Dr. Jeannette Fresne specializes in pedagogy of early childhood and elementary music, American folk music (children’s songs and seven-shape, shape-note gospel music), and integrating the performing arts throughout the learning process.

Prior to joining the faculty at Lamar University, she taught at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the University of South Alabama where she held positions as Graduate Coordinator of Music and Director of Arts in Education. She holds degrees in music education from Arizona State University (D.M.A.), Texas State University (M.M.) and The University of Texas at Austin (B.M.).

As Principal Investigator and Director of Arts in Education, Dr. Fresne wrote (2004) and co-wrote (2005–2018) the grant application, which was awarded approximately $2.5 million in federal and state grants. Created to meet the needs of the community, the long-term, intensive programs consisted of 35-48 professional development hours, six hours of mentoring by the presenters (in individual classrooms) for each teacher enrolled, and kits that included puppets, instruments, books and recordings.

Since arts integration allows children to not only remember facts and content more easily but also encourages curiosity and a love for learning, the programs were designed to be engaging, exploratory, and active.

Her teaching experiences include graduate and undergraduate courses at Arizona State University, Texas State University, and Seminario Biblico Bautista in San Antonio preceded by teaching early childhood music through high school choir.

She enjoyed guest lecturing in China at Shaoxing University and several elementary schools with her colleague, Dr. Paige Vitulli. Included in a lengthy list of committee service, Dr. Fresne chaired the committee that created the Master of Music, held a seat on the faculty senate, and served on the boards of area organizations.

She is currently finishing a chapter about music education and its relationship to war, specifically how the GI Bill was used to educate soldiers returning home after WWII in shape-note music. In addition to peer-reviewed publications in arts integration and music education, she has published many gospel hymns with Thurman Coffey, a long-time gospel hymn writer.