Leadership

lake@northwestern.edu
847-491-2202

linda.jacobs@northwestern.edu
847-491-3818

Linda Jacobs has served as associate dean for student affairs since 2025, having previously served as assistant dean for student affairs since 2010. She has served the school in various other roles, including as assistant dean for admission and student affairs, director of student affairs, and interim director of undergraduate studies. As a lecturer in music theory at the Bienen School, she taught first- and second-year music theory, music history, 16th Century Counterpoint, 18th Century Counterpoint, Improvisation in 18th Century Music, and a first-year seminar. She has given presentations in music theory at regional and national conferences. Jacobs received her master’s and PhD degrees in music theory from the Bienen School of Music. Her dissertation was titled Tonality and the Music of Steve Reich.

thomas.crespo@northwestern.edu
847-491-3141

Thomas Crespo joined the Bienen School administration in August 2022. He previously served as Assistant Dean of Admissions at the Blair School of Music, Vanderbilt University. Crespo holds master’s degrees in bassoon performance and chamber music performance from the University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance, where he studied with Jeffrey Lyman. He completed a bachelor’s degree in bassoon with a double minor in corporate strategy and leadership and organization from Vanderbilt University, where he studied with Cynthia Estill and Laura Hauser. As a performer, Crespo has appeared regularly with orchestras in Michigan and Tennessee, including the Adrian, Ann Arbor, Dearborn, Grand Rapids, Jackson, Rochester, Southwest Michigan, and Toledo Symphonies. He has also participated in numerous festivals, orchestral tours, and summer programs nationally and internationally.

jerryt@northwestern.edu
847-491-4754

Jerry Tietz joined the Bienen School of Music in 2015 as director of concert management. He previously served as general manager for Chicago Opera Theater. Tietz began his career in arts administration in 2005 at Glimmerglass Opera Festival in upstate New York. After two seasons at Glimmerglass, he moved to Manhattan where he spent four years as an artist manager at the arts management firm Barrett Vantage Artists. After returning to his hometown of Chicago in 2010 to work as director of artistic operations for Chicago Opera Theater, Mr. Tietz was appointed general manager of Chicago Opera Theater in 2012. He holds a Bachelor of Music degree from Lawrence University in Appleton, Wisconsin.

sarah.generes@northwestern.edu
847-467-3849

Sarah joined Northwestern University’s Henry and Leigh Bienen School of Music in 2018 as the Director of Development. Before entering the world of higher education, Sarah spent 20 years working in performing arts organizations throughout Chicago including Lyric Opera of Chicago and the Ravinia Festival. At Lyric Opera of Chicago, she held a variety of positions, working with both the development and artistic teams. With the development team, Sarah worked on numerous events including Opening Night and Opera Ball and five wine Auctions. As Director of Classical and Crossover Programming, she produced Chicago Voices, artistic directed by Renée Fleming and featuring musicians including John Prine, Lupe Fiasco, Matthew Polenzani, Shemekia Copeland and Michelle Williams. Chicago Voices won three regional Emmy awards and was broadcast nationally on PBS as part of Great Performances. She also collaborated with The Second City to produce The Second City Guide to the Opera and Longer! Louder! Wagner! Sarah graduated cum laude with dual degrees in English and vocal music from Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee.