Jillian Baxter is a percussionist, educator, and arts leader whose work integrates performance, scholarship, and transformative academic leadership. She serves as Associate Professor of Music and Chair of Arts & Humanities at Albany State University, overseeing six divisions and guiding initiatives in curriculum development, faculty mentorship, accreditation, and student success. At ASU, she teaches applied percussion, directs percussion ensemble activities, and supports future educators through percussion methods and music education coursework. 

An active performer, Baxter is the Principal Percussionist for the Albany Symphony Orchestra and serves on its Board of Directors, contributing to artistic programming, community engagement, and organizational strategy. Her orchestral work is complemented by chamber and solo performances, university collaborations, and featured appearances at ASU’s annual band and percussion concerts. 

Nationally, Baxter is a committed contributor to the Percussive Arts Society. She has served on the PAS Board of Advisors, the University Pedagogy Committee, and the Diversity Alliance, where she was the Sub-Committee Point Person for Gender Concerns. She has been featured in PASIC panel discussions such as Percussion Is for Everyone: Black Women Percussionists and Creating Diverse University Curriculum, helping shape national conversations on equity and representation in percussion education. 

A sought-after presenter, Baxter has delivered sessions at the National Conference on Percussion Pedagogy, the Georgia Music Educators Association, NAMM’s Believe in Music Series, and numerous university workshops. Her presentations—such as The Articulate Percussionist—reflect her commitment to accessible, practical strategies that elevate student performance and musicianship. 

Her academic leadership extends across the University System of Georgia through service on the Regents Advisory Committee for Fine and Applied Arts. Baxter holds a DMA from the University of Georgia, an MM from Belmont University, and a BM from Middle Tennessee State University.