Wendy Sims, a curator’s distinguished teaching professor in the School of Music, has received the 2024 John Patterson Leadership Award from the Missouri Music Educators Association for her dedicated service to music educators and commitment to bettering the music education profession. 

Sims, who is also the director of undergraduate and graduate studies in music education, has been a committed and successful music educator at Mizzou for almost forty years. During that time, she has taught a variety of undergraduate and graduate music education courses, advised bachelor’s and master’s degree students, and supervised doctoral student programs and research. Sims also volunteers weekly as the music teacher for preschool and toddler classrooms in MU’s Child Development Laboratory.  

Alongside this recent honor, Sims has been granted several prestigious teaching awards, including the Kemper Fellowship for Excellence in Teaching, the Missouri Governor’s Award for Teaching Excellence, and membership in the Missouri Music Education Association Hall of Fame.