DePauw Stories

S. Kay Hoke, professor of music emerita at Gettysburg College and the former director of its Sunderman Conservatory of Music, will become the interim dean for DePauw’s School of Music, effective July 15.

Hoke, who began her career at Butler University in Indianapolis, will return to Indiana for a two-year appointment. With a presidential search underway, university leaders sought to fill the dean's position on an interim basis. The Board of Trustees voted March 3 to appoint Lori S. White, vice chancellor for student affairs at Washington University, DePauw's president, effective July 1. 

Hoke directed the Sunderman conservatory for 10 years before retiring from that spot and assuming the title of professor of music emerita. She was a music professor and chair of the Division of Fine Arts at Brevard College from 1998-2008 and taught at Butler from 1977-98.

She earned a bachelor’s degree in music from the University of Kentucky and a doctorate from the University of Iowa.

“We are extremely fortunate that Dean Hoke will bring such a rich set of faculty, administrative and professional experiences to DePauw,” said Dave Berque, interim vice president for academic affairs. “Her prior work with music programs in liberal arts settings leaves her perfectly positioned to help DePauw build on considerable strengths of our School of Music, all to the benefit of our students, faculty, staff and the greater Greencastle community.”

Mellasenah Morris, who was appointed in 2017, is retiring from the dean position.

“We owe a debt of gratitude to Dean Mellasenah Morris for her outstanding service as dean of the School of Music,” Berque said. “Dean Morris came to DePauw in a one-year interim position but is now concluding her third year of service. Her calm, steady, professional, caring demeanor will be missed by everyone who worked with her and we wish her the best in her (second!) retirement.”