Dr. Kathleen Melago serves as Professor of Music Education at Slippery Rock University and has been the coordinator of the music education program since she joined the faculty at SRU in August 2009.  In addition to teaching numerous courses in music education, she supervises music student teachers and field students and teaches Exploring Music, a large lecture class in the university’s general education program. Kathy holds degrees from Slippery Rock University, University of Northern Iowa, Loras College, Eastern Illinois University, and The Ohio State University.  Kathy has taught music in Pennsylvania, Iowa, and Ohio, both in schools and as a private teacher.   

As an author, Kathy has been published in journals including PMEA News, the NACWPI Journal, Journal of Research in Music Education, Flute Talk, The Instrumentalist, Teaching Music, The Flutist Quarterly, Canadian Music Educator, Triad: Official Publication of the Ohio Music Education Association, and Music Educators Journal.  In 2019, she authored an interactive e-text, Exploring Music, for Music 101 classes with Top Hat Monocle.  In 2022, Kathy launched a course, College Success Strategies, on Udemy.com.  She is co-editor (with Dr. Scott Edgar) and a chapter author in a book on Social Emotional Learning and music teacher education, published by GIA Publications in February 2024. 

Kathy is an active member of professional associations in music education and as a flutist.  She has been a frequent presenter at conferences including the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association spring and summer conferences, National Association for Music Education regional and national conferences, European Music Educators Association Conference, and The Midwest Clinic International Band and Orchestra Conference.  She is serving a term as the Masterclass Performers Competition Chair for the National Flute Association and previously was the NFA’s Exhibitor Showcase and Concert Coordinator.  Kathy is the Society for Music Education Higher Education Chair for PMEA and previously served as the PMEA state collegiate advisor.  She served on the Advisory Board for the Music Educators Journal from 2016-2024.