Dr. Soumas is especially gratified by establishing Soumas Heritage School of Music.
LAS VEGAS, NV, November 09, 2022 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Dr. Donavon P. Soumas has been included in Marquis Who's Who. As in all Marquis Who's Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.
Supported by over 20 years of professional experience in music education and diversity, equity & inclusion (DEI) initiatives, Dr. Soumas has served as a partner and DEI consultant for RealizeDiversity, LLC, a company that aims to enhance organizational culture, since 2021. A unique business executive, he previously worked as the CEO and Director of Programs at Soumas Heritage School of Music from 2000 to 2015, and founder & executive director of the non-profit organization H.E.R.I.T.A.G.E., Inc. (Helping to Enhance Resources by Incorporating The Arts to Gain Education).
An expert in his field, Dr. Soumas received a Bachelor of Music from Centenary College of Louisiana in 1994, a Master of Arts in education and human development from George Washington University in 2018, and a Doctor of Education in educational leadership from the University of New England in 2022. His doctoral research culminated in a published dissertation entitled, "School Employees' Perceptions of Organizational Support During a Critical Incident" in 2021.
During the early stages of his career, Dr. Soumas gained valuable expertise in educational leadership and the arts as an artist manager at Heritage Artist Management and pianist for the Newark Boys' Chorus School. Additionally, he has served as a member on several advisory boards, including at the Dr. Ellen G. Pressman Charter School, the Central Jersey Arts Charter School, and Westminster College of the Arts of Rider University in Princeton, NJ. Among other community endeavors and work in educational institutions, he also served as mentor and musician at New Covenant Christian Academy in Plainfield, New Jersey. Throughout his extensive career, Dr. Soumas has also been a dedicated co-director of the M'Kor Shalom Unity Choir of Cherry Hill, NJ, a community chorus of about 75 singers from different cultural backgrounds and religious denominations.
In light of his outstanding body of work, Dr. Soumas received the Legacy Award from the Links, Inc. in 2015, the Richard A. Dennis HEIRS Award from the Nathaniel Willingham Foundation in 2012, and the Spotlight Award from the Plainfield Square Merchants' Association of Plainfield New Jersey in 2011. Impressively, his list of accomplishments began with the Entrepreneur of the Year Award from Union County in 2004, followed by the Outstanding Achievement Award from the City of Plainfield, New Jersey, in 2006, and the Mayor's Community Service Award in 2008, among other national awards in youth advocacy and the arts.
While his career has been filled with highlights, Dr. Soumas is especially gratified by establishing Soumas Heritage School of Music. In addition, he is honored to have worked as the Choral Director at Manhattan Country School in New York City from 2010 to 2022. He also notes that the cornerstone of his success has been both his parents Clyde and Greta Soumas and his music mentor, Hattie Wade, a leader and musician who inspired him to continue his career in leadership. In the coming years, Dr. Soumas aims to continue his life's purpose, which is centered on diversity, equity & inclusion of people in organizations, marginalized individuals in communities, and underrepresented people in the world at large.
About Marquis Who's Who®
Since 1899, when A. N. Marquis printed the First Edition of Who's Who in America®, Marquis Who's Who® has chronicled the lives of the most accomplished individuals and innovators from every significant field of endeavor, including politics, business, medicine, law, education, art, religion and entertainment. Today, Who's Who in America® remains an essential biographical source for thousands of researchers, journalists, librarians and executive search firms around the world. Marquis® now publishes many Who's Who titles, including Who's Who in America®, Who's Who in the World®, Who's Who in American Law®, Who's Who in Medicine and Healthcare®, Who's Who in Science and Engineering®, and Who's Who in Asia®. Marquis® publications may be visited at the official Marquis Who's Who® website at www.marquiswhoswho.com.
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