I would like to clarify the issue of department chair in the music department.

Your article posted on Feb. 14, 2012 seems to suggest that the music department is without a department chair. This is not true.

The fact is that John Benoit has been serving as interim department chair since the death of Maria DiPalma last spring. He was appointed by me to serve the last few months of last year and for all of the 2011-2012 academic year.

Academic department chairs at Simpson College are appointed by the academic dean. In my opinion, Benoit has been very helpful in a time of transition.

At the present time, I am meeting with all full-time faculty members in the music department and others to seek their guidance on who might be an appropriate chair for the next three-year term.

This follows a process that I have used for the past six years. A decision about the future department chair in the music department will be made in the coming weeks.

Thank you.