Jennifer received a Bachelor of Music (B.M.) degree from Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) in 1998. She taught preK-8 general music and directed choirs for her first two years and then took a position as middle school choral director for the next three years, where she conducted choirs and directed the drama program for 5th-8th graders. She served as associate director of the Tennessee Choral Academy, conducting 5 choirs ranging in age from eight to eighteen.After teaching in the public schools for five years, Jennifer returned to MTSU and graduated with a Master of Arts (M.A.) in Music Education in 2004. She was hired on as full-time faculty for the MTSU School of Music for the 2004-2005 school year, where she taught music methods courses and conducted the MTSU Women’s Chorale. Jennifer completed her Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) coursework in music education at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in December of 2006. She plans to complete her dissertation and graduate in the near future.
Jennifer has a long history with First Christian Church of Shelbyville. She began as church accompanist when she was 13, and she has held leadership positions in the music ministry on and off for many years, including Director of Music. Her current position as Director of Music & Worship and Family Life encompasses the music ministries, as well as planning and leading worship, coordinating Christian Education, and supervising the youth group.
