Ashley Dao Honored with Campus-Wide Leadership Recognition
In the vibrant academic community of UCLA, Ashley Dao, a musicology major, has left an indelible mark. As the first student from The UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music to receive a prestigious award, Dao's leadership has been instrumental in shaping the future of music education at the university.
Dao's tenure as president of the inaugural undergraduate advisory board at UCLA has been marked by a commitment to empowering students, particularly those who face challenges. This dedication is evident in her work with MUSE, the student-run undergraduate music-studies journal, which she has transformed into a scholarly force.
Under Dao's leadership, MUSE has sought to make academic discourse more accessible to a broader audience, a mission that has been realised through the hosting of a two-day conference this year. The conference highlights the work of undergraduates and masters' students all over the country, providing a platform for the next generation of music scholars.
One of Dao's most significant contributions has been the establishment of a workshop for first-generation and low-income students. This initiative, designed to provide resources for surviving college, has become a place where people feel safe and found resources, offering guidance on topics such as accessing campus resources, applying for food stamps, and finding cheaper rents.
As a teaching fellow, Dao has worked tirelessly to create culturally responsive lesson plans and engaging pedagogy. Through her work with the Music Partnership Program, she has taught piano and musicianship to elementary and middle-school students at partner programs.
Dao's commitment to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) is unwavering. She believes that material conditions and real change should be at the forefront of mind when working towards EDI, and her actions reflect this belief. This is evident in her work to establish the workshop for first-generation and low-income students and her advocacy for EDI within the School of Music.
Dao's efforts have not gone unnoticed. She has won the student leadership award from the UCLA Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, and her work has been celebrated as the school's MUSE celebrates its 5-year anniversary and the third and final year of Dao's tenure as editor-in-chief.
As the music community prepares for a two-day conference, notable figures such as renowned blues and reggae musician and a MacArthur Fellow, Mr. Corey Harris, will be in attendance. The conference promises to be a fitting tribute to Dao's impact on the School of Music and a testament to her dedication to empowering students and advocating for EDI.
As Dao prepares to pass the torch, she is confident that she won't be the last student from the School of Music to receive the award she has been named for. Drawing strength from her fellow students who have also put in the work to make the school a better place for everyone, Dao continues to inspire and lead by example.
Ashley Dao's work in leadership extends beyond music education, as she also shows significant involvement in finance by actively advocating for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) initiatives at UCLA, such as the workshop designed for first-generation and low-income students. Moreover, Ashley's dedication to personal growth and education-and-self-development is evident in her role as editor-in-chief of MUSE, the student-run music journal she transformed, which focuses on business and academic discourse within the music industry.
