Joke Bradt Awarded Tenure
June 28, 2016
Joke Bradt, PhD, associate professor in the Department of Creative Arts Therapies, came to Drexel University from Temple in September 2010. She was drawn to Drexel by a tenure track faculty position in the PhD in Creative Arts Therapies program, a position focused on research.
The tenure track application process is a thorough one. It begins at the end of the faculty member’s second year, when he or she is required to submit a mid-term review portfolio which “basically allows the tenure committee to tell you whether you’re on the right track or not towards tenure, whether your productivity in terms of research, obtaining funding, and peer-reviewed applications meets the expectation for tenure. In addition, they provide feedback on the faculty member’s teaching, mentoring of students and service to the university and to one’s profession” said Bradt.
At the end of the fifth year, the faculty member begins his or her tenure application. “It’s an enormous amount of work,” said Bradt. The application focuses on three main areas: research, teaching, and service. One must submit a portfolio with a personal statement that describes his or her accomplishments to date and future research goals. The portfolio includes supporting documentation such as grant applications, publications, student evaluations, peer evaluations, and letters of support. Unlike the mid-term review, at the tenure level there is also an external review.
Building a successful research program is an important part of obtaining tenure. The major grant Bradt received was from the National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). “I was very fortunate to get that research proposal funded right away given that the success rate for obtaining an NIH grant is only about 10%. The grant offered funding for a two year study called The Effects of Vocal Music Therapy on Core Outcomes in Chronic Pain Management: A Pilot Study, which I conducted at Stephen and Sandra Sheller 11th Street Health Services.” Other notable grants include one from the Grammy Foundation to study the impact of music listening on emotional regulation in U.S. Service Members with PTSD, internal funding from Drexel’s College of Medicine to study the impact of music therapy on psychological and physical outcomes in cancer patients, and a collaboration with Girija Kaimal, EdD ‘01assistant professor in the Department of Creative Arts Therapies, on a large program evaluation project for the National Endowment of the Arts’ Military Healing Arts Partnership.
After receiving tenure, Bradt feels, “Very relieved. It’s exciting to know that I can keep moving forward with Drexel and that I’m secure in this position. I’m very grateful for all the support that I have been getting in my department and from the College because without that support, I would have never been able to do what I did.”
Said Bradt, “Most of my music therapy colleagues at other universities have teaching faculty positions and teach four or five classes a semester. I have the luxury to teach much less and really focus the majority of my attention on grant writing, conducting research studies, and mentoring new scholars. It was a dream position when I looked at the job announcement, and now after five years and having gotten my tenure, I can still say with great excitement this is still is a dream position for me.”
By Maggie McCrea