Dr. John E. Simons serves as Associate Professor of Choral and Church Music, Director of Graduate Studies and Director of The Townsend-McAfee Institute for Church Music Studies. Dr. Simons teaches graduate courses in church music, worship, conducting, and choral literature, and works as liaison between the Townsend School of Music and Mercer's McAfee School of Theology. He serves as founding conductor and artistic director of the Mercer University Children's Choir, founding conductor of the Mercer University Men’s Choir, and founding conductor of the Georgia Youth Choir Festival. Additionally, Dr. Simons is the Coordinating Editor of Celebrating Grace: Hymnal for Baptist Worship (scheduled for release in 2009), conductor and artistic director of the Choral Society of Middle Georgia, and a board member of the Macon Symphony Orchestra.

Dr. Simons holds a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Baylor University, a Master of Music degree in Conducting and Sacred Music from Baylor University, and a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Conducting from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.  His mentors in choral conducting were Hugh Sanders, Euell Porter, Richard Cox, Hilary Apfelstadt, and William P. Carroll.  An advocate of community music and the arts, Dr. Simons founded the Southern Piedmont Children's Choir Program in Asheboro, North Carolina, created the North Carolina United Methodist All-State Youth Choir, developed the Brevard College Sacred Music Project, and initiated the Church Music Camerata at Oklahoma Baptist University.  Prior to coming to Mercer University, he served as Coordinator of the Department of Church Music at Oklahoma Baptist University and Conductor of the Bison Glee Club and University Chapel Choir. Dr. Simons has also served as full-time minister of music in Tennessee and North Carolina, Director of Choral Activities at Greensboro College, Director of Choral Music and Drama at Eastern Randolph High School in Asheboro, North Carolina, and Director of Choral Music and Drama at Lamar Middle School in Temple, Texas. He is an active choral clinician and church music consultant, and has published articles concerning worship, church leadership, conducting young singers, and the cambiata or changing voice.

Dr. Simons is married to professional flutist and children's music specialist, Ellen Camille Simons, and together they have four children: Thomas (18), David (15), Jessica (10), and Christina (2).  In addition to family, college, and church activities, Dr. Simons enjoys golf, equestrian activities, and baseball.