Moriarty Named New Assistant Provost

As Harvard begins to incorporate more and more technology into its curriculum, University officials announced today that they have appointed an assistant provost responsible for integrating advanced technology with traditional academics.

Daniel D. Moriarty will assume the post of assistant provost for information technology and chief information officer for the University on September 1.

Moriarty currently holds a similar position at Harvard Medical School (HMS) as assistant dean for information technology.

One of his main responsibilities will be co-chairing the Harvard Academic Computing Committee and working on projects such as distance learning and digital libraries.

Provost Harvey V. Fineberg '67 said he is excited to have Moriarty aboard.

"He's a wonderful person," Fineberg said. "He has a terrific background both in technology and the University."

Susan S. Walsh filled the position on an interim basis, but Moriarty is the first to be permanently appointed.

Walsh will now be the executive director of information technology infrastructure and will work closely with her successor.

"It is hard for me to imagine a stronger leadership team in [information technology] at the center of the University than Daniel Moriarty and Susan Walsh," Fineberg wrote in a memo announcing Moriarty's appointment.

Walsh, who remains in charge of University Information Systems, said she is very enthusiastic about Moriarty joining the provost's office.

"When you look at his track record in the Medical School and his ability to work collaboratively across the University, I think he'll be tremendously successful as our leader," Walsh said.

At HMS, Moriarty handled a wide range of technology issues, including Y2K compliance for HMS systems. His new University-wide role will cover much of the same material along with overseeing Project ADAPT, a plan to integrate new technology into Harvard's business and administrative functions.

Moriarty will also study new uses for technology in the academic world.

"I think he will be focusing a lot of his efforts on how to use technology to support academics at the University," Walsh said.

Moriarty is the latest addition to the rapidly expanding provost's office that boasts three other assistant provosts. The last to join the office was Sean T. Buffington '91--who is responsible for interfaculty programs--in May.

Fineberg said that though Moriarty's position is three years old, he hopes the assistant provost will bring new ideas and a new focus.

"The position is not brand new but it is a widened responsibility, especially on the academic computing front," Fineberg said.