Students and supporters of the Florida A&M University Marching 100 have launched an online petition advocating for Dr. Shelby Chipman as director of the university’s bands. The petition, which at the publishing of this post has collected 450 signatures, says that Chipman’s experience as a musician and mentor make him the best qualified candidate for the recently relaunched search.

As a professor at Florida A&M, Dr. Chipman’s students have become some of the most sought after music educators in the Southeast region, serving as a testament to his teaching ability. Recently, Dr. Chipman was one of four finalists to be selected as the Director of Marching and Pep Bands at Florida A&M University. Of the four final candidates, Dr. Chipman was the only candidate to present a tangible strategic plan to combat important issues the University is currently battling, as well as an effective and relevant restructuring plan for the Marching and Pep Bands.