Dr. Alyson McLamore retired in 2026 from the Cal Poly Music Department after a teaching career of 35 years, where she taught music history and education courses, as well as courses in musical theater, film, and women in music. She was named Professor Emeritus upon her retirement and also received the Cal Poly Distinguished Teacher Award in 2002. She has published Musical Theater: An Appreciation (Routledge) and essays in the Research Chronicle, New Dictionary of the History of Ideas, Music Observed, and Musica Franca. She is the author of several music monographs for the US Academic Decathlon, and she writes program notes and gives pre-concert talks for the San Luis Obispo Symphony, San Luis Obispo Master Chorale and Festival Mozaic.