Jeff Cox received a D.M.A. and M.M.A. from the Yale School of Music and a M.M. and B.M. from the Eastman School of Music. He is currently serving as Professor and Chair of the Department of Music and Dance at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.
He has served as Professor and Chair, Department of Music at the University of New Orleans, 1989-2006. He has also served as Acting Chair, Department of Music Texas Christian University and as Professor of Violin, Texas Christian University and Central Washington University.
Active in Suzuki Association of the Americas, Dr. Cox has served as Chair, President and member of its Board of Directors. He created the first Washington State Suzuki Festival; taught Suzuki Workshops in several states and participated in the development of the SAA's Teacher Trainer Application process. He established Suzuki Training Programs at Central Washington University and Texas Christian University and directed the Texas Christian University Suzuki Institute. He received Faculty Development grants from Central Washington University for Suzuki Teaching Observation in Japan and was first recipient of the Suzuki Association of the Americas' Outstanding Leadership Award.
Dr. Cox has performed in chamber ensembles and orchestras on- and off-campuses where he taught. As an administrator, he has attracted important and on-going funding, organized festivals and concert series, guided non-profits as they experienced major organizational changes, and moved struggling organizations to more secure ground. In 1991, as part of a national search, Dr. Cox was selected as a fellow for the Kellogg Leadership Program (providing diversity training, and training in advocacy, spirituality, media relations and conflict resolution). As a part of the Fellowship, he traveled to Israel, the Gaza Strip, India, Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic, the Netherlands, Spain, Costa Rica, Guatemala and Egypt. His principal topic of study during Fellowship: the teaching of acceptance between peoples.