Julie Combs joined the Oklahoma State University Music Department as Department Head and Professor in July 2005. Prior to her arrival at OSU, she served as Head of the Music Department at the University of Wyoming, a position she had held since 1999. She had taught oboe, music theory, and music history as a member of the Wyoming music faculty since 1978. Before her academic career, Julie was the fourth woman accepted as a member of The United States Army Band "Pershing's Own" in Washington, D. C. where she was principal oboe with the US Army Chamber Orchestra.

Combs holds the Bachelor of Music in Woodwinds (Oboe Performance) and the Master of Music (Oboe Performance) with Performer's Certificate from the University of Memphis. She completed her Doctor of Musical Arts degree at the University of North Texas where she performed on both the modern and baroque oboes. She has performed regularly as a soloist, chamber musician, and orchestral oboist on the oboe, oboe d'amore, and English horn.

Her research interests are women's musical roles in settling the western frontier, texted nineteenth century chamber music for winds, and women's roles in American band music. She has presented at meetings of the College Music Society, the Society for American Music, and for the National Association of Schools of Music. (NASM)

Dr. Combs serves NASM as a past member of the Ethics Committee, an accreditation visitor, and as a member of the Commission on Accreditation representing Master's Degree-granting Institutions. She is also member of the International Double Reed Society, the College Music Society, and the Siberian Husky Club of America.

In her spare time, Julie enjoys her eleven Siberian Huskies and shows them in conformation competition.