Thomas W. Tunks, professor of music in Meadows School of the Arts, joined the SMU faculty in 1980. He earned a Ph.D. in music from Michigan State University. In Meadows, he was head of music education from 1980 to 1992 and associate dean from 1984 to 1986 and from 1992 to 1998, then served as associate provost of SMU from 1998 to 2011. He was Meadows dean ad interim from 1993-94 and University provost ad interim from 2006-07. His primary research interests are music learning and perception. Prof. Tunks authored numerous research journal articles and book chapters, and co-wrote the fine arts portion of the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills, the state pre-college education standards. He has served on the editorial boards of scholarly music education journals and was associate editor of Psychomusicology. He is also past research chair of the Texas and Kentucky Music Educators Associations. In 2014, SMU's Distinguished University Citizen Award, given annually to three faculty for service to SMU, was renamed in his honor. Prof. Tunks was also a founding Faculty in Residence, living and engaging with students and residence life staff in Ware Commons. He retires as Professor Emeritus of Music.
Thomas W. Tunks, professor of music in Meadows School of the Arts, joined the SMU faculty in 1980. He earned a Ph.D. in music from Michigan State University. In Meadows, he was head of music education from 1980 to 1992 and associate dean from 1984 to 1986 and from 1992 to 1998, then served as associate provost of SMU from 1998 to 2011. He was Meadows dean ad interim from 1993-94 and University provost ad interim from 2006-07. His primary research interests are music learning and perception. Prof. Tunks authored numerous research journal articles and book chapters, and co-wrote the fine arts portion of the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills, the state pre-college education standards. He has served on the editorial boards of scholarly music education journals and was associate editor of Psychomusicology. He is also past research chair of the Texas and Kentucky Music Educators Associations. In 2014, SMU's Distinguished University Citizen Award, given annually to three faculty for service to SMU, was renamed in his honor. Prof. Tunks was also a founding Faculty in Residence, living and engaging with students and residence life staff in Ware Commons. He retires as Professor Emeritus of Music.