such as Rachel Parker at SUU and Dr. Jeiran Hasan at Utah State University as instrumental in shaping her career path.
“Attending SUU is the first time I’ve been able to work exclusively in the arts sector,” Rasmussen said. “Being surrounded by others who are passionate about the arts has confirmed the importance of the work I want to do and reinforced my decision to pursue this career.”
Rasmussen’s selection for a second term on the Student Leadership Council highlights her growing impact as an emerging arts administrator and reflects Southern Utah University’s commitment to preparing students for leadership roles on a national stage.
For more information about Arts Administration at SUU, visit www.suu.edu/pva/aa/.
About the College of Performing and Visual Arts
The College of Performing and Visual Arts (CPVA) at Southern Utah University comprises 41 academic programs including liberal arts (BA/BS) and professional (BFA, BM, BMEd) degrees in art, design, dance, filmmaking, music, and theatre. It includes graduate programs in the fields of arts administration (MFA, MA), music education (MME), and music technology (MM). More than 60 full-time faculty and staff are engaged in teaching and mentoring over 900 majors in the College. CPVA presents over 100 performances, lectures, presentations, and exhibitions each year which are complemented by the Southern Utah Museum of Art (SUMA) and Shakespeare Studies at SUU, and is affiliated with the Tony award-winning Utah Shakespeare Festival (USF). Southern Utah University is an accredited member of the National Association of Schools of Art & Design (NASAD), National Association of Schools of Dance (NASD), National Association of Schools of Music (NASM), and the National Association of Schools of Theatre (NAST) making SUU the first public university in the state of Utah to be accredited by all four associations. For more information about the College of Performing and Visual Arts, visit www.suu.edu/pva.Tags: Orchestra Graduate Programs Arts Administration College of Performing and Visual Arts Theatre Dance and Arts Administration
Contact Information:
Kol Gibson
435-865-8667
kolgibson@suu.edu