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Academic Board

The Global Leaders Institute Academic Board supports senior management in building a world-class institution that meets the needs of students, faculty, and regulators. Formed by a group of distinguished leaders in higher education, the Academic Board supports the planning, execution, and review of the institution’s strategic educational goals. The Academic Board ensures that GLI provides its students with the highest quality experience as part of its commitment to advancing innovation in the broader arts community. The Academic Board offers guidance on emerging trends in learning to ensure GLI’s practices remain at the forefront of higher education. The Academic Board also provides critical input on GLI’s use of technology, ensuring that classroom tools support faculty teaching goals to ensure strong learning outcomes.
Ricardo Ernst is Professor of Operations and former Deputy Dean of McDonough School of Business at Georgetown University. Dr. Ernst earned an MBA from Instituto de Estudios Superiores de Administración, and an MA & Ph.D. from the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania.
Barrata Chair of Global Business
Georgetown University
Alberto Acquilino is a PhD researcher at the Computational Acoustic Modeling Laboratory of McGill University. He holds a bachelor’s in Mechanical Engineering and three masters degrees in Energy Engineering, Musical Performance, and Energy and Solar Buildings.
Computational Research Scientist
McGill University
With postgraduate degrees in Flute Performance, Arts Administration, Linguistics, Ethnomusicology, and a Ph.D. in Musicology, Vivianne’s work centers on the research and performance of Bolivian composers and Latin American music.
Associate Professor of Music
California State University
Dr. Bennett serves as Music Assistant Professor and Director of Woodwind Studies at New York University. She is an avid advocate of communities of color who has launched several initiatives at the intersection of classical music, pop culture, and social media.
Director, Woodwind Studies
NYU Steinhardt
Debbi Brock is co-author of The Social Entrepreneurship Toolkit, recognized by Skoll Foundation as a leading resource to the field. Dr. Brock has taught at Oxford University, developing its Social Entrepreneurship course, and teaches at Byngum School of Business.
Faculty
Oxford & Wingate Universities
Rafael Febres-Codero, Venezuelan native & Boston resident, has a proven track record of profitably developing & advising asset / wealth management businesses in the Americas, Europe, and Asia. He is a Senior Client Partner & Managing Director at Capgemini Invent.
CEO & Founder
Woolf University
Named one of Yamaha’s 40 under 40 music educators, Temple University’s 30 under 30, Erin is the Founder and Executive Director of Wildflower Composers. Erin additionally serves as the Co-Founding Director of the Gabriela Ortiz Composing Studio, a nine-month Artist Diploma program.
Founding Director
Gabriela Ortiz Composing Studio
Mark Churchill is Dean Emeritus of Preparatory Studies at The New England Conservatory. Dr. Churchill is Founding Chairman of El Sistema USA, Co-Founder of The Orchestra of the Americas, Co-Founder of The Boston Youth Philharmonic, among other institutions.
Dean of Prep. Studies (Rt.)
New England Conservatory
Dr. Nigel Clarke earned a PhD in Mathematics from Oxford University as a Rhodes Scholar. Dr. Clarke is Jamaica’s Minister of Finance & Public Service, as well as Dep. Chairman of The Musson Group, CEO of Facey Commodity, and chairs Jamaica’s National Youth Orchestra.
Dep. Managing Director
International Monetary Fund
Colombian academic & social entrepreneur, Dr. Cuellar has been CEO of Fundación Batuta & Dean of Graduate Studies in Music at Universidad Javeriana. He is co-founder of Filarmonica Joven de Colombia, Exec. VP at Fundación Azteca, and CEO of Orquesta Sinfónica Nacional de Colombia.
Dean of Graduate Studies (Rt.)
Universidad Javeriana
Dr. Hannah Darroch (DM, MM) is the Principal Flute of the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra. She earned her doctorate at McGill University and taught at the Schulich School of Music. Before her time at McGill, Darroch earned a Master’s at the University of Colorado Boulder.
Former Instructor
McGill University
A widely published researcher and leading educator in the field of music for social justice, Dr. Lisa Lorenzino is Faculty Dean of Education at McGill University’s Schulich School of Music.

Chair of Music Education
McGill University

Dr. Toufic Maatouk (PhD, MA) is the Artistic Director of the Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation. A Pontificio Istituto di Musica Sacra graduate in Rome, he served as General Secretary of the Antonine University in Beirut from 2017 to 2020 and Director of the Antonine School of Music from 2005 to 2017.
Former Secretary-General
Antonine University Beirut
Gaston Ormazabal is a Senior Research Scientist at Columbia University and a Research Fellow at the University of Luxembourg. Having led senior positions at Verizon Laboratories for 27 years, he holds a B.A. from Harvard University and M.A., M. Phil., and Ph.D. degrees from Columbia University, all in Physics.
Senior Research Scientist
Columbia University
Nancy Uscher is Dean of the College of Fine Arts at UNLV. She oversees seven departments and schools, eight curated gallery spaces, including the Marjorie Barrick Museum of Art; six theatre venues, and the UNLV Performing Arts Center. Previously, Dr. Uscher was president of Cornish College of the Arts.
Dean of the College of Fine Arts
University of Nevada Las Vegas

As Associate Dean for the Arts and Humanities, Uribe collaborates with unit leaders to advance excellence in scholarship, teaching, service, and engagement. She supports shared governance, aligns initiatives with College and University goals, and works with the dean’s team to promote inclusive excellence and advise on unit needs and achievements.

Dean, Fulbright College
University of Arkansas
Dr. Miroslava Panayotova is Assistant Professor of Piano at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville. Renowned recitalist and concerto soloist, she performs across the United States and internationally.
Bulgaria
University of Arkansas
Teaching Assistant Professor
Hailed as one of the most influential pianists in her home country, Indonesia, Dr. Widayani is the recipient of the Award of Achievement from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Indonesia.
President
WPTA Indonesia
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“The Global Leaders Institute was a huge force in widening my career trajectory and deepening the impact.”

Karoline Meneses (2021 Cohort | Brazil)
Loyola Marymount University Faculty

Include country code, e.g., US: +1 202 555 0123

Special Exemption for Career Artists

The Global Arts MBA recognizes that across the sector, many of the highest-level career creatives (music prodigies, professional dancers, and others) have pursued their craft from a young age and therefore may not possess a conventional academic background.

The Admissions Committee acknowledges these exceptional career experiences where relevant as serving in place of the bachelor’s degree otherwise required for admission to The Global Arts MBA.

Candidates with this profile should slect "Other" for Highest Academic Degree.