Title: Dean of Creative Arts and Education
Education:
Doctor of Education in Community College Leadership, Ferris State University
Master of Music, Shepherd School of Music at Rice University
Bachelor of Music, The Cleveland Institute of Music
Office: H-101E
Contact:
Michael.e.walsh2@lonestar.edu
936-271-6112
Dr. Michael Walsh serves as Dean of Instruction for the Creative Arts & Education Division at Lone Star College–Montgomery, providing academic leadership for the departments of Art, Dance, Education, Humanities, Kinesiology, Live Entertainment Technology, Music, Theatre, and Visual Communications. In this role, he oversees curriculum development, faculty evaluation and mentoring, strategic planning and accreditation processes, and he works closely with department leaders to advance student success and institutional priorities. Dr. Walsh also serves as the dean facilitator for both the Music Curriculum Team and the Live Entertainment Technology Curriculum Team and represents the college as Institutional Representative to the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM) and the Texas Association of Music Schools (TAMS).
A committed advocate for student belonging and student-centered education, Dr. Walsh has contributed extensively to shared governance and institutional service. His leadership includes service on the LSC Core Curriculum Committee, Faculty Senate, Music Curriculum Team, Safe Zone Training Committee, Lead Faculty Institute Training Committee, and Faculty Symposium Planning Committee. He has supported faculty development and student success as a mentor for the Student Success Institute, a planning committee member for the Chair and Directors Leadership Institute, and a long-standing instructor for the Academy for Lifelong Learning, where he teaches the course Science of Singing.
Dr. Walsh’s work in higher education has been recognized with several institutional and national honors, including the Heights of Excellence President’s Award for the Safe Zone Training Committee (2023), the NISOD Excellence Award (2022), the Faculty Excellence Award (2021–2022), and the Adjunct Teaching Excellence Award (2009–2010). He has been published by the National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development (NISOD) and has presented at the League for Innovation in the Community College Conference. Upon completion of his doctorate, he was selected by his cohort to deliver the commencement address and received the Doctor of Community College Leadership Faculty Award for Distinguished Scholar-Practitioner (2024).
Before transitioning fully into academic leadership, Dr. Walsh established a rewarding career as a classical baritone and music educator, performing with opera companies, chamber ensembles, and orchestras across the United States. He has performed with Amarillo Opera, Ars Lyrica, Central City Opera, Da Camera of Houston, Divergence Vocal Theatre, Houston Chamber Choir, Houston Grand Opera’s Opera to Go!, Lyric Opera Cleveland, Mercury Baroque, Opera in the Heights, Opera Vista, and the Utah Symphony & Opera. He also served on the voice faculties of Sam Houston State University and Lone Star College–Montgomery, where he taught a broad range of music and voice-related coursework. His students have been accepted into leading conservatories and music schools throughout the country.
Dr. Walsh earned his Doctor of Education in Community College Leadership from Ferris State University, a Master of Music from the Shepherd School of Music at Rice University, and a Bachelor of Music from The Cleveland Institute of Music. He remains active in the profession through service with the Texas Music Educators Association and with the National Association of Teachers of Singing, where he currently serves as District Membership Director and is Past President of the Greater Houston Chapter. Across his work, Dr. Walsh continues to champion innovative arts education, student belonging and degree completion, and high-impact teaching and leadership practices.