Former Dean To Review U. Hall

Incoming Interim President Derek C. Bok has asked a former administrator to take an informal look at academic administration in University Hall, in preparation for the appointment of the new dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences.

Carol J. Thompson, who was the Faculty’s associate dean for academic affairs from 1993 to 2000, has stepped out of retirement to conduct low-key talks with senior staff in University Hall, department chairs, and others.

“This is an informal, constructive look at what might be helpful for [Faculty] Dean [William C.] Kirby’s successor as he or she takes office,” Thompson said.

Thompson was approached by Bok a couple of weeks ago, and she has since spoken to some administrators, including Kirby, divisional deans, and department heads.

Thompson will be compiling advice and thoughts on how the academic administration is functioning both internally within University Hall and externally in its relations with departments.

Her conversations will be focused on academics and will not look at matters of finance or student life.

Thompson’s findings will be submitted only to Bok and the new dean, and will not be publicly released.

Bok could not be reached for comment last night.

However informal, Thompson’s “constructive look” at University Hall will be one of the first documents waiting for the dean who will take the helm of FAS after Kirby leaves at the end of June.

“With all this transition it’s a good time to take stock of everything,” said Dean of the College Benedict H. Gross ’71, who said Thompson is a “wonderful, wonderful person.”

Thompson left University Hall in 2000 and served as senior adviser to the dean of the Kennedy School of Government before retiring in 2004.

—Staff writer Lulu Zhou can be reached at luluzhou@fas.harvard.edu.