Passing the Baton: Erickson succeeds Folliard as SOM dean

For the past six months, Peter Folliard has balanced two of Augustana University’s most distinct leadership roles: vice president for innovation and the inaugural dean of the School of Music. That dual appointment officially ended on Feb. 1.

In a shift designed to prioritize the university’s digital strategy, Folliard has left the dean’s office to focus exclusively on his vice presidency. Matthew Erickson, who previously served as director of operations and community partnerships as well as director of instrumental studies, has stepped in as the interim dean of the School of Music.

President Stephanie Herseth Sandlin said the change was necessary, as Folliard’s dual role was no longer sustainable.

“I just needed him to be in the position full time, which then allows a full-time interim dean in Professor Matt Erickson to give students and faculty in the School of Music the attention they deserve as well,” Herseth Sandlin said.

The decision to separate Folliard’s roles follows a rapid rate of change in university technology and is primarily focused on two of the university’s enterprise goals: reimagining the Mikkelsen Library and overseeing the university’s digital strategy.

As chair of the library task force, Folliard is tasked with transforming the facility into an integrated hub for student learning.

The second goal, digital strategy, involves managing the recent upgrades in university-wide technology including the Jenzabar One (J1) student information system, the ADP human resources platform and the RAMP expense platform. Folliard believes the shift is necessary to ensure the university receives the full benefits from these changes.

“We’ve made these major investments, and we need to continue to realize the opportunity from those investments,” Folliard said.

A major component of this digital strategy is the university’s approach to artificial intelligence. Folliard is currently working on an on-campus AI summit to bring students and employers together to discuss workforce expectations as they relate to AI. The initiative also includes “upskilling” faculty on these tools to ensure classroom instruction keeps pace with technological change.

Folliard’s transition fully into his new role is a significant shift for Folliard who, at 42, says he has only ever known life as “Pete the Musician.” Despite this change though, Folliard says he views his new role through the lens of a conductor.

“A conductor gets a score from a composer that is, in this case, a strategic plan or a new system rollout,” Folliard said. “Everyone’s got this role to play, and who especially in this technical space is helping to coordinate that so we get a symphony out of it as opposed to a cacophony.”

While Folliard orchestrates the university’s digital strategy, Matthew Erickson takes the podium at the School of Music.

Erickson, who retired from the United States Air Force bands in 2022, came to Augustana as the director of operations. Over the last three and a half years, Erickson’s responsibilities have expanded from managing daily operations to conducting ensembles and building community partnerships. More recently, Erickson was named the director of instrumental studies.

Like Erickson, Folliard also served in the United States Air Force as a conductor, and that shared military background heavily influenced his succession plan.

“The first thing that you were responsible for doing in an assignment was assigning a second person — assigning a backup, a deputy,” Folliard said.

Folliard noted that Erickson had essentially taken on that deputy role over the last two years. As Erickson’s responsibilities grew, Folliard said the succession plan was “gradual, segmented, intentional.”

“It was starting to sound a lot like an assistant dean portfolio,” Folliard said. “It was like, I think we’re ready.”

As interim dean, Erickson emphasized that his primary focus is to “care for the people,” specifically the faculty and students. While the “interim” title might imply maintaining the status quo, Erickson said he views the position as an opportunity to be “available and flexible” as new opportunities arise. He will lead the school during the university's search for a permanent dean in the position.

Drawing on his experience overseeing hundreds of personnel in the Air Force, Erickson said he isn’t intimidated by the administrative weight of the position.

“That level of oversight, that level of responsibility, the level of care for people actually emboldens me,” Erickson said. “I’m very comfortable working for the people and serving them, and working tirelessly for that.”

For Erickson, one of the most surprising aspects of the transition was the number of students stopping by his office to offer congratulations.

Senior music education and Spanish double major Zachary Van Meter said that while no one is happy to see Folliard leave the dean’s office, there is a deep sense of confidence in his replacement.

“[Erickson] is one of the most organized and precise people I’ve ever known. He brings such work ethic and concrete ideas for not only what needs to be improved but also what’s going well,” said Van Meter. “He doesn’t just solve the problems; he gives us the tools to solve them in the future.”

Because of his new administrative duties, Erickson will take a step back from conducting ensembles, a change Van Meter called “sad to see.” However, Van Meter noted that Erickson has vowed never to give up directing the trombone choir.

Erickson steps into the dean’s office with a heavy spring itinerary already underway. His priorities include the 130th anniversary celebration of the Augustana Band in April, which aims to raise $130,000 for impact scholarships, and a tour to the Des Moines area featuring around 200 individuals.

Even as he steps away from the dean’s office to focus on campus-wide innovation, Folliard said he will continue to advocate for the School of Music “at a higher level.”

“The job is to always leave it better than you found it,” Folliard said. “And I feel really, really good about this handoff because it’s better than we found it.”