William Smialek

Bill is a UNT College of Music alumnus with a master’s degree and Ph.D. in Musicology; he completed his doctoral research in Poland as a Fulbright Scholar. Additionally, Dr. Smialek holds a bachelor’s degree in Music Education from University of Rhode Island. Bill is a retired college professor and administrator whose 35 years in higher education have included executive positions in academic affairs, institutional advancement and development, and institutional effectiveness.

Bill currently works as a part-time consultant for non-profit and higher education institutions with a special interest in assisting HBCUs. Prior to joining the UNT College of Music Advancement Board, he assumed the role of Director of Development for the East Texas Youth Orchestra. As a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE), Bill employees his expertise in building relationships, data management, and grant writing to seek community support for the music education and performance experiences of young musicians in the East Texas region.

A dedicated music scholar, Bill has published books and papers on Polish and East European music of the 19th and 20th centuries. Inspired by his own research experiences in Europe, Bill established the History, Theory and Ethnomusicology Endowed Travel Fund to provide support for research-related travel expenses incurred by doctoral students at UNT. A resource of UNT that he greatly values is the music library, and he welcomes opportunities to share with others about the College of Music’s enriching learning environment.

Bill has proficiencies in 6 languages, including Czech, Polish, Russian, German, French, and English. He and wife of 42 years, Molly McCoy, met in an opera literature class at UNT College of Music. They have two accomplished children, one of whom is a graduate of the UNT Texas Academy of Mathematics and Science.