Rachel Dungan
Rachel Dungan is a musician, composer, and curator at the intersection of sound, storytelling, and social impact. A classically-trained pianist and solo/ensemble vocalist, she performs nationally and internationally with various groups (Essence of Joy Alumni Singers, Urban Jazz, the Philadelphia Singers, Shades of Blue, CANTATICA, Centre Dimensions). She served as Assistant Director for the Penn Jazz big band and is a featured vocalist for studio recordings across genres. Her duo with Bob Klotz released its self-titled Of the Ivy EP in 2013. Her works have been premiered in films, broadcasts and live stage performances.
Rachel’s career bridges music with public health, social policy, and health/disability advocacy – having a rare vision impairment herself. A leader in multiple mission-driven organizations and on the Georgetown faculty, Rachel develops programs and courses on the role of arts/aesthetic and engagement for advancing social change – and on the science of how music moves people into connection and collective healing. She has contributed to diplomacy abroad (with UN Women and as a Fulbright Public Policy Fellow) and community- and arts-based nonprofits (e.g., the Future of Music Coalition, Think Local First DC). She co-created and hosted a podcast (as Artist-in-Residence with Street Sense Media): using narrative storytelling to address misconceptions about homelessness. She also served as guest on-air talent for an NPR-affiliate and freelanced for JazzTimes Magazine. She holds degree in music composition and biobehavioral health (Penn State) and earned a Master of Science in Social Policy from Penn, where she was inducted into the SP2 Alumni Hall of Fame.
