Curb College Dean Starting New Role at CMA

Former Curb College dean Brittany Schaffer. (From a press release on cmaworld.com)

The former dean of the Mike Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business, Brittany Schaffer, will begin transitioning into her new role as CEO of the Country Music Association on Sept. 8.

“Country Music meets people where they are, and it changes lives every day. That starts with songwriters and artists and everyone who carries this music to fans around the world. Serving them is the honor of a lifetime,” said Schaffer in a CMA press release.

Since joining Curb College in 2023, Schaffer helped create the Center for Mental Health in Entertainment and the Curb College on Music Row programs. She also worked to expand the Curb College on Music Row building and partnered with Dolly Parton to create the Dolly U program.

Sophomore songwriting major, Daire McLeod, said she appreciates the creativity offered by Curb College on Music Row, one of the programs Schaffer worked on.

“The Music Square East building has fostered an environment where I can create connections and have performance opportunities I wouldn’t have otherwise. It creates a homebase for creativity," said McLeod.

The leadership transition will continue from Sept. 8 until Jan. 1, when Sarah Trahern, the former CEO of the CMA, will officially retire. Schaffer declined to be interviewed until early September, after the leadership transition begins. As Belmont searches for someone to fill her shoes, David Schreiber is the interim dean of Curb College.

"As I begin my new role at the CMA, I look forward to finding new ways to support the work of the college, champion its initiatives, and create opportunities for our students and faculty to engage with the industry. I will always be a proud supporter of Curb College and its mission," said Schaffer in the emailed statement.

Written by Olivia Abernathy