The School of Music lost a central administrative figure this summer when Assistant Dean Brennetta Simpson resigned after seven years. But some students say the move highlights the undergraduate department’s need to restructure itself and offer stronger scheduling guidance.

Music Dean Bernard Dobroski said Simpson, who was on leave for part of the summer, resigned to “pursue other interests.”

Linda Garton, a lecturer who serves as assistant to the dean and as a talent development instructor, has been named acting director of undergraduate studies, Dobroski said. Garton has been with the school for four years. She could not be reached for comment.

“The faculty needs to sit down and discuss the future of the office,” Dobroski said. “But right now we have many checks and balances making sure advising and orientation week were business as usual.”

Dobroski said he expects to meet with faculty by mid-October to discuss the position, which supervises and coordinates advising for the school’s 400 undergraduate students.

Music students were not informed about Simpson’s resignation. Many students only heard about her departure by word of mouth or through inquiries from Daily reporters.

Music junior Jonathan Swygert said he blames Music administrators for not telling students about Simpson’s departure.

“It comes as a shock that we weren’t informed she had resigned,” he said. “I had no idea this happened.”

Simpson, who also taught a music education class, had served as assistant dean since 1994. Prior to joining Northwestern, she worked as a music teacher in the Chicago suburbs for 12 years and as music supervisor for Evanston/Skokie School District 65.

Simpson could not be reached for comment.

As assistant dean for undergraduates, she aided Dobroski as a facilitator in the Kid’s Fare series, a musical program for children at Pick-Staiger Concert Hall.

Simpson also oversaw the school’s registration process, which is more difficult for Music students than those at other schools because they take many half-credit classes. Students said they recognize the importance of the position and said they would like to see the future undergraduate dean offer more advising guidance.

Music junior Angela Bagnetto said she expects the new assistant dean to be more involved in scheduling.

“They need to give us more advice on our classes and what we need to do to graduate,” Bagnetto said. “I don’t even have a counselor in the School of Music. I’ve spent the last (two) years asking upperclassmen to help me with my schedule.”

But Music junior Paula Brusky said she doesn’t think Simpson was responsible for registration flaws.

“She was always very accommodating to me and really put the student first,” Brusky said. “I’m kind of distressed she’s not here. I would have liked to have known.”

Swygert also said Simpson’s replacement should offer more guidance in selecting courses.

“Some students don’t have any concrete idea what they want to do with music,” he said. “It is always hard going into the unknown without guidance.”

Swygert said he also hopes the new undergraduate dean will augment the school’s chronically minimal practice space.

“I always have negative experiences showing up motivated to practice and then having nowhere to go,” Swygert said.