Morva Croxson

Croxson was born in 1934,^[1] and was educated at Otago Girls' High School and St Dominic's College in Dunedin.^[2][3] She went on to study at the University of Otago, Victoria University of Wellington and the University of Auckland, graduating from the latter with a Bachelor of Music degree in 1965.^[4] She earned a Diploma of Teaching in 1979,^[4] and graduated from Massey University in 1988 with a Master of Philosophy in education for her thesis titled The effect of music therapy on motor control of cerebral palsied children.^[5]

To celebrate the centenary of women's suffrage in New Zealand, Croxson was selected as one of eight women to give graduation addresses at Massey University in 1993.^[6]

In 1997, she was the first woman to be appointed chancellor of Massey University. She served in that role from 1998 to 2002.^[7]

In the 1995 Queen's Birthday Honours, Croxson was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire, for services to arts and the community.^[8] She was made a life member of Music Therapy New Zealand in 1999.^[9] In 2003, she was awarded a Doctor of Literature (honoris causa) by Massey University.^[10]