Harmonizing Change

This project explores and documents the history of student and faculty advocacy within the School of Music, Theatre & Dance (SMTD) at the University of Michigan. Harmonizing Change examines the past achievements that resulted from student and faculty activism for increased diversity in SMTD curricula, using Willis C. Patterson, Professor Emeritus of Voice and former Associate Dean, as a central case study.

Hired as the first Black professor in the Department of Voice in 1968, Patterson was a pivotal figure in advancing racial equity at SMTD both institutionally, and through his support of students. Through archival research, oral histories, and public engagement, Harmonizing Change highlights the contributions of underrepresented groups to social justice advocacy within SMTD.