North Dakota Choral Directors Association President
Dr. Allyse Dunnigan is the President of North Dakota ACDA and spends her days as a parent educator for North Dakota State University Extension. Allyse is married to Kyle, who works as the VP of IT at United Valley Bank. They have two young children, Eloise (7), and Bear (5). She spends her free time directing music for community theatre productions and researching culturally responsive practices in the vocal music classroom. Prior to parent education, Dr. Dunnigan taught for thirteen years at the elementary, middle school, high school, and collegiate levels, with most of the time being spent at Schroeder Middle School in Grand Forks, ND.
Dr. Dunnigan received her bachelor’s degree in music education from North Dakota State University in 2011 where she also minored in psychology. She then began teaching at both Hatton Eielson and Northwood Public Schools where she taught 5th through 12th grade band and choir. She soon began her master’s program at North Dakota State University in music education. Dr. Dunnigan most recently completed her Ph.D. in Teaching and Learning with an emphasis in teacher education through the University of North Dakota. She had the opportunity to teach a variety of education courses for teacher candidates during that experience and found a love for teaching adults. Her research was on the practices of secondary vocal music teachers exemplary in the implementation of culturally responsive practices.
Allyse serves on the Community Action Committee, which provides grant funding to community organizations, as well as the Family and Consumer Sciences Advisory Council. Dr. Dunnigan has a rich history in North Dakota ACDA having served as a Middle Level Honor Choir co-chair, and later a World Music and Cultures Chair. One of Allyse’s proudest moments was directing her seventh and eighth grade choirs at the ND-ACDA state showcase concert. She is now excited to serve her state as the President!