Music department seeks new chair, faculty

By Natalie DeFord, A&E Writer

The music department will be doing significant hiring — it needs a new department chair and it needs to fill a second music education position. Students were invited to attend presentations given by final candidates in both searches.

Linda  Miller, assistant professor of music, was the chair of record for the music education search, which was seeking a second assistant professor of music. She said the position was advertised nationally in The Chronicle of Higher Education and online at HigherEdJobs.

According to the job description, Pacific Lutheran University is looking for an “energetic teacher/scholar with a dedication to undergraduate education and collaborative learning.” The page also asks for someone with enthusiasm.

“We wish to maintain and strengthen the program and reputation PLU holds in the regional music education community,” Miller said.

The search is a careful process.

“It is important not only to identify an individual who meets the academic requirements of the position,” Miller said, “but who can enthusiastically support the goals of the institution and the priorities of our department.”

Miller said the search also considers whether the background of the candidate will complement the needs of the department and backgrounds of other faculty members.

The presentations students could attend were a priority as well. “Students are at the center of our work at PLU,” Miller said. “Our students are bright caring individuals who are service oriented.”

Three finalists presented on campus March 4, 6 and 11. Each candidate performed a conference presentation, a music education major class and a general classroom teacher class for non-music majors.

The current chair of the music department and David Robbins, a music professor, sent out an email to music students inviting them to attend the sessions. The email ended with, “Hope you can join us for some of the sessions. Your input is greatly valued.”

“We believe their voice is important in selecting a person who will be teaching many of their courses, or who may be advising important degree and career choices,” Miller said.

The committee is in the process of making its final recommendation to the SOAC Dean and the Provost, now that the candidate visits have been completed.

Read the April 4 issue of The Mast for details on the search for the next music department chair.

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