Lewis Creates New College Post of Third Assistant Dean

When Harry R. Lewis '68, dean of Harvard College, promoted David B. Fithian to assistant dean of the College, he didn't just give the Adams' House Allston Burr Senior Tutor a raise--he created an entirely new post in the College infrastructure.

Fithian joins the ranks of two other assistant deans of the College, bringing the total number of College administrators with "dean" in their title (excluding members of the Freshman Dean's Office) up to a plentiful eight.

Lewis has carved out a job description for Fithian that includes "responsibility for training and orienting new members of the College administration" and "for writing and editing major College publications."

The assistant dean position was advertised "as all Harvard jobs are posted," Lewis says, online and in the Harvard Gazette.

Lewis says he could not divulge whether he received any other applications for the assistant dean position or whether he interviewed any other candidates for the slot.

"The posting said 'strong internal candidate,' which means that we had identified a particular individual as the person to beat," Lewis writes. "The other information you want is confidential personnel information."

Associate Dean of Harvard College David P. Illingworth '71 says that Fithian was perfect for the post.

"Dean Lewis didn't want to pass him up," Illingworth says.

Fithian will also be responsible for thinking creatively about new uses for technology in the College.

Lewis says he would like to see the College's online offerings expanded so "information is easier to find online, and for students to supply online."

For example, the College might get rid of its paper forms for parties, housing and grant applications, Lewis says, and move to an entirely online format.

Both Lewis and Illingworth say that these are tasks that have been overlooked and need an administrator's full attention.

"The training and orientation will be of...Senior Tutors, resident tutors, and others new to the College who should learn by other than osmosis how to provide helpful and consistent service," Lewis writes.

Illingworth also notes that Fithian could serve as a point person for students to go to if they were confused about College rules or regulations.

Students are first supposed to consult with their residential advisors about College rules, but Illingworth says Fithian will be a good "interpreter" of those rules.

"He can help out with the rules and regulations for the student handbook, in terms of interpreting and helping us to write it," Illingworth says. "He could be a good interpreter of rules for students."

Technically, Fithian will wear two hats--for half of his time, he'll be an assistant dean of the College, and for the second half of his time he will be secretary of the Administrative Board.

Thurston Smith is retiring from the post of secretary and returning full time to the Registrar's Office.

Lewis writes in an e-mail message that he and several "senior members of the administration" have thought about creating the new post for almost a year.

"I knew I had to plan for a new Secretary of the Ad Board, and decided to combine that role with other needs," Lewis writes.

Fithian will continue as senior tutor in Adams House for the remainder of the current academic year while assuming his duties as assistant dean. Fithian has served as a lecturer in the department of Sociology and lecturer on Social Studies, as assistant dean of freshmen, and since 1998 has been the senior tutor in Adams House.

Fithian holds a B.A. from Clark University, and M.A., M.Phil. and Ph.D. degrees in Sociology from Yale University.

Staff writer Joyce McIntyre can be reached at jmcintyr@fas.