Dr. Erin Dineen Zaffini Earns Distinction as KSC Outstanding Music Alumnus
Dr. Erin Zaffini '03 receives Keene State College Music Department Outstanding Alumnus recognition award.
The Keene State College Music Department is pleased to announce the 2026-2027 Keene State College Music Department Outstanding Alumnus Recognition Award to Dr. Erin Zaffini, Class of 2003.
The Music Department Outstanding Alumnus Recognition Award was established in 2007 and is presented annually to an individual who, in the opinion of our music faculty, has distinguished herself as a musician, music educator, or as a representative of Keene State College alumni. There are many successful music alumni who deserve our recognition, and the award serves to develop closer relationships with past graduates.
Dr. Zaffini serves as the Assistant Dean of Teacher Education at the Longy School of Music of Bard College. She earned a B.M. in Music Education from Keene State College, a M.M. in Music Education from Temple University, and a D.M.A in Music Education from Boston University. Dr. Zaffini’s dissertation is titled, “Communities of Practice in Music Education: A Self-Study”. Other areas of scholarly interest include and are not limited to music teacher education, general music, novice teacher induction, music teacher mentor support and retention.
Prior to her work at Longy, Dr. Zaffini served as a music adjunct faculty member at Keene State College where she developed courses focused to music curriculum and assessment, and adaptive strategies for exceptional learners in the music classroom and has served as an adjunct instructor for Kent State University. She also taught as a graduate Teaching Assistant at Temple University and led seminars at the University of New Hampshire’s Department of Professional Development and Training. Dr. Zaffini’s leadership in higher education is also informed by her work as a music educator at the elementary and middle school levels in the Merrimack Valley, Bedford School Districts and Philadelphia.
Dr. Zaffini is an active keynote speaker, conference clinician, and mentor leader across the United States. She serves as a consultant on best practices in music education for school districts and music organizations.
Dr. Zaffini previously held leadership roles within the New Hampshire Music Educators Association, and the National Association for Music Education. She currently serves as the Mentor Program Developer and Coordinator for the Massachusetts Music Educators Association and supports early career teacher induction at the national level through her leadership roles in the National Association for Music Education and the Society for Music Teacher Induction. She resides in Bow with her husband and two sons.