For Dr. John Vallentine, music is more than a hobby; it is a way of life. In his role as the administrator of the School of Music at the University of Northern Iowa, Dr. Vallentine is privileged to be able to combine music with his other passion, teaching.
“The most rewarding part of my profession is continuing to work with students. As an administrator, I am fortunate to be able to enrich future music educators for students and faculty,” Vallentine says. “I also enjoy arts advocacy – our lives are enriched in so many ways by a culture that supports the arts.”
Dr. Vallentine, a 1981 graduate of Southeast Missouri State University, earned a bachelor’s degree in music education.
He says that his undergraduate education at Southeast provided him a strong foundation in order to continue with his educational pursuits for advanced degrees.
“As an undergraduate, student leadership opportunities gave me valuable experience, which I also utilized in my teaching career – first as a junior high and high school band director and later as a college band director and music education professor,” he says.
Vallentine also says that he was fortunate to have outstanding professors at Southeast.
“The high expectations, knowledge and professionalism the faculty exhibited were instrumental in my development as a music educator. They encouraged me to work diligently and achieve success,” he says.
Dr. Vallentine also shared some personal accomplishments.
“My students won division one ratings at state contests when I taught public school music in Waterloo, Ill. The university marching bands that I conducted in Wisconsin performed for the Green Bay Packers in Milwaukee and Green Bay. During my career as Director of the University of Northern Iowa School of Music, we opened a $23 million performing arts center in 2000, and renovated and added an addition to our School of Music this year for $10 million. I have conducted bands throughout the Midwest and in Costa Rica and St. Petersburg, Russia.”
Dr. Vallentine lives in Cedar Falls, Iowa with his wife, Diane (Kaufman) Vallentine, also a Southeast graduate. She is now an adjunct professor in the School of Music at the University of Northern Iowa, teaching music theory and liberal arts core courses. Diane was originally from St. Charles, Mo., and John was from St. Louis. They met in Cape Girardeau and marched next to each other in the Golden Eagles Marching Band. They also have four children, all of whom are musicians!
In his spare time, Dr. Vallentine enjoys music, tennis and spending time with his family.