Published: Nov. 11, 2022

Rebecca MaloyWith approval by the CU Board of Regents, the University of Colorado has announced seven newly designated distinguished professors—the highest honor bestowed upon faculty across the system’s four campuses. Among the four awardees affiliated with the CU Boulder campus is Professor of Musicology Rebecca Maloy.

Maloy was recognized for her distinguished research, her dedication to teaching and mentoring, and for her service to her profession and the university. As Don Randell—who served as chair of the Board of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and is both president emeritus and professor emeritus (musicology) at Chicago University—put it: “She is certainly one of the very most accomplished scholars of medieval Christian liturgical chant at work today, both in America and Europe, where she is extremely well known.” 

Maloy specializes in early medieval music. Her primary interests are liturgical chant, liturgy and ritual, and the theory and analysis of early music. The author of four books and many articles and book chapters, Maloy has substantially contributed to her field and is a leading voice in musicology. Her current and recent work has been supported by funding from the European Research Council, the Arts and Humanities Research Council in the United Kingdom, the American Council of Learned Societies and the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton.

Maloy is recognized as among the most respected and dedicated teachers in the CU Boulder College of Music. On faculty since 2002, Maloy has demonstrated a deep commitment to teaching. From the beginning of her time at CU, she has taught 18 different courses, ranging from introductory courses for non-music majors to doctoral seminars in musicology.

In her tenure at the university, she has served as a member of many university and college committees and as a frequent peer reviewer and external evaluator for presses, journals and other institutions.

Says Dean John Davis, “Join me in congratulating Rebecca for attaining this, the highest honor that the university bestows. She now joins Alan McMurray and David Korevaar, the only other faculty from the College of Music ever to have been selected for this high distinction.”

Including the seven faculty awarded this distinction this year, only 136 faculty members have ever been named since this title was established in 1977. Learn more about CU Boulder’s 2022 distinguished professors.