JMB Faculty and Staff

Dr. William H. Petersen

Director of Bands, Director of Athletic Bands

Dr. Will Petersen was appointed to the faculty of the University of South Alabama in 2012.  In his position as Director of Bands at the USA, he oversees all aspects of the University Bands program.  In addition to conducting the USA Wind Ensemble, Dr. Petersen teaches courses in music education, conducting, as well as applied tuba and euphonium. Dr. Petersen serves as Director of the Jaguar Marching Band and Director of Athletic Bands, having previously served in the role from 2013-2019.  He is active as an guest conductor, adjudicator, and clinician of concert and marching bands throughout the country.  Read more about Dr. Petersen

Dr. Robert D. Abend

       Associate Director of Bands, Associate Director of Athletic Bands

Dr. Rob Abend was appointed as Associate Director of Bands and Associate Director of Athletic Bands at the University of South Alabama in the summer of 2022. He recently completed his studies at Michigan State University, where he earned his DMA in Wind Conducting. At MSU he assisted and guest conducted with all concert bands, assisted with athletic bands, marching band methods, and undergraduate conducting courses. His primary conducting teacher is Dr. Kevin L. Sedatole. Rob earned his Masters degree in wind conducting at Western Michigan University where he studied with Dr. Scott Boerma. Upon graduation from WMU, Rob was recipient of the All-University Graduate Teaching Effectiveness Award, an honor given to only three masters teaching assistants across the entire university. Read more about Dr. Abend

Dr. Clayton Maddox, Jr.

       Assistant Director of Bands, Assistant Professor of Tuba & Euphonium

Clayton Maddox, a native of South Bay, Florida, serves as Assistant Director of Bands and Assistant Professor of Tuba & Euphonium at the University of South Alabama. He is an active soloist, chamber artist, and educator. He has previously held teaching positions at Arkansas Tech University and Henderson State University.

Clayton has competed in several international competitions such as the Leonard Falcone International Solo Artist Competition and the International Tuba Association Solo Artist Competition. He is a founding member of the Boreas Quartet, which debuted its first album, "The Serpent's Kiss", and has since received the Roger Bobo Award for Excellence in Recording from the International Tuba and Euphonium Association. He is also the music director of the Backburner Tuba and Euphonium Collective. Read more about Dr. Maddox

Dr. Brian Nozny

Director of Percussion Studies

Brian Nozny, Director of Percussion Studies at the University of South Alabama, leads a diversified career as a percussionist, composer, and educator spanning a wide array of musical styles, including classical, jazz, world, and popular genres. As a percussionist, he has performed in an orchestral capacity with many orchestras throughout the country and currently serves as Principal Timpanist with Sinfonia Gulf Coast (Destin, FL). His excursions into chamber music have included collaborations with groups such as the Bravura Percussion Trio, the Copper Street Brass Quintet, the nief-norf project, the Brickhouse Jazz Combo, and currently as a member of JP3 (The John Psathas Percussion Project) and the BRN Duo with his wife, flutist Rachel Nozny. Read more about Dr. Nozny

Mrs. Marsha Foster

Director, USA Colorguard

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.

Mr. Jared Messinger

Instructor, USA Jaguar Drumline

Jared Messinger is in his fifth year of teaching and currently resides in Daphne, Alabama.  He serves as the Instructor for the USA Jaguar Drumline where he oversees all aspects of the marching percussion program with the Jaguar Marching Band. In the Fall of 2016, the Fairhope High School graduate went on to study at the University of South Alabama where he received his Bachelor’s degree in Music Education. Messinger’s teaching experience began in 2017 when he taught and arranged for multiple drumlines in Mobile County. While at USA, he marched on the drumline and served as a Student Assistant Conductor/Marching Percussion Arranger in his final year. As a student, Messinger studied with Joe Fant, Luis Rivera and Matthew Greenwood. In Daphne, Messinger the Director of Audio/Visual at a prominent Church.

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 about Dr. Rowell

Mrs. Allison Harris

Program Assistant, University Bands and Jaguar Marching Band

Mrs. Allison Harris serves as the Program Assistant for the Jaguar Marching Band and University Bands in the Department of Music. She joined the Department of Music in 2014 and is involved with all aspects of administration and planning for the JMB and University Bands program.  She and her husband Marty live in Mobile with their children Camdon and Avarie.  

Mrs. Peggy Doyle

Secretary, Department of Music

Mrs. Peggy Doyle, Department of Music 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.  She has been an integral part of the staff of the JMB since its inception in 2009.

Dr. Laura Moore

       Chair, Department of Music

Dr. Laura Moore is the Director of Choral Activities at the University of South Alabama, where she directs the Concert Choir and Chorale. She also teaches music history and instrumental and choral conducting. She received her doctorate in Choral Conducting from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Other earned degrees include the BA from Davidson College, a Master’s degree in Piano Performance from the Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University, and a Master’s degree in Choral Conducting from UNC Greensboro. Read more about Dr. Moore

Mr. Sean Grizzle

Photographer, Jaguar Marching Band

I was born and raised in Mobile, Alabama.  I joined the band in 5th grade at Mobile Christian School and continued in band all throughout college.  After attending several marching honor bands, I decided to attended The University of Southern Mississippi and joined The Pride of Southern Mississippi Marching Band while working on studies in TV and Communications (JMB was not around back in 2000!).  I spent 5 years with the Pride of Mississippi Marching Band.  I was also involved in SOMISPO (the Southern Miss Steel Pan Orchestra) and while there.  I am looking forward to my 2nd year with the ensemble and watching, listening, and capturing this fantastic group of musicians.  I hope that current and future members will have this content going forward to remember their time at USA and with the JMB.  Go JAGS!