Ryan Brown, 
Dean

Dean Ryan Brown is an accomplished higher education administrator, award-winning composer, and SFCM alumnus. He has been instrumental in establishing professional development opportunities at SFCM, including founding the Professional Development academic department and adding numerous course offerings and opportunities in that area. Between roles at SFCM, Dean Brown worked as Assistant Dean for the College of Professional & Global Education at San Francisco State University, where he managed over 40 programs supporting non-traditional students.

In addition to his administrative roles, Dean Brown is a highly respected educator, having taught music history, composition, and music theory at Princeton University, Rutgers, Cal State Long Beach, and SFCM. His contributions in academia extend beyond the classroom, where he has designed faculty development workshops, program reviews, and served on multiple committees focused on enrollment management and student success. He has spent years involved in accreditation processes with the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC) and is a graduate of WSCUC’s prestigious Accreditation Leadership Academy.

Outside of academia, Dean Brown is an internationally performed composer with a rich catalog of works. He, along with two other SFCM alumni, co-founded Switchboard Music, a non-profit music presenting organization, and his compositions have been featured in numerous venues and festivals around the world. Dean Brown holds a Ph.D. from Princeton University and a master’s in music from SFCM. A native of suburban Los Angeles, Dean Brown currently lives in the East Bay with his wife and two kids.

Timothy Dunn, 
Associate Dean for Student Affairs

Timothy Dunn is the Associate Dean for Student Affairs and Chief Student Affairs Officer. Dunn has extensive higher education, risk/crisis management and organizational development experience, and has served as a campus-based professional for more than 15 years. He has also spent time in private practice as an attorney and consultant.

Dunn has a keen understanding of all issues faced by people in higher education. He has worked in residence life, student conduct, student activities, Greek life and Title IX. This has allowed him to provide guidance, support, and advice regarding complex issues to his colleagues and students over the years.

He has worked at residential, liberal arts institutions that include Union College (NY), and Trinity College. He has also worked for the University of Hartford and Salve Regina University. Timothy deeply understands the contours of the issues college and university officials face daily and regularly manages student crisis situations that require support and various levels of intervention.

Dunn earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Northeastern State University and a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Oklahoma.

Jason Hainsworth, 
Associate Dean, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion &
Executive Director Roots, Jazz, and American Music Program

As a native of Houston, Texas, Hainsworth studied at the prestigious High School for the Performing and Visual Arts.  He later went on to study music at the University of New Orleans with legendary jazz educator Ellis Marsalis and saxophonist Victor Goines. Hainsworth then moved to the New York/ New Jersey area to continue his musical studies at William Paterson University while performing along the east coast.  After receiving his bachelor’s degree in music, Jason matriculated at Florida State University for graduate work where he earned his Masters degree in Jazz Studies.

As a performer, Hainsworth has led his own quartet throughout the world to critical acclaim, most recently headlining the Suriname Jazz Festival. He has also performed and recorded with Michael Dease, Johnathan Blake, Renee Rosnes, Randy Brecker, Lewis Nash, Glenn Zaleski, Tim Warfield,  and Martin Bejerano just to name a few.  Additionally, he is a current touring member of Ed Calle’s Mamblue (2016 Latin Grammy Winner), Tito Puente Jr’s. Latin Jazz All Stars, and Melton Mustafa Jazz Orchestra. He has performed extensively throughout the United States and South America.

As a composer/ arranger, Hainsworth’s works have been performed throughout the country at various high school and university jazz festivals such as Oklahoma State University, Louisiana State University, University of Iowa, Jacksonville State University, and Florida A&M University.  His first vocal arrangement was premiered last spring at the Florida Music Educators Conference by the Dillard Center for the Arts Vocal Ensemble. He has received commissions to arrange music for  Jimmy Cobb, Russell Malone, Tim Warfield, and many others.  Mr. Hainsworth’s debut album, Kaleidoscope, features original compositions and arrangements for big bands with the likes of Tanya Darby, Linda Oh, Claudio Roditi, and Michael Dease as soloists.  His latest album, Third Ward Stories features jazz heavyweights Michael Dease, Josh Evans, Johnathan Blake to name a few.

Kristen Klehr, 
Assistant Dean and Chair of Professional Development

Dean Kristen Klehr leads the Professional Development and Engagement Center and is the Chair of the Professional Development department at SFCM.

An active percussionist, Klehr received her first GRAMMY® Nomination on marimba in 2020 with The String Theory, has performed live with Gryffin at Coachella in 2019, recorded in the Hollywood studio scene since 2016, and toured with athletic percussion group Scrap Arts Music prior to coming to the Bay Area. Within the startup space, Klehr owns Produced by BEAR, and is the founder of The Den and Pawprint Music. Passionate about arts leadership and innovation within academia, she previously lectured in Music Business and Arts Entrepreneurship, building out the Music Industry track at Mount St. Mary’s University and the Arts and Markets major at Hawai’i Pacific University. Klehr is often motivated by conversations on creative entrepreneurship and industry growth, and carries with her over ten years of consulting and mentorship experience within The Arts sector.

Originally from Upstate New York, Dean Klehr is a graduate of Baldwin Wallace University Conservatory of Music in Percussion Performance, holds a master’s degree in Arts Administration from Florida State University, a continuing education certificate in The Business of Art from the Los Angeles Center for Cultural Innovation, and a Mediation Certificate from UC College of Law San Francisco. She has studied percussion primarily with Joel Smales, Josh Ryan, and Valerie Naranjo as well as Randy Messing and Joanne Uniatowski in voice. Kristen Klehr is proudly endorsed by Marimba One, Vater Drumsticks, Dream Cymbals, and Earasers.

Justin Sun, 
Associate Dean and  Executive Director Pre-College & Continuing Education

Justin Sun is a driven arts administrator with a passion for programs that encourage transformative experiences and cultivate personal growth through a commitment to artistic excellence.

Sun currently serves as the Associate Dean & Executive Director of the Pre-College & Continuing Education Divisions at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. He is also a freelance percussionist and committed educator with over 15 years of experience working with students of all ages.

A native of Chino Hills, California, Justin received his Bachelor’s Degree in Percussion Performance from California State University, Long Beach, and his Master’s Degree in Percussion Performance from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music.