Department Chair
Professor of Voice
Education
- D.M.A., Arizona State University, Voice Performance
- M.M., Arizona State University, Opera Performance
- B.M., University of Akron, Voice Performance
- B.A., University of Akron, English and Philosophy
Research Interests
- American Art Songs
- Female Art Song Composers
- Voice Pedagogy and Vocology
Affiliations
- NATS
- NCVS-Trained Vocologist
Biography
Dr. Deborah Popham is the Chair of the Department of Music at Arkansas State University. Prior to this appointment, she was the Director of the Resch Institute of Music at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay and the Associate Director and Graduate Advisor of the School of Music at Sam Houston State University. She was the sole recipient of the SHSU Faculty Administrative Fellowship, a program designed to enhance leadership and administrative experience of tenured faculty, in 2023.
As an active soloist and recitalist, Dr. Popham has performed throughout the United States and internationally including recitals in Medellín, Colombia and Sharjah, United Arab Emirates. In 2015, she performed a solo art song recital in Weill Hall in Carnegie Hall as part of DCINY’s Artist Series. In addition to her active performance schedule, Dr. Popham has presented research and performed at numerous conferences including the College Music Society National Conference, the International Congress of Voice Teachers, the Pan-American Vocology Association, the Music by Women International Festival, and the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) Conference. She was selected for the prestigious NATS Intern Program, as well as the recipient of the NATS Emerging Leader Award and the NATS Pedagogy Award. Her research interests include vocal pedagogy and contemporary art song.
Dr. Popham’s students have won at District and Regional NATS auditions in both classical and musical theatre categories, and have been accepted into numerous universities, summer programs, and summer stock around the county. Her students have been finalists in the NATS National Student Auditions, and the Classical Singer competition, and winners in local and regional opera competitions
Originally from Cleveland, OH, Dr. Popham attended the University of Akron, where she graduated Summa Cum Laude and with honors, earning a Bachelor of Music degree in voice performance, and two Bachelor of Arts degrees in English and Philosophy. After finishing undergraduate studies, she remained at the University of Akron, studying Music Theory. She concluded her studies at Arizona State University, where she earned a Master of Music in Music Theater Performance (Opera) and her Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Voice Performance as a student of Dr. Jerry Doan. She has also earned a Vocology certificate from the National Center for Voice and Speech & the University of Utah.
