Brandon Mejia

Brandon W. Mejia is a first-generation Latino from Newark, NJ, pursuing a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Saxophone Performance with a double major in Information Technology and Informatics, as well as minoring in Music Technology and Latino & Caribbean Studies at Rutgers University Mason Gross School of the Arts. Brandon is an active campus leader, serving as Co-Chair of BIPOC@MGSA, Vice President of the Mason Gross Student Governing Association, and Artistic Manager for CLAW. In addition, he works as an Event Manager for Shindell/Schare Halls and Nicholas Music Center on the Douglass MGSA campus. Brandon is a dedicated scholar with memberships in the Rutgers Future Scholars, Cooperman College Scholars, ​Educational Opportunity Fund, Student Success Services, the Horatio Alger Scholars, and the Hispanic Scholarship Fund. Most recently, he became a McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Scholar. As part of his growing academic portfolio, Brandon is conducting research on Ecuadorian music in Fall 2024/Spring 2025 through an Interdisciplinary Research Team Project under Dr. Kathleen López. Thanks to the support of EOF and Cooperman College Scholars, Brandon has had enriching study abroad experiences, including programs in the Dominican Republic (Spring Break) and Ecuador (Summer), where he explored social justice issues and environmental sustainability by creating tangible plans to improve his community back home using the experiences abroad. Passionate about mentorship, Brandon is always open to questions from fellow students about campus involvement, navigating college opportunities, studying abroad, or securing scholarships. He remains committed to fostering leadership and opportunity within his community.

Media Appearances/Speaking Engagements:

• 2024 Tri-Alpha Induction Student Speaker

• 2024 Manifestaciones Leadership Retreat / ScarletArts RX Workshop

Previous Organizations: 

• Rutgers Future Scholars

Accomplishments:

• Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Scholar

• Tri-Alpha Delta Phi Honor

• 2025 Quilting Waters Awardee

Upcoming Projects:

• Black Indigenous People of Color @ Mason Gross School of the Arts

• "The Migration of Andean Music and Cultural Traditions" IRT Research Project

Social and racial justice concerns appear in my work through my commitment to amplifying underrepresented voices and preserving the cultural traditions of marginalized communities. As a first-generation Latino student, musician, and aspiring ethnomusicologist, I focus on exploring how music and education can challenge systemic inequities, promote cultural sustainability, and foster inclusivity. Whether through my research on Afro-diasporic and Indigenous music traditions, leadership roles advocating for equity at Mason Gross, or mentoring first-generation students, I aim to create spaces where diverse identities and experiences are celebrated and justice is at the forefront of artistic and academic discourse.

https://globalracialjustice.rutgers.edu/what-we-do/directors-signature-research-projects/quilting-water