Dr. Emlyn Johnson has been selected as one of 60 fellows in this year’s Global Leaders Program (GLP).

The GLP is an executive graduate certificate program focused on social impact and change through music. Johnson was chosen among colleagues from across the world; the fellows range in age and experience, from late-stage graduate students to professionals with long careers in music performance, education, and non-profit administration.

“I think that something that makes GLP unique is that it curates a cohort from a wide range of professional backgrounds, and the program is really enriched by that diversity of perspectives. Just a few weeks into the program this fall, I’m already so impressed by my fellow cohort members and their passion for, experience in, and dedication to arts advocacy and the idea of music as an agent for social change,” Johnson says.

The program has two main components: a yearlong curriculum led by artists, entrepreneurs, and researchers from around the world and a two-part, hands-on residency completed by each participant. In June of 2021, the cohort will travel as a group to Spain to work with a variety of arts organizations. Each fellow will undertake an individual residency tailored to their professional and personal interests.

“We’re still in the process of finalizing these plans—pending the current COVID-19 situation—but I plan to travel internationally to work with an organization that uses chamber music performance and participation as a way to promote a stronger sense of community in its region,” Johnson says.

Johnson is a flutist, with a background in flute performance and teaching. At Missouri State, she teaches a wide variety of music courses, mostly to students who aren’t necessarily music majors. She and her husband, Dr. Daniel Ketter, co-direct American Wild Ensemble, which aims to bring people together through the commissioning and performance of newly composed music.

When she’s not working on teaching preparation, American Wild Ensemble planning, or her own practicing, you can find Johnson co-hosting a podcast called “New Music Listening Club,” jogging on the Galloway Creek Greenway Trail, or re-watching old episodes of “The Office.”