Jennifer McDonel Rivers, Ph.D. believes music is part of who we are as humans. Her passion is helping every child discover their own musical voice, because she believes everyone can learn music. To McDonel Rivers, teaching music is an ethical responsibility and a point of advocacy. As a specialist in Music Learning Theory and early childhood music education, she works to understand how music shapes young minds, helping both students and teachers develop.
At Radford University, Jennifer McDonel Rivers currently serves as Associate Dean for the College of Visual and Performing Arts and Executive Director for the Summer Residential Governors School for the Arts and Humanities. Previously, she served as Professor of Music and Director of Music Education, preparing students to become effective, impactful music educators. She also served as Associate Director of the Office of Undergraduate Research and Scholarship, helping college students reach their potential through research and creative projects. She is the 2022 recipient of the Donald N. Dedmon Distinguished Teaching Professor Award. Beyond campus, she trains music teachers nationwide through the Gordon Institute for Music Learning.
Her research explores connections between early music and math learning. National organizations like Primrose Schools and ZERO TO THREE have sought her expertise to create songs and educational materials that support early music development and connect to other areas of learning. She has released two albums of children’s music in collaboration with David Rivers. Little Beats: Counting, Shapes, and Sets (2023) was considered for a Grammy. Little Beats: Grand Old Time – Science and Engineering Songs (2025) was also considered for a Grammy. In 2025, she was awarded the Dalton Eminent Scholar Award at Radford University for having a distinguished national/international reputation in her discipline.