Jacquelyn Lankford, Starkville, Mississippi, an assistant professor of trumpet at Mississippi State University, was named as one of Yamaha Music USA’s 40 Under 40 Music Educators for 2024. The music education advocacy program honors educators who bring innovation into their classrooms. Lankford spearheaded the Women Composing for Trumpet competition, which highlights repertoire composed by women, and the Trumpet Festival at Mississippi State. She is also a founding member of Calypsus Brass, a chamber ensemble that performs pieces by living composers of color, marginalized genders and the LGBTQIA+ community. At UNT, Lankford earned a doctorate in trumpet performance.