Dr. Foley's research interests include George Perle's theory of twelve-tone tonality and music theory pedagogy. An active member of the Society for Music Theory, Music Theory Midwest (Treasurer), and the College Music Society, she has presented her work at regional and national meetings of these associations throughout the United States, and at international conferences in Germany, Spain, and Costa Rica.
Dr. Foley's publications include: "The Efficacy of K-Nets in Perlean Theory," Music Theory Online 13.3 (2007); “Analysis for Performance: A Method for Practical Application,” College Music Symposium 46 (2007); “Sum Squares and Pentagrams: Two New Tools for Perlean Analysis,” Theory and Practice 32 (2007); “Studying Perle’s Motivic Process through Contour Transformation,” Journal of Music Theory Pedagogy 20 (2006): 37-56; “Computer-Assisted Analysis of Music in Perle’s System of Twelve-Tone Tonality” (co-authored with Dr. Charles Cusack), Computer Music Journal 30/3 (2006): 53-66; “Arrays and K-Nets: Transformational Relationships Within Perle’s Twelve-Tone Tonality,” Indiana Theory Review 23 (2002): 69-97; “Mutation as Compositional Process in ‘Etude No.4’ (from George Perle’s Six Etudes for Piano),” Studies in Music from the University of Western Ontario 19-20 (2001): 257-271; “Structural Relationships in George Perle’s Cyclic Sets,” in Systems Research in the Arts, Volume II: Music, Environmental Design and the Choreography of Space, edited by George E. Lasker, James Rhodes and Jane Lilly, by the International Institute for Advanced Studies in Systems Research and Cybernetics (2000), 99-109.
At the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Dr. Foley coordinates the freshman musicianship program, and teaches undergraduate core theory and aural skills, and graduate courses in counterpoint, post-tonal music theory, music theory pedagogy, history of music theory, and analysis for music educators. Dr. Foley received the Hixson-Lied College of Fine and Performing Arts Distinguished Teaching Award for 2007, and a UNL Parents Association and UNL Teaching Council-sponsored Certificate of Recognition for Contributions to Students in 2005. She has been a reader for the College Board's AP Music Theory Exams since 2002.
Dr. Foley has performed extensively as a member of numerous chamber choirs and ensembles and as a collaborative pianist. She has also served as musical director for a variety of community musical productions in St. John's, Canada, and is currently on the board of directors of Lincoln's Pinewood Bowl Inc. Dr. Foley directs the Family Choir at St. Joseph's Catholic Church and is Treasurer for the St. Joseph's Conference of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul - Lincoln Council.
