The Department warmly congratulates Dr. Laina Dawes, who successfully defended her PhD dissertation in Music (Ethnomusicology), titled “Freedom Ain’t Free:” Race and Representation(s) in Extreme Heavy Metal" on June 8, 2022. Dr. Dawes's dissertation was advised by Professor Kevin Fellezs, and her committee included Professors Aaron Fox, Alessandra Ciucci, George Lewis, and Kimberly Mack (University of Toledo).

Congratulations, Laina!