Jonas Wright, Dean and Chief Academic Officer at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music tell us how the school created a Technology and Applied Composition program to meet the needs of employers in the sound design and video game industry in Silicon Valley. Not only does this program have incredible graduate employment outcomes, when the school pivoted online, they were ahead of the game with a workforce of students and recent graduates able to get their Tiny Dorm Concerts up and running quickly. Peer learning meant the sound design students were able to collaborate and teach the performance students how to setup and broadcast from their bedrooms. The school celebrated it's centenary in 2010, Jonas tells us about his commitment to meeting the needs of the 21st century with the launch of a Roots, Jazz, and American Music program.
ABOUT JONAS
Jonas Wright, Dean and Chief Academic Officer, is responsible for the academic program at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. In addition to leadership and cultivation of the faculty, he oversees and implements changes to the curriculum. He is guided by a commitment to the student population, who represent some of the finest musicians in the country, with a focus on academic achievement, student engagement, and efforts to attract new students of the highest caliber to SFCM. By ensuring that the Conservatory continues to meet the standards for accreditation, he is committed to the success of students, faculty, and administrative staff.
While serving as Registrar, Wright successfully led the initiative to move the Conservatory to online registration and grade reporting, creating a more user-friendly experience. He launched the Student Academic Enrichment Center (SAEC) in the fall of 2014, which centralized all tutoring services into one location, and expanded support services for the Conservatory’s diverse student population. He was promoted to Associate Dean of Academic Affairs in 2015.
Before joining SFCM, Wright served first as Operations Manager, then as Registrar, at the Presidio Graduate School, where he established the school’s first Registrar’s Office. He’s also held positions at the American Film Institute, supporting a student population consisting of the most driven, focused, and talented aspirants to film and television production.
Since September 2016, Wright has served as Board Chair for Little Opera, an after-school arts and music program. Additionally, he’s volunteered at College Track, advising, mentoring and inspiring at-risk San Francisco high school seniors as they apply for college.
Originally from Buffalo, New York, Wright received his Bachelor of Arts in film studies from the University of Buffalo and now lives in San Francisco with his amazing wife. When not at 50 Oak, you have an equal chance of finding him at War Memorial Opera House, SFJAZZ, or the Great American Music Hall, inspired by all the great music the city has to offer.