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Waggoner Named 2020 Perry Fellow Recipient Proud to Continue Tradition of Music Excellence By EMILY KESEL
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r. Dori Waggoner, ’92, says she was surprised to learn that she had been selected as the 2020 recipient of the Carolyn and Tad Perry Fellow Award at Central Methodist University. The Fine Arts Division chair and professor of music just completed her 10th year as a Central professor and sees herself as more of a team player than a standout. “We have so many strong faculty that are really invested in education on campus,” Waggoner said. “I don’t know that I do anything that is significantly different or stronger than many of my colleagues. I was surprised, very flattered, very honored.” Her dedication to the success and wellbeing of her students, however, has not gone overlooked by anyone, from her freshman students to the university provost. “Dr. Waggoner has worked tirelessly this summer to support her undergraduate and graduate students [as they] continue to stay engaged and meet their educational goals,” said Dr. Rita Gulstad, CMU provost. While Waggoner’s work in that regard has certainly had to change in light of the
10 The Talon | Fall 2020
COVID-19 pandemic, her tireless commitment Day and Music Fest – but eventually felt the to helping students meet their academic goals call to higher education. is nothing new. She’s known she wanted to “It came to a point when I was ready for be a band director ever a different challenge,” she since eighth grade, when said. another current CMU After earning her faculty member was her doctorate, Waggoner’s teacher. first teaching job was at “Skip Vandelicht was Kansas State University, my middle school band a four-hour drive from director, and after being where the rest of her part of such a successful family still resided in program and enjoying Fayette. She taught there making music so much, I for a year, commuting just decided, ‘That’s what between the two states and I want to be when I grow living four days a week up,’” she said. in an apartment, before And, so she did. a position opened up at Waggoner went on Central. She applied and to attend Central got the job, cutting the Dr. Dori Waggoner Methodist and receive length of her commute an undergraduate degree from four hours to four in music education, then became a middle minutes, “and that’s if I have to stop and and high school band director herself. She wait for traffic as I cross Highway 5.” enjoyed the job – especially when she was It wasn’t just Central’s proximity to her able to bring her students to CMU for Band loved ones that made returning to her alma
