Jayne M. Standley, eminent scholar, distinguished teacher, and committed citizen of your university and professional communities. You first came to Florida State University as an undergraduate music major and a member of the FSU Marching Chiefs. After completing graduate degrees at Florida State University and clinical experience in the field of mental retardation, you came back to us in 1976 to serve as director of the music therapy program in the School of Music. Under your leadership, the music therapy program has become one of the top three programs in the country—attracting students from all over the world, and one that has become highly respected in the medical as well as music communities.

You have achieved true distinction as a scholar and researcher in the field of medical music therapy. Your colleagues consider you to be the foremost authority on medical music therapy in the United States, with your own research having made the most influential contribution to this body of work. As an active investigator in music research with premature infants, you have established most of the musical protocol used in neonatal units today. As a result of your national demonstration project at Tallahassee Memorial Hospital, you hold a U.S. patent for a pacifier system—a device that has FDA approval for improving the feeding responses of premature infants. As director of the National Institutes on Medical Music Therapy for Infants and Children, you have served as a consultant to other major medical facilities across the country, assisting them in developing music therapy programs in their pediatric and neonatal intensive care units. Your most recent book, Music Therapy with Premature Infants: Research and Developmental Interventions is already in demand as a university course text and as a model for research protocol.

Because of your expertise and the reputation of your work, you have served as a visiting professor at numerous universities in the United States and abroad. Your own students and colleagues have recognized your teaching by awarding you a School of Music Advising Award, a Teaching Incentive Program Award, a University Teaching Award, and the President’s Teaching Award. In recognition of your research productivity, you have been the recipient of a Distinguished Research Professorship, a Named Professorship, a Professorial Excellence Program Award, and early in your career, a Developing Scholar’s Award. FSU is not alone in recognizing your professional contributions. You have been the recipient of the American Music Therapy Association’s Distinguished Researcher Award, the Lifetime Achievement Award, and the Association’s highest distinction—the Award of Merit. The significance of your scholarly contributions is verified by your appointment to the highest research position in music therapy—editor of the profession’s premiere research journal, the Journal of Music Therapy.

You have been a continuing presence at national and international conferences and in professional journals. In addition to your own research activities, you have directed and mentored nearly 200 graduate students in their research efforts. For over 25 years, students from Florida State University have presented original research at the American Music Therapy Association’s annual conference. Because of your active participation and that of your students and former students, FSU has had a greater presence in the music therapy research community than any other university in the country.

Finally, you have been a faithful and committed citizen of the University. Your longstanding commitment is typified by your many years on faculty senate and your service as chair of the Graduate Policy Committee for nearly two decades.

Your career represents the highest ideals and standards of Florida State University. Therefore, on the recommendation of the faculty of Florida State University, and by virtue of the authority vested in me by the State Board of Education and the Board of Trustees, I hereby name you, Jayne M. Standley, the Robert O. Lawton Distinguished Professor 2005-2006—the highest honor bestowed by the faculty on one of its members.