Contact:  Rick Peterson, Manager of News Services, 920/832-6590
For Immediate Release			          June 16, 1999


Lawrence University Conservatory Dean Leaving for Oberlin College


          APPLETON, WIS. -- Robert Dodson, dean of Lawrence University's
Conservatory of Music since 1989, is leaving the college to direct the
Oberlin College Conservatory of Music in Ohio.  He begins his new duties
July 1.
     As dean at Oberlin, Dodson will be responsible for the conservatory's
faculty, curriculum, financial operation, budget and hiring.
     During his tenure here, Lawrence doubled its conservatory enrollment,
enhanced its curriculum and standards and improved its national reputation.
Dodson also oversaw the construction of the 42,000-square foot Ruth Harwood
Shattuck Hall of Music, a major renovation of the Lawrence Memorial Chapel
and the installation of a 2,500-pipe Brombaugh mechanical organ.
     "I am sorry to see Dean Dodson leave Lawrence, but also acknowledge and
applaud his visionary and effective leadership of our music program over the
past decade," said Lawrence President Richard Warch.  "The standing and
stature of the conservatory have been markedly elevated and he leaves a
legacy of excellence and a program of distinction on which we will build for
decades to come.
     "I also have appreciated Robert's firm commitment to the liberal arts
college and his clear conviction that the symbiotic relationship of college
and conservatory is an institutional asset worth protecting and promoting,"
Warch added. "His representation of Lawrence and the conservatory to a
variety of publics, internal and in the community, has been one of his
principal contributions to the institution during his years here."
     The move comes with mixed emotions for Dodson, who expressed excitement
over the opportunities and challenges Oberlin presents, but sadness about
leaving the Lawrence and Fox Valley communities. 
     "My 10 years at the Lawrence Conservatory of Music have been among the
most fruitful and fulfilling of my career," he said. "I am enormously
grateful to the outstanding faculty, staff and students for all they have
done to make it so.  
     "It has been a rare privilege serving a great college and conservatory
with an extraordinary president at the helm," Dodson added. "Rik WarchÕs
example will be a continuing inspiration to me in the years to come.  I will
miss this community and the many friends and acquaintances I have come
cherish.  This has been a wonderful home for me and so it will always be."
     Like Lawrence, Oberlin features boasts a conservatory of music in the
context of a liberal arts college.  Located 35 miles southwest of Cleveland,
Oberlin is more than twice as large as Lawrence, with 2,900 students,
including 500 in its conservatory of music. Its conservatory is the nationÕs
oldest continuously operating conservatory.
     Prior to coming to Lawrence, Dodson held positions at the Royal
Conservatory of Music at the University of Toronto for eight years,
including principal.  The Royal Conservatory is CanadaÕs largest school of
music.  
     A cellist, Dodson served as associate professor of music and
artist-in-residence at Queens College, Kingston, Ontario, from 1969-81.  He
attended Columbia University, the New England Conservatory of Music and
Indiana University, where he earned his bachelor's and master's degrees in
music.