Team
Welcome, Brandilyn Davidson
Professor of Music, Band Director, and Flex Coordinator
What is your role at Merced College?
My role at Merced College is Professor of Music, Band Director, and Flex Coordinator. As a music professor, I teach courses in music theory and history, and I direct the Merced College Concert Band, Pep Band, and Mariachi, which are collaborative ensembles of Merced College students, adult community members and K-12 dual enrollment students. As Flex Coordinator, I plan and implement professional development days for faculty and staff, and track faculty participation in professional learning activities throughout the year.
What part of your job do you enjoy most?
There are so many aspects of my job that I enjoy! I would say time spent with students, in person, and watching them learn and grow is extremely rewarding. Another area of work I find highly valuable is the opportunity to create new culturally responsive programs for students, such as the pep band and mariachi. My colleague, Professor Alex Simon, and I are currently working to bring even more new offerings to the Merced College Music Department, so stay tuned!
Tell us about yourself. What brought you to Merced College?
In 2022, when I was in my last year of doctoral studies, I began searching for a college teaching job, limiting my search to small communities in California where I could see myself settling down long term. Merced is a perfect fit for me, and I feel so lucky to call this place my home.
What do you like to do outside of work?
I am an animal lover and nature buff! I love camping, hiking, kayaking, or just taking a nature walk along Bear Creek. I have three miniature poodles that are the loves of my life, and my hobby since moving to Merced is cat rescue. I assist with the city’s TNR program (trap-neuter-release) and have successfully rehomed many wonderful cats.
You’ve played a key role in bringing together and growing both the pep band and the mariachi group. What has that experience been like, and what are you most proud of so far?
My doctoral studies focused on culturally responsive music education, and since Merced College is a Hispanic-Serving Institution with a very strong athletic program, it became evident that the college needed diverse music courses to support these students. I’ve had so much fun working with the ensembles, and I’m most proud at the performances when I see the community laughing, dancing and celebrating in a shared experience with our students.
What’s a change you’ve seen at Merced College that you think has strengthened our community as a whole?
I came to Merced College amidst some wonderful changes that have strengthened the college community. These changes focus on the college’s core values of well-being and happiness, and I am so impressed with President Vitelli and the leadership team at Merced College for investing both time and money in providing opportunities for employees’ personal growth and development.
Some of the initiatives I’ve participated in since arriving at Merced College include the Well-Being Institute, focusing on positive mental health and improving physical wellness; the President’s Leadership Academy, which I fondly called the President’s Book Club, where we read and discussed many books, including “The Happiness Advantage”; and monthly Fri-Yays, which are fun-filled events that provide employees opportunities to socialize and build community around shared interests.
From Her Dean
Dr. Davidson is a valued member of the Fine and Performing Arts faculty. The creation of two new music ensembles—Pep Band and Mariachi—offer wonderful opportunities for students and the entire community. Their performances in the quad this year brought so much joy and energy to campus. And that is in addition to her continuing work leading the Concert Band and other musical education.
Her service to colleagues and the entire Merced College community is exceptional. Dr. Davidson works hard to keep the best parts of Merced College going strong and will put in the work toward our continued growth and development. Her commitment to the mission to transform lives with an ever-present attention to promoting equitable access shows through everything she does, from teaching individual musicians, directing ensembles, instructing general education courses, developing new curriculum, reviewing policies and procedures, and just showing up every day ready to work with a smile on her face and boundless enthusiasm for everything she does. And as a bonus, we get to hear stories about her beloved cats. Carolyn Cusick Dean of Arts and Social Sciences
