Susan Gardstrom, Professor Emerita in the Department of Music at the University of Dayton, served as Coordinator of Undergraduate Music Therapy (1998 - 2019) and subsequently established and coordinated the Master of Music Therapy degree program (2019 - 2023). She taught all courses in both undergraduate and graduate curricula and supervised practica experiences in the community and in the on-campus clinic she established during her tenure.

Gardstrom's career as a full-time music therapist spanned over 20 years in varied public and private sites, including schools, skilled nursing care facilities, and residential treatment programs for youth and adults with mental health challenges. She gained extensive clinical experience with juvenile offenders and pioneered intergenerational programs with this clientele and older adults. She also worked with children and teens with severe physical and cognitive impairments and autism, as well as adults recovering from various addictions.