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Dingman, Herschbach Take on New College Roles
Gross Moves forward with plans to strengthen administration to reach goals
Cambridge, Mass. - January 6, 2005 - Harvard College Dean Benedict H. Gross, Leverett Professor of Mathematics, has announced the appointment of Thomas A. Dingman to the position of Dean of Freshmen, and Georgene Herschbach as the new Associate Dean of Undergraduate Academic Programs. Further, Gross said searches for two new positions, one for academic advising, the other in residential life, will begin soon.
"I am delighted that Tom and Georgene will assume these very important positions in the College. Each has served the University and the College for many, many years. Not only are they ideal for the positions they will assume, they know the institution, staff, and students very well," Gross said. "I am also pleased because Tom and Georgene will continue to play vital roles here as we move forward with our plans to build an administrative team that will help us reach our goals in the College," he said.
The new positions to be added include the Associate Dean of Academic Advising. Gross said this position is the result of a recommendation from the 2004 Interim report of the Curricular Review, and consultations with the Faculty of Arts and Sciences committee on advising and counseling. The Associate Dean for Academic Advising will coordinate, manage, and monitor the academic advising for all undergraduates.
The second new position will be Dean of Residential Life. Gross said the person in this role will be responsible for ensuring that the College provides an outstanding and seamless residential experience for all undergraduates. The Dean of Residential Life will "work directly with House Masters, the Dean of Freshmen, and the resident deans to ensure that all dorms and Houses offer students services of consistently high quality," Gross said.
Dingman, (Harvard '67, Graduate School of Education '73) currently Associate Dean of Residential Life, and Senior Tutor of Dudley House, will bring many years of experience, and much wisdom to the Dean of Freshmen position, Gross said. He has worked in admissions, served as the Senior Tutor in Leverett House, as a freshman proctor, a non-resident advisor, coordinated disability services, directed the parents' association, and taught in secondary schools. In addition, he has served on the FAS Standing Committee on Athletics, the FAS Standing Committee on Advising and Counseling, the College Crisis Response Team, the Student Health Coordinating Board, the Arts First Planning Committee, and the Administrative Board. He has had extensive experience working with students during transitions, and working with international students and students of color, having coordinated the Soviet Exchange Program and served as President of the Board of A Better Chance in Winchester, Mass. He was recently awarded the FAS Administrative Prize. Dingman will assume his new role on July 1, 2005.
Herschbach will move from her Administration and Finance role to Undergraduate Academic Programs beginning Jan. 10, 2005. Herschbach, who earned her Ph.D. in chemistry from Harvard, has more than 20 years of administrative experience in Harvard College. In addition to her current leadership position and eight years of service as the FAS Registrar, Georgene has served as an Assistant Dean and Director of Special Programs responsible for Advanced Standing, Special Concentrations, Transfer and Visiting Student Programs, and as the Co-Master of Currier House. She chaired the Classroom Committee during its first five years, and has also served on the Educational Policy Committee, the Committee on Undergraduate Education, the Administrative Board, and the Board of Directors of Let's Go, Inc., a student-run enterprise which publishes a travel guide series including 47 titles. Last year she served on the Curricular Review Working Group on Overall Academic Experience, chaired the sub-group on International Experience, and was the winner of the FAS Administrative Prize. Gross said a search will be conducted to fill the Associate Dean of Administration and Finance position.
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