Barbara Harbach, Curators’ Professor of Music at UMSL, has been named No. 7 on a list of the 30 Most Innovative Women Professors Alive Today. The ranking was published by bestmastersdegrees.com. (Photo by Stephanie Zettl)

Barbara Harbach has join the ranks of innovative scholars such as Condoleezza Rice at Stanford University, Temple Grandin from Colorado State University and Lixia Zhang from the University of California in Los Angeles.

Harbach, Curators’ Professor of Music at the University of Missouri–St. Louis, was named No. 7 on a list of the 30 Most Innovative Women Professors Alive Today. The ranking was published by bestmastersdegrees.com.

Suddenly she found herself among the likes of Rice and Grandin, and the sole representative from the music scholarship community.

“I am particularly humbled given the company of the well-known, accomplished women included in Most Innovative Women Professors Alive Today,” Harbach said. “I’m especially taken by being the only composer and musician.”

In addition to being a professor, Harbach is also a composer whose works have been performed worldwide. She is the founder of Women in the Arts, the co-founder and senior editor of WomenArts Quarterly Journal and hosts the Women in the Arts radio show.

Harbach said that innovation is reflected in all of her work, from her compositions, organ and harpsichord performances, to her scholarship, publishing press and journal work, and most importantly in her teaching.

“There is nothing more satisfying than nurturing future artists and scholars,” she said. “I’m most proud of opportunities presented to me by my institution, superb colleagues and supportive professional network throughout the world.”

And although Harbach said this recognition was a career highlight, she still has a list of goals yet to be accomplished.

“I plan on continuing to develop and further hone my skills as a composer and teacher, and to continue promoting the arts overall with an emphasis on women and other underrepresented artists,” she said.