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Dr. Kamile Smith Geist

In lieu of flowers, family and friends of Dr. Kamile Smith Geist who prefer to provide a memorial contribution may do so. The family will use these to honor Dr. Kamile Smith Geist's life and memory. Please continue to keep the family in your thoughts throughout this challenging time.

Dr. Kamile Smith Geist, born on July 6, 1967, to Charles Smith and Wanda Sue Skinner, passed away on February 12, 2025. A native of West Monroe Louisiana, Kamile was a devoted wife to Eugene Geist and a loving mother to her sons, Michael Alan Geist and Dylan Thomas Charles O’Donnell. She is also survived by her sister, Karla Smith (Ann) and her Mother Wanda (Freeman).
She was a graduate of West Monroe High School where she was State Honor Band First Chair in clarinet. Kamile’s passion for music and education led her to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education from Baylor University. She began her career teaching middle school band in Plano, Texas, before pursuing a Master of Arts in Music Therapy at Texas Woman’s University. Her dedication to the field saw her working as a music therapy clinician in various Texas school districts and running her own private practice. She then completed her Ph.D. in educational research at Ohio University.
In 2003, Kamile joined Ohio University, where she taught and directed the Music Therapy programs. Her commitment to integrating music and health education was evident through her creation of a graduate-level Arts in Health curriculum and her leadership in various research projects. Her innovative “Keep a Beat” program, aimed at empowering teachers and caregivers to use music strategies for promoting positive interactions and learning outcomes, received national recognition.
In 2022, Kamile returned to her home state to join Louisiana State University as the first Ava & Cordell Haymon Endowed Chair of Music Therapy. She was instrumental in establishing LSU’s Bachelor of Music Therapy program, the first of its kind at a public institution in Louisiana. Her efforts culminated in her selection as a featured clinician for the 2025 Texas Music Educators Association Clinic/Convention, where she was set to lead workshops on music therapy and education.
Throughout her career, Kamile’s research was published in esteemed journals, and she presented her findings at conferences worldwide, including in Spain, Mexico, Colombia, Scotland, Ecuador, Austria, Canada, Italy, and Finland. Her dedication to her profession earned her numerous accolades, including the Ohio University School of Music Distinguished Faculty Teaching Award and the American Music Therapy Association’s Scholarly Activity Award and was an Ohio University Presidential Teaching Award Recipient in 2022.
Beyond her professional achievements, Kamile was known for her warmth, generosity, and unwavering commitment to her family, students, and colleagues. Her legacy will continue to inspire those who had the privilege of knowing her.
A celebration of her life service will be held at St. James Episcopal Church (to be announced). In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Kamile Geist Memorial Music Therapy Scholarship Fund in Kamile’s memory.