Nelson Leaves Radcliffe To Take Post at UCLA

Today marks the last day in office for Radcliffe College Vice President Barbara J. Nelson, who will leave to become dean of the School of Public Policy and Social Research at the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA).

Nelson officially tendered her resignation yesterday, according to Radcliffe officials, and will assume her position at UCLA effective tomorrow.

The crimson first reported Nelson's pending departure on Sept. 18.

Nelson will serve as the first permanent dean of the school, which was founded in 1994.

Nelson described herself as "tremendously excited" and expressed mixed emotions about leaving Radcliffe.

"On the one hand, I have a lot of pride in contributing to Radcliffe's successes," she said. "On the other hand, I feel a lot of sadness in leaving my close colleagues and the excellent programs."

According to Jim Tranquada, a public information officer for UCLA, Nelson "will be the chief academic and administrative officer for the school."

450 graduate students are currently enrolled at the School of Public Policy and Research, Tranquada said.

The school offers a master's degree in policy studies and both a master's and doctorate in social welfare and urban planning.

Nelson said she sees the deanship as an excellent opportunity to mold UCLA's public policy offerings while advancing her own work in the field.

Nelson said her research focuses on solving policy problems through a "boundary-spanning" approach.

"I have a much more integrative approach, and I think that is going to be the new direction for this field," she said.

Radcliffe administrators and student leaders said they will miss Nelson.

"We are very proud to have our vice president selected to lead this new policy school," President Linda S. Wilson said in a statement read by spokesperson Lyn Chamberlin. "It is an extraordinary professional opportunity for Barbara. However, we'll miss her leadership, creativity and energy."

Wilson could not be reached for direct comment.

"We'll miss her because she's a strong academic presence," said Mary M. Dunn, director of the Schlesinger Library.

Corinne E. Funk '97, co-president of the Radcliffe Union of Students and a Crimson executive, praised Nelson highly.

"I love her", Funk said. "She's a great asset for Radcliffe. She's a wonderful professor and a terrific scholar. I'll miss her terribly."

Radcliffe has chosen not to appoint an interim vice president but instead will have Wilson assume Nelson's duties, according to Chamberlin.

Radcliffe's dean of educational programs and the directors of the college's four research institutes will now report directly to Wilson.

At the time of Nelson's appointment to the Radcliffe post, The Crimson reported that the vice presidency was created in part to take pressure off of Wilson.

Chamberlin said she expects a search for a new vice president to follow eventually.