Gwendolyn Freed is the interim director of the School of Music in the University of Minnesota's College of Liberal Arts. Previously, she served as director of development at the Humphrey School of Public Affairs for six years. Prior to that, Freed was vice president for institutional advancement at Cornish College of the Arts, executive director of the college scholarship organization Wallin Education Partners, and vice president for marketing and communication at Gustavus Adolphus College.

Her writing has appeared in The Wall Street Journal, The Chronicle of Higher Education, and The Higher Education Handbook of Theory and Research. She holds a PhD in Educational Policy and Administration from the University of Minnesota, an MPA in Public and Nonprofit Leadership and Management from the Humphrey School, and music degrees from Oberlin Conservatory and The Juilliard School.