Anthony Decuir, Ph.D., associate dean of the College of Music and Media at Loyola University New Orleans, recently received the Lifetime Achievement Award for Outstanding Professional Contributions from the American Music Therapy Association. Decuir, associate dean since 1990, has taught in the music therapy program at Loyola since 1974.
The award recognizes his work as a music therapy clinician in mental health. As an active vocalist, clinician, teacher, researcher and advocate, Decuir's extensive music therapy career spans four decades.
He served as president of the National Association for Music Therapy from 1986 to 1988, providing vital leadership at a time of transition and financial challenges. During his term, the organization’s board was able to preserve its financial integrity, and the association established an independent office just blocks from Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. Since then, Decuir has served both the National Association for Music Therapy and the American Music Therapy Association.