Faculty and Staff

Dr. William H. Petersen

Director of Bands
Director, Jaguar Marching Band
 

Dr. William Petersen was appointed to the faculty of the University of South Alabama in 2012. In addition to directing the 250-member Jaguar Marching Band, he also oversees the Jaguar Pep Bands. Dr. Petersen directs the USA Wind Ensemble.  He also teaches applied tuba and euphonium, conducts the University of South Alabama Tuba and Euphonium Ensemble, coaches brass chamber ensembles, and serves as the tubist in the University of South Alabama Faculty Brass Quintet.  [Read More...]

Dr. Jason Rinehart

Associate Director of Bands
Associate Director, Jaguar Marching Band

Dr. Jason Rinehart was appointed to the faculty of the University of South Alabama in 2016 as Associate Director of Bands and Associate Director of Athletic Bands. He co-directs the 250-member Jaguar Marching Band, the Jag Band and oversees the USA Jaguar Winterguard.  Dr. Rinehart directs the USA Symphony Band, USA Orchestra, and is the Music Director for the USA Opera program.  From 2007-2016, Rinehart served as Assistant Director of Bands, Director of Athletic Bands, and Director of Orchestras at the University of Louisiana, Monore.. [Read More...}

Mr. Matthew Greenwood

        Assistant Director of Bands
        Assistant Director, Jaguar Marching Band

Mr. Matthew Greenwood serves as the Assistant Director of Bands/Assistant Director of Athletic Bands  and Director of Marching Percussion at the University of South Alabama. Mr. Greenwood co-directs the  Jaguar Pep Band and conducts the University Band in the spring semester. In addition, he teaches applied lessons, assists with the USA Percussion Ensemble, USA Steel Band and World Music Ensemble, and Introduction to Music for non-majors. He previously served as Adjunct Instructor of Music at the University of South Alabama and has been a member of the teaching staff for the Jaguar Marching Band since its inception in 2009. [Read More...]

Dr. Greg Gruner

Chair, Department of Music

Dr. Greg Gruner, Professor of Music and Department Chair, received his Bachelor of Music Education Degree from New Mexico State University. He was awarded a Master of Music Education degree from the Indiana University School of Music, and a Doctor of Arts in Music degree from the Ball State University School of Music.

Dr. Gruner is active in the Music Educators National Conference, College Band Directors National Association, National Band Association, Phi Beta Mu National Bandmaster Fraternity, and the Golden Key National Honor Society. He is a Past-President of the Mobile Jazz Festival and was the Conductor of the Mobile Pops from 2000-2012.  [Read More...]

Dr. Luis Rivera

Director of Percussion Studies

Dr. Luis C. Rivera (b. 1983) serves as the Director of Percussion Studies at the University of South Alabama teaching applied lessons, the USA Percussion Ensemble, the Jaguar Marching Band Drumline, the USA Steel Band and World Music ensembles, and the percussion methods course.

Luis has also been involved with Drum Corps International (DCI) since 2002.  He served as a snare drum technician with the Carolina Crown Drum and Bugle Corps (2005-2006), a snare drum technician and marching instructor with the Boston Crusaders Drum and Bugle Corps (2007-2011), and as the Front Ensemble Coordinator and Supervisor for the 2013 Spirit of Atlanta Drum and Bugle Corps. Luis is a proud endorser of Pearl/Adams instruments, Remo drumheads, and Vic Firth sticks and mallets. [Read More...]

Mrs. Marsha Foster

Director, Jaguar Marching Band Color Guard

Marsha Foster has instructed High School and College color guards in the Southeastern United States for more than 25 years. Some of the award winning guards include: Collierville H.S. in Collierville, TN., Briarcrest H.S. in Memphis, TN., Halls H.S. in Halls, TN., Theodore H.S. in Theodore, AL., Louisiana Tech University in Ruston, LA., and Georgia Southern University in Savannah, GA. Currently Mrs. Foster is the instructor at Daphne H.S. in Daphne, AL for both the fall and winter guard programs. Under her direction the DHS guard has won numerous Best in Class/Show awards at marching band contests. The DHS winter guard is the GCGC Class A Champion from 2006 – 2009 as well as a WGI semi-finalist at the 2008 & 2009 WGI World Championships. They are the WGI Pensacola Regional Class A Champion for 2010. Mrs. Foster graduated from Memphis State University, now the University of Memphis, with a Bachelor of Music degree. At MSU she was the color guard captain for 3 years and choreographed all flag and rifle routines. In 1982 she was a member of the rifle line with the Memphis Blues Brass Band drum and bugle corps. Mrs. Foster has been married to Mark Foster for 25 years and they have two daughters.

Dr. Thomas Rowell

Voice of the Jaguar Marching Band

Dr. Thomas L. Rowell, tenor, is the Coordinator of Vocal Studies and directs USA Opera Theatre. He teaches studio voice, vocal pedagogy and song literature. His vocal and choral teachers include George C. Martin, Joseph Blass, Sharon C. Mabry, David Robinson, George Mabry, and C. David Keith. Vocal coaches/artists and conductors Dr. Rowell has worked with include Amy Johnson, Vernon Hartman, Mark Thomsen, James Taylor, William Cotten, Jim Caraher, Hugh Keelan, Jerome Shannon, Kamal Khan, Michael Borowitz, Hal France, Andy Anderson, Jeffrey Rink, Xiaolun Chen, and Danielle Orlando. [Read More...]

Mrs. Allison Harris

        Secretary, Jaguar Marching Band

Mrs. Allison Harris serves as the Secretary for the Jaguar Marching Band and Ensembles Secretary for the Department of Music. She joined the Department of Music in 2014 and is involved with all aspects of administration for the Jaguar Marching Band.  She and her husband Marty live in Mobile with their children Camdon and Avarie.  

Ms. Peggy Doyle

Secretary, Department of Music 

Mrs. Peggy Doyle, Department Secretary, has been employed at the University of South Alabama since 1998 and has been an integral part of the Department of Music since 1999. She attended Davidson High School and lived and traveled to a number of states after graduation. Having owned her own business in Alaska for five years, she returned to Mobile in 1993 where she met and married her husband, Bob.

Ms. Kristen Lee

Photographer, Jaguar Marching Band

Kristen Lee is a sophomore at South Alabama, and is studying Business with a focus in Marketing Management. A native of Mobile, she attended Davidson High School where she worked as the yearbook editor and sideline photographer for athletic events. Along with being the photographer for the Jaguar Marching Band, she is involved in many different activities on campus and in the community including serving as a 2014-2015 USS Alabama Crewmate. 

Mr. Chester Bean

Videographer, Jaguar Marching Band