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WIU Assistant Professor of Music Business Courtney Blankenship
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WIU's Blankenship Named to List of top 10 'Music Professors Who Inspire Us'

January 13, 2017

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MACOMB, IL – College Magazine has released its list of top 10 "Music Professors Who Inspire Us," and Western Illinois University Assistant Professor of Music Business Courtney (Creel) Blankenship is number two on the list.

The magazine describes Blankenship as the "cool mom of inspirational music professors."

"This recognition is kind and humbling," said Blankenship. "I'm the lucky one as it has been a privilege to work at Western Illinois University in the School of Music since 2008; it's an inspiring place, filled with devoted and talented colleagues, and home to engaged students who have infectious enthusiasm and passion for learning."

Blankenship made the College Magazine list based on numerous accomplishments, including heading the music merchandising division at the Lotus World Music Festival for many years. She is also trained in ballet and has degrees in marketing, piano performance and arts management.

"This is a woman that would go out of her way to make you dinner if you were hungry, comfort you if you are feeling down and reach out to as many people she knows to get you a job," said WIU senior music business major Arianna Hayden. "She is my mother away from home. She is a single mother, raising two amazing and talented children, yet still comes to work bright and early looking as fabulous as one could."

Before coming to Western, Blankenship was communications coordinator for the Bloomington, IN, Convention and Visitors Bureau. She has also implemented marketing, public relations and promotional plans for the Chicago Opera Theater and Ballet Chicago during her time at Carol Fox Marketing and PR for the Arts.

Blankenship has also served as the post-award grants administrator in the WIU Office of Sponsored Projects and was a liaison between state and federal funding agencies and project directors at Western. She is also a board member for the Performing Arts Society (PAS) and is president of the Macomb Band Boosters.

She is a member of the College Music Society (CMS), Music and Entertainment Industry Educators Association (MEIEA), the Association of Arts Administration Educators (AAAE), Engineering Audio Recording Society of Chicago (EARS) and a member of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (NARAS). She is currently serving a two-year term as board member/grant administrator of MEIEA and Planning Committee member of CMS Generation Next Program for College Students at the NAMM (International Music Products Association) Show.

According to the College Magazine, the list of the most inspiring music professors highlights college music professors who "inspire college students to pursue their musical dreams."

"These professors have gone above and beyond in forging personal relationships with their students," the magazine said of the list. "They also lead by example with impressive accomplishments to their name."

To see the complete list, visit bit.ly/2inH8Iv.


Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
Office of University Communications & Marketing