
About Dr. Parker
Scholar, Professor, and Mentor dedicated to your academic success.

Credentials
- PhD in Music EducationUniversity of North Carolina at Greensboro
- Master of Music EducationVanderCook College of Music
- Bachelor of MusicNorth Carolina Central University
- Assistant ProfessorUNCG School of Music
Meet Dr. Quinton Parker
Dr. Quinton Parker is an Assistant Professor of Music Education at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG), where he inspires the next generation of educators and scholars. A native of Durham, North Carolina, Dr. Parker's academic journey is rooted in a deep commitment to understanding lived experiences through qualitative inquiry.
He earned his PhD in Music Education from UNCG, where his dissertation, "We Wear the Mask: The Lived Experiences of Black Undergraduate Music Education Students in Predominantly White Schools of Music," explored critical issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion. His research expertise lies in phenomenology and narrative inquiry, methods he uses to give voice to underrepresented perspectives in academia.
Before his doctoral studies, Dr. Parker earned his Bachelor of Music degree from North Carolina Central University and his Master of Music Education from VanderCook College of Music in Chicago. These diverse educational environments shaped his understanding of the unique challenges students face across different institutional contexts.
As a professor, Dr. Parker teaches courses including Qualitative Research in Music Education, guiding graduate students through the complexities of research design, data collection, and analysis. His work has been published in top-tier peer-reviewed journals, and he is a sought-after mentor for doctoral candidates.
Selected Publications
Journal of Research in Music Education
Parker, Q. D. (2024). We wear the mask: The lived experiences of Black undergraduate music education students in predominantly White schools of music. Journal of Research in Music Education, 72(2), 203–224. https://doi.org/10.1177/00224294231186528
Journal of Research in Music Education
Parker, Q. D. (2025). I am invisible, nevertheless: A narrative of two Black college music faculty. Journal of Research in Music Education. https://doi.org/10.1177/00224294251350286
Book Chapter
Parker, Q. D. (2025). I, Too, Wear the Mask. In C. Cayari, J. D. Thompson, & R. S. Rajan (Eds.), If Colors Could Be Heard (pp. 252–259). Intellect. https://intellectdiscover.com/content/books/9781835951675.c24
Journal of Research in Music Education
Parker, Q. D., & MacLeod, R. B. (2026). The effects of race and gender on in-service music teachers’ evaluations of musical performance. Journal of Research in Music Education. https://doi.org/10.1177/00224294251400804
Why "Hopeful to Hooded"?
"I founded Hopeful to Hooded because I know firsthand that the dissertation journey is about more than just writing a paper—it's a transformation. I've navigated the isolation, the imposter syndrome, and the rigorous demands of doctoral work. My goal is to be the mentor I wish I had at every step, providing not just academic editing, but the strategic coaching and emotional support needed to cross the stage."
