Our Staff

With a background in academic leadership, arts entrepreneurship, and student affairs, Dr. Coles brings a unique cross-sectoral lens to his work. He previously served as Director of the Hybrid Master of Arts in Music & Music Education Program at Teachers College, Columbia University, where he also held a full-time faculty appointment and contributed to major institutional committees related to accreditation, diversity, and faculty policy. His earlier administrative posts include Executive Director of the Crane Institute for Music Business and Chair of Music Business at the Crane School of Music (SUNY Potsdam), where he spearheaded curriculum innovation and strategic enrollment initiatives.

Dr. Coles is a published scholar with articles in Journal of Educational Thought, Issues in Teacher Education, Music Educators Journal, American Journal of Arts Management, and College Music Symposium, among others. His interdisciplinary research explores culturally responsive pedagogy, collaborative learning design, arts-based leadership, and the intersection of student identity and institutional culture. He is also an active editorial board member for several peer-reviewed journals and frequently presents at national and international conferences including AERA, CMS, NAfME, and ISME.

Holding advanced degrees in education, business, and music, Dr. Coles has also earned executive certificates from Harvard Business School, the University of Michigan, Yale, and Stanford in areas such as strategic management, equity leadership, and disruptive innovation. He is the founder of Pro Arts Management & Consulting LLC and has consulted for nonprofits, arts organizations, and academic institutions.

At the center of his work is a deep investment in change leadership—cultivating environments where students thrive, faculty innovate, and institutions evolve toward greater equity, inclusion, and purpose.