March 30, 2012 For Immediate Release
By Joan C. McKinney, news and publications coordinator
CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. - Dr. J. Robert Gaddis, professor of music who has served as chair and dean of the Campbellsville University School of Music for 26 years, has resigned as the dean but will continue teaching in the music department.
Gaddis' resignation is effective June 30 at the end of the 2011-12 academic year. He has been on the music faculty for 30 years and served as head of the CU School of Music for 26 years.
Dr. Frank Cheatham, vice president for academic affairs, said, “I appreciate the many years of leadership given by Dr. Gaddis to the School of Music and Campbellsville University. His role as dean and prior to that as chair has been instrumental in the success of the School of Music.”
Gaddis said he is moving back to a full-time music faculty position and will continue to serve the university in this position.
“I desire to complete my career as I started - as a teacher,” he said. “This change will also give me more time to spoil my grandchildren.”
Gaddis thanked all of his fellow music faculty “who have served with me in contributing to the advancement of the music program here at CU.”
Gaddis is a 1972 graduate of Western Kentucky University where he earned a bachelor of music in music education degree. In 1981, he received his master of arts in music education degree from Western, and, in 1992, he was awarded the doctorate in music education degree from the University of Kentucky.
He graduated from Muhlenberg Central High School in 1968.
Gaddis was named as the Distinguished Professor of Campbellsville University in 1999. In 2003, he was awarded the Distinguished Service Award from the Kentucky Music Educators Association.
He was guest conductor for the Busan (South Korea) Symphony Orchestra in June 2005 and has served as guest conductor of various honors bands and choirs in Kentucky.
He has served as minister of music in various churches across Kentucky and was two-term president of the Kentucky Music Educators Association, and he holds membership in the American Conductors Guild, Music Educators National Conference, Pi Kappa Lambda, Phi Mu Alpha and Phi Beta Mu Band Fraternity.
Before coming to Campbellsville University in 1982, Gaddis directed chorus and bands for seven years in public schools in Kentucky including Franklin-Simpson and Central City high schools.
Gaddis and his wife, Jeanne Berry Gaddis, have three children, John, Nathan and Jessica, and six grandchildren - Jovie, Jaydn and Jaxon Gaddis, children of Nathan and Bethany Gaddis; and Roe, Grayson and Drew Gaddis, sons of John and Becky Gaddis.
Gaddis is the son of Louise Gaddis of Madisonville, Ky., and the late Millard Gaddis.
Campbellsville University is a widely acclaimed Kentucky-based Christian university with more than 3,500 students offering 63 undergraduate options, 17 master's degrees, five postgraduate areas and eight pre-professional programs. The website for complete information is cjpk.net.