diff --git a/www/roster/models/committee.rb b/www/roster/models/committee.rb
index 4406e60b34..5f31690337 100644
--- a/www/roster/models/committee.rb
+++ b/www/roster/models/committee.rb
@@ -120,7 +120,7 @@ def self.serialize(id, env)
     roster.each {|k, v| v[:member] = ASF::Person.find(k).asf_member?}
 
     if pmc.chair and roster[pmc.chair.id]
-      roster[pmc.chair.id]['role'] = 'PMC chair'
+      roster[pmc.chair.id][:role] = 'PMC chair'
     end
 
     # separate out the known ASF members and extract any matching committer details
diff --git a/www/roster/models/nonpmc.rb b/www/roster/models/nonpmc.rb
index 3c01a76fbe..9fadd3eacf 100644
--- a/www/roster/models/nonpmc.rb
+++ b/www/roster/models/nonpmc.rb
@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@ def self.serialize(id, env)
     end
 
     if cttee.chair and roster[cttee.chair.id]
-      roster[cttee.chair.id]['role'] = 'Committee chair'
+      roster[cttee.chair.id][:role] = 'Committee chair'
     end
 
     # separate out the known ASF members and extract any matching committer details