The Dean, for Certain

In early July, when he was still dean of admissions, L. Fred Jewett '57 said he was looking for a job that paid more and required less work.

Beginning Thursday, Jewett will be the dean of Harvard College.

Jewett now says: "I'm not sure either of those goals have been reached."

Uncertainty has always followed Fred Jewett, who will replace outgoing Dean of the College John B. Fox Jr. '59. But certainty has always followed uncertainty.

Jewett contends that he never intended to spend his life at Harvard, but says he planned instead to take his 1960 MBA into the business world. But since he became one of the original senior advisors back in 1958, Jewett has been as much a part of Harvard as the Ivy on University Hall.

Jewett spent the following 19 years living in Harvard Yard, five of them while serving as dean of admissions and financial aids.

In between graduating from business school and becoming the College's top administrator, Jewett has moved up the admissions ladder, getting promoted every time he tired of doing the job he was doing.

In 1962, Jewett was assistant dean of freshmen, but still unsure whether he wanted to remain in the academic world. In 1964, he was hired by then-Dean of Admissions Fred Glimp.

In 1967, he was uncertain whether he wanted to stay in the admissions world, but a job quickly opened up and he became director of freshman scholarships (a position that no longer exists). When Jewett tired of than post in 1972. Chase Peterson stepped down as dean of admissions, and Jewett found a new home.

Ever since, Jewett has been synonymous with Harvard admissions. His tenure at the admissions office also saw the continued maintenance of need-blind admissions (in which students are accepted no matter their financial status), he also led the admissions office through what he called the "integration and merger of Harvard and Radcliffe."

"He will certainly be remembered for his continued work on minority admissions, maintaining strong regional representation and diversity, and increasing the number of women," says former Director of Admissions William R. Fitzsimmons '68.

But after 13 years of diversity, Jewett was again ready for a change. He says he probably would have moved on event if he bad not been named dean of the College yesterday by A. Michael Spence, the dean of the Faculty.

"One brings to this job an initial burst of energy and ideas, but I felt it was about time for a new person in this area," says Jewett, who claims he "had given what there was to give to the area of admissions and financial aids."

Now, after being the only administrator who students know before rather than during their four years at Harvard, Fred Jewett is the College's top official. And, for the first time in 13 years, he will deal directly with upperclassmen.

Jewett says he is looking forward to the change. His new job now gives him what he calls the opportunity to "try to help make Harvard the place we [at the admissions office] say it is to incoming freshmen."

He also relishes the opportunity "not to be constantly working with a new group of students." But he adds that one of the things he will miss most about his old job is "the closure and fulfillment that you come to once a year" when the admissions process is completed.

As dean of the College, Jewett says he hopes he can establish a sense of community at Harvard, one marked by "communication, cooperation, and contact."

"I'm hoping that we can have a community that can tolerate a lot of concern and views about a certain issue without developing hostilities," says Jewett.

But not everything will be fun and games. Tossed into Jewett's lap as he enters office are the $27 million Quad renovations, controversy surrounding the recently-reactivated Committee on Rights and Responsibilities, and an ever increasing wave of campus protest against University investments in South Africa.

Fox says many of the issues facing Jewett are ones that he, too, faced when he took over the job from Charles P. Whitlock back in 1976. "I don't think he needs any advice, though," says Fox.

Jewett certainly doesn't think so either. For while he is uncertain how people will react to him, he is certain that his primary goal is to develop a good relationship with students.

Indeed, Jewett has spent a good deal of time getting to know students. For many years, he has served on the College's Administrative Board. Currently an associate of Quincy House, the Taunton, Mass. native has also spent time getting to know undergraduates who aren't facing disciplinary probation.

He says he will continue to live on or near campus. And, given Fred Jewett commitment to Harvard and its students, you can be certain of that.