The union of these two in a single institution is a rare and precious accomplishment. The level of musical achievement at Oberlin is exceptional and the double-degree opportunity is very important. To appreciate the depth of Oberlin's offerings in the arts, consider also the riches of the Allen Art Museum. One need only see the current exhibits of German Expressionists, Renaissance prints, and examples from the Asian collection to sense the quality of its collections. You spent the last 10 years as dean of the Lawrence University Conservatory of Music, where you were credited with leading your faculty and staff to impressive achievements in enrollment, faculty recruitment, development and fundraising, capital projects, and a creative and committed approach to outreach.
Faculty are the heart of any great school.
The dean establishes an environment in which faculty can best achieve their aspirations, removing as many hurdles and roadblocks as possible and encouraging individuals' confidence in themselves, in their colleagues, and in their institution. I think that sums it up perfectly. Music learning has always been student-based, active learning with emphasis upon skills, not as an alternative to content but as an enabler of it. Of course there have been advances in our understanding of how people learn and of new pedagogical techniques and technologies. However, at the heart of music education, perhaps all education, are the student's desire to know and to be able, and the teacher's ability to guide that quest.