Meet Your
2025 State Executive Board
The State Executive Board consists of members elected during the FMEA Conference each year.
Chapter Advisor: Dr. Mark Belfast
Email: mbelfast@fsu.edu
Dr. Mark A. Belfast, Jr. is an assistant professor of music education at Florida State University, where he also serves as Associate Director of the FSU Summer Music Camps. Previously, he served as chair of the School of Music and coordinator of music education at Southeastern University. Dr. Belfast earned a PhD in music education from Florida State University, and he holds MEd in music education and BME degrees from Auburn University.
Dr. Belfast’s teaching experience includes undergraduate and graduate music education courses, as well as directing public school instrumental music programs in Alabama and Georgia. His research interests include teacher effectiveness, music teacher education, jazz pedagogy and performance, and music for special populations. Dr. Belfast has presented research and educational clinics in regional, national, and international venues, including the International Society for Music Education (ISME) Special Music Education and Music Therapy Pre-Conference Seminar, the National Association for Music Education (NAfME) Music Research and Teacher Education National Conference, NAfME Biennial Northwest Division Conference, Desert Skies Symposium for Research in Music Learning and Teaching, the Society for Music Teacher Education Symposium on Music Teacher Education, and the Florida Music Education Association Professional Development Conference. The results of his research have appeared in a variety of professional publications, including the Proceedings of the 24th International Seminar of the Commission on Special Music Education and Music Therapy, the Missouri Journal of Research in Music Education, the NBA Journal, The Journal of the Desert Skies Symposium on Research in Music Education, and the Florida Music Director. In addition to his research and teaching, Dr. Belfast serves on the advisory board for the Desert Skies Symposium for Research in Music Learning and Teaching, the editorial board for the Research Perspectives in Music Education journal, he is co-chair of the ISME Special Music Education and Music Therapy commission, the NAfME Collegiate advisor for the state of Florida, and he maintains an active agenda as a speaker, clinician and adjudicator.
_edited.jpg)
Jason Lane is a fourth-year music education Scholar from Atlanta, GA. He currently attends Florida A&M University and plays saxophone in the Incomparable Marching 100, FAMU Jazz Ensemble, and the Wind Symphony. He serves as the Secretary for both the FAMU Chapter of NAfME and the Delta Iota Chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi, plays in various saxophone ensembles, and is a student arranger working with composers/arrangers Lindsey Sarjeant and Marie A. Douglas (notable FAMU Alumni). He plans on becoming a high school/ collegiate band director and inspiring his future students to reach their fullest potential by using music as a means to fuel it. He also plans on continuing his education by obtaining both a master's and doctoral degree.
Grace Wieckowski is a junior music education major from Orlando, FL. They currently attend Stetson University, and their primary instrument is voice. While in college, they have performed with the Stetson Concert Choir, Stetson Opera Theatre, Stetson Choral Union, Stetson Chorale, Stetson Percussion Ensemble, and Stetson Hatter Band. In addition to serving as President-Elect of Florida NAfME Collegiate, Grace also serves as fundraising chair of Stetson NAfME Collegiate and Stetson ASTA Historian. To help achieve their dream of becoming a collegiate choir director, Grace plans to obtain both a master's and doctoral degree. While choir has always been their first love, they enjoy being involved with and advocating for all branches of music education.
Elizabeth Kennedy is a fourth-year student at Florida State University pursuing a Bachelor of Music Education. Her primary instrument is clarinet, and she currently plays with the University Wind Ensemble, Marching Chiefs, and Seminole Sound. Currently, Elizabeth serves as president of the Beta Alpha chapter of Sigma Alpha Iota International Music Fraternity and is a member of the FSU College of Music Board of Advisors. After graduation, Elizabeth plans to teach middle or high school band and share her love of music with the next generation.
Loanne is a senior studying Instrumental Music Education with a minor in child growth and development with an additional performance certificate at Florida State University. Her primary instrument is oboe, she has performed with the FSU Wind ensemble and University Philharmonic Orchestra, and she is a member of the Big 8 Drumline in the Marching Chiefs. Currently, Loanne serves as the secretary in the NAfME chapter at FSU and is on the FSU Board of Advisors which helps incoming freshmen register for classes and consists of many volunteer activities within the College of Music. She aspires to be a high school band director and hopes to help the next generation find a sense of belonging through music. Loanne plans to graduate with her music education undergraduate degree in the fall of 2026.
Alana Pittman is a dedicated and driven junior music education major at Bethune-Cookman University. Originally from Atlanta, GA, she serves as the Vice President of Livewire; a live music organization on campus. She also serves as the Vice President of Membership and Rituals for the Theta Xi Chapter of Sigma Alpha Iota International Music Fraternity at her college campus. A passionate musician, she is a soprano in the Concert Chorale and contributes to her college's Department of Music as a work-study student. Her commitment to education extends beyond campus, as she volunteers weekly assisting the choral director at Campbell Middle School in Daytona Beach, FL.
Kathryn Lang is a third-year student at Florida State University, where she is engaged in dual undergraduate studies in Instrumental Music Education and Flute Performance under the instruction of Dr. Mary Matthews and Dr. Karen Large. Kathryn has served her university's NAfME chapter as advocacy chair and president-elect, rolls in which she has mobilized her chapter membership in service to the local community through the facilitation of FSU's annual Pre-MPA festival, the organization of a pedagogical partnership program to the benefit of local high school students with visual and auditory disabilities, direction of fundraising efforts for instrumental programs at a Title I middle school, and leadership of several on-campus music education advocacy and awareness campaigns. When not studying, practicing, or performing, Kathryn can be found working with the students of Annandale High School in Fairfax, Virginia, where she serves the Marching Atoms as lead visuals instructor.