Hello Alumni,
Elections for the FSUMCA Board of Directors are now open through 11:59 PM Eastern Time on October 16.
Please take the opportunity to review the below biographies for each of our candidates and follow the link to the ballot. This year we have 7 candidates running for 4 board positions and one candidate running for re-election of their Executive Officer Board Position. We ask that you please vote for only 4 Board seat candidates and 1 Executive Officer candidate, otherwise your ballot will be invalid.
Please reach out to fsumca@gmail.com if you have not received the ballot password or with any questions, comments, or concerns prior to casting your vote.
Thank you for your time and for taking part in these important elections!
Voting in the FSUMCA election requires a password that was emailed to all members. If you did not receive the password, please reach out to fsumca@gmail.com to request access.
Board of Directors
Please vote for no more than four (4) candidates. If you vote for more than four (4) candidates, your ballot will be invalid.
Alexa Lowry
Alexa Lowry currently serves as our Communications chair for the FSUMCA. Alexa was a member of the Marching Chiefs Colorguard from 2016 – 2020, played with the University Campus band during her undergrad and graduate career, and participated in the PRISM ensemble Brass Machine. Alexa was also a brother of the Gamma Nu chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi from the fall 2017 candidate class until graduating in the fall of 2022 and held multiple positions. Alexa has a Bachelor’s of Science in IT and a Masters in Communication and Media Studies. She currently works for FSU’s IT department as the Marketing Coordinator and is pursuing a specialist degree in Information.
Alexa Lowry is re-running for her position on the Board of Directors.
Meghan McCaskill
Meghan McCaskill graduated with Bachelors of Science in Psychology and Statistics in 2006 and Actuarial Science in 2016. She played tenor saxophone in Marching Chiefs and Seminole Sound from 2002-2006 and played a variety of instruments in the University Campus band. She was a brother of Kappa Kappa Psi, where she served as chair in several committees. Meghan is the former registrar for the FSU College of Music and participated in the Tallahassee Winds community band during her time in Tallahassee. While serving on the MCA Board, she has led efforts to update the MCA Charter and Bylaws, implement the updated MCA website, and connect the organization to the National Association of Alumni Bands. Meghan currently lives in Southington, CT and is an actuary.
Meghan McCaskill is re-running for her position on the Board of Directors.
Jill Kennedy
Jill Kennedy was a student at FSU from 1992-97, playing clarinet with the Marching Chiefs, the Symphonic Band and the Concert Band. In Chiefs, she served as a row leader, drill assistant, travel coordinator and staff manager. She was also the staff manager for the Chiefly Brass Pep Band and was a member of Tau Beta Sigma.
Jill has served on the Board of Directors for the Marching Chiefs Alumni since 2003 and lives in Tampa where she teaches second grade. She is the proud mom of a current Marching Chief!
Jill Kennedy is re-rerunning for her position on the Board of Directors.
Matt Harmon
Matt Harmon was a member of The Royal Flush from 2009-2013 and Seminole Sound in 2014. He received his BME from the FSU College of Music in 2015. As a multi-instrumentalist, he has taught brass, guitar, and ukulele in Leon county for almost a decade. He has been featured as a trombonist on several studio recordings. Matt is also a local audio engineer working at Seepersaud Studios across from Leon HS. He is currently the Lower School general music and Middle School Modern Music Production teacher at the Maclay School in Tallahassee, FL.
Matt Harmon is re-running for his position on the Board of Directors.
Benjamin Maryland
Benjamin Maryland was a member of the Marching Chiefs 2014-2017. He served as a Screech Row Leader. Ben was active in the College of Music, holding spots in Concert Band, Campus Band and Seminole Sound Pep Band. In Spring 2015 he become a brother of Kappa Kappa Psi, sitting as a committee chair and executive member for two terms. He graduated in Spring 2017 with a degree is Actuarial Sciences, and is currently located in Atlanta, Ga.
Mary Beth Fleck
Mary Beth Fleck was in the Marching Chiefs from 1986-1989 and a proud member of the Majorettes. Mary Beth graduated from Florida State University in the winter of 1989 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Fashion Merchandising. Graduated from the University of Central Florida spring of 1996 with a Master’s Degree in Public Administration. Mary Beth lives in Pompano Beach, FL, and has enjoyed participating in the Marching Chiefs Alumni Band on several occasions. Currently, in addition to teaching 7G ELA, she is the coach for the Jr. Buckettes, Twirling Team, at Deerfield Beach Middle School in Deerfield Beach, FL.
John C. Carmichael
John C. Carmichael was a member of the FSU Marching Chiefs for four years, 1970-1973. During that time, he was a row leader in his 3rd year and a staff assistant in his 4th year. He was also responsible for the arts and crafts committee which became known as the Glue Crew under his supervision. In 1987, he returned to work with the Marching Chiefs as Dr. Shellahamer’s graduate assistant. He was selected for induction into the FSU Marching Chiefs Alumni Wall of Fame in 2017. His teaching and conducting career spans 44 years leading to his retirement from the University of South Florida in 2018 where he was Director of Bands. At USF, Dr. Carmichael was involved in the commissioning of numerous new compositions for wind band and gave the world premieres of at least four of those works, including one in Carnegie Hall. Prior to USF, he served as director of bands at Furman University and Western Kentucky University. He graduated from Florida State University with a Ph.D. in Music Education and Conducting in 1994. He has served as an officer and board member for the College Band Directors National Association and the National Band Association. The ABA elected Dr. Carmichael to membership in 2001. Dr. Carmichael founded the Florida Wind Band in Tampa in 2007 which he conducted for 11 years. In 2021, Dr. Carmichael founded Pinnacle Winds, his fourth adult wind band, with the mission of becoming a full-time, civilian, professional concert band.
Executive Board Position- Associate Director for Administrator
Please vote for no more than one (1) candidate. If you vote for more than one (1) candidate, your ballot will be invalid.
Lucas Bhuvasorakul
Lucas Bhuvasorakul was a four-year member of the Marching Chiefs for the 1993 to 1996 football seasons. He served as a Row Leader during his sophomore and junior seasons and was on Staff his senior year, serving as the Uniform Manager. Lucas was also a member of the Concert Band in the spring of 1994 and 1995 and the Summer Campus Band in 1994. During the 1994 and 1995 basketball seasons, he was also a member of the Chiefly Brass basketball pep band. Lucas was awarded the Marching Chiefs Medal of Honor after his junior season for outstanding service and dedication to the organization. Lucas currently resides in Tallahassee and has served as the Associate Director for Administration since July of 2009. His duties cover all aspects of the business and operations of the MCA. He embraces the opportunities to assist the current and future members of the MCA and help the FSU Band programs. He graduated from FSU in 1997 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Management Information Systems. He has worked as an IT professional since 1997 and is currently a Solution Architect specializing in the PeopleSoft application.
Lucas Bhuvasorakul is re-running for the position of Associate Director for Administration.
Voting in the FSUMCA election requires a password that was emailed to all members. If you did not receive the password, please reach out to fsumca@gmail.com to request access.