Melissa Heffner is the Director of Music Therapy and Clinical Assistant Professor of Music Therapy at the University of Evansville. She holds a Master of Music in Music Therapy with a specialization in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Ohio University and a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance with a minor in Early Childhood Special Education from Eastern Washington University. Her professional interests include collaborating and co-treating with other healthcare professionals, and her master's thesis research study involved collaborating with a speech-language pathology graduate student.

Professor Heffner has been a Music Therapist-Board Certified (MT-BC) since 2013 and has worked in clinic and home settings as well as day, assisted living, and skilled nursing facilities serving disabled, autistic, neurodivergent, and neurotypical children, adults, and older adults. She has provided telehealth and in-person music therapy and adapted lessons in piano, guitar, and voice to individuals and groups in the Dallas-Fort Worth area and central and southeastern Ohio.

Prior to joining the faculty at the University of Evansville, Professor Heffner was Adjunct Professor and Music Therapy Clinical Supervisor at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, TX. There, she supervised music therapy practicum students in their developmental, gerontological, and psychiatric practicum placements both in-person and via telehealth. She also supervised music therapy interns in the Dallas-Fort Worth area and music therapy practicum students at Ohio University.

Professor Heffner has been a member of the American Music Therapy Association (AMTA) since 2009 and has been serving on the AMTA Academic Program Approval Committee since 2019.

Rachel Maurer is Clinical Instructor of Music Therapy at the University of Evansville. She holds a Bachelor of Music in Music Therapy, a Bachelor of Music in Music Education, and a minor in Psychology from the University of Evansville. She also holds a Master of Arts in Music Therapy from Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College.

Rachel has been a Music Therapist-Board Certified (MT-BC) since 2006 and has provided music therapy services in the Evansville tri-state area since then, in addition to having provided practicum supervision for University of Evansville music therapy students since 2012. Since 2006, Rachel has secured contracts for music therapy services at various facilities to create opportunities for more individuals to be served. Throughout her career, Rachel has worked with many different populations and in a wide variety of settings, including inpatient psychiatric units, medical hospitals, physical rehabilitation units, schools, hospice care centers and palliative care, home-based services for individuals with developmental disabilities, and skilled nursing facilities.

In addition to being on faculty at the University of Evansville, Rachel continues to provide clinical music therapy services in the Evansville/Newburgh area. Rachel also regularly engages in professional development activities to maintain knowledge regarding the latest research and best practices in music therapy, especially in the areas of mental health, trauma, and addictions. Rachel is a member of the American Music Therapy Association (AMTA) and the Association for Indiana Music Therapy (AIMT). When she is not providing music therapy services, Rachel enjoys travelling with her family.