Jill Johnson is no longer the Vice President for Marketing and Public Relations. Her services concluded on March 26, according to an email President Jay Simmons sent to faculty and staff that same day.

No reason was given explaining why she was terminated, but Simmons said in the email he will share more details as they become available.

“I am not at liberty to discuss individual personnel matters,” Simmons said in an email to the Simpsonian.

Bob Lane, Vice President for Advancement, is temporarily overseeing the office until a new director is hired.

“I am grateful that Bob Lane agreed to oversee the Marketing and Public Relations office for the next month or so. He had supervisory responsibilities for these offices at two other institutions before assuming his current position at Simpson,” Simmons said.

Lane oversaw the marketing and public relations offices at Cornell College and Illinois College before coming to Simpson. He began overseeing the Office of Marketing and Public Relations (OMPR) on March 27 and said his appointment will be short term.

“As the interim Director I will be responsible for the supervision of the office which includes Marketing, Public Relations, Conferences, the Athletic Communication Director and the copy center,” Lane said in an email to the Simpsonian.

Simmons plans to assess OMPR during this transition time.

“While Bob oversees this area, I will undertake discussions with a couple of well experienced marketing and public relations professionals about assessing a short-term assignment as director of (OMPR) and to conduct an assessment of the office’s organization and operations. The assessment will serve as a starting point for a new continuing director for OMPR,” Simmons said in the faculty email.

A search committee will be launched soon to find a permanent director for OMPR, Simmons said.