This fall marks the first time in 23 years that Lester Monts is not teaching a course, and he admits it makes him “a little jittery, a little nostalgic.” He already has some ideas for seminars that he might teach in the School of Music, and he plans to continue his research at a reduced level.
Monts came to the U-M from the University of California, Santa Barbara, where he was professor of ethnomusicology and dean of undergraduate affairs in the College of Letters and Science, with responsibility for the Undergraduate Honors Program.
At the time of his nomination, Provost Gilbert R. Whitaker Jr. noted that “Monts enjoys an outstanding reputation as a teacher, scholar and researcher. He has been consistently rated as outstanding to excellent by the students in his undergraduate and graduate courses.
“He is a talented administrator who has earned the respect of colleagues, students and community leaders. In addition, he is recognized for his achievements and vision in successfully implementing multicultural programs with sensitivity and skills.”
Trained as a teacher and scholar, Monts says his administrative style is “to get the job done,” with a strong emphasis on collaboration and cooperation with others. “I like to act in a democratic way.”
Since the 1970s, Monts’ research has focused on the Vai people of Liberia with respect to the role of musicians, to language and how the Vai express themselves in musical terms, the role of dance, and the relation of music and dance among the Vai and with other peoples. He now also is looking at “the effect of Islam on the whole of Africa.
