PAUL CRISWELL is Professor of Music and Chair of the Department of Music. He additionally serves as Lander's Composer-in-Residence and Director of Choral Activities.

Dr. Criswell holds the Bachelor of Music in Music Education/Vocal and Instrumental emphases and the Master of Music Degree in Music Education with a Vocal emphasis from West Virginia University. Dr. Criswell’s Ph.D. in Music Education and Choral Conducting was conferred at the University of Maryland, College Park.

Dr. Criswell was an active Music Education professional in Ohio and West Virginia public schools for eleven years before going back to school to pursue his doctorate. His public education teaching experience spans Kindergarten through High School and professional positions at the collegiate level at Bethany College (WV), The University of Maryland, The Pennsylvania State University, and St. Mary of the Plains College, before accepting his current position at Lander University in 1989.

Dr. Criswell has served as an adjudicator and clinician for schools, state, regional and district music organizations of the eastern and southeastern United States. He serves as a professional adjudicator and clinician for Festivals of Music, Music in the Parks, and Heritage Music Festivals.

Dr Criswell has been honored to be named a Composer-in Residence for several choral organizations in Ohio, Illinois, West Virginia, Washington, D.C., Maryland and South Carolina. He teaches courses in music composition at Lander University, having studied composition with Dr. Thomas Canning at West Virginia University and attending master classes with Ned Rorem, David Diamond, and Aaron Copland.

Dr. Criswell is a former Distinguished Professor at Lander University and was a member of the Governor of South Carolina’s Honored Professors. He also serves as Advisor of the Lander University Chapter Rho Alpha of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, the national music fraternity for men.