New committee to advise on University administrative structure

A new, ad-hoc Administration Structure Advisory Committee has been created to evaluate the university’s administrative structure and the duties assigned to top administrative positions.

The committee will begin its work as President Jehuda Reinharz and President-Elect Frederick Lawrence embark on a search for replacements for two senior administrators who are stepping down. Senior Vice President for Students and Enrollment Jean Eddy is leaving at the end of September to take a position at the Rhode Island School of Design, and Provost Marty W. Krauss will step down no later than June 2011, after seven years in her current position, and return to the faculty of the Heller School for Social Policy and Management.

The committee, which will not be involved in interviewing candidates but in reviewing and making recommendations regarding the structure of these and other positions, will be chaired by Lisa Lynch, dean and professor of economics at Heller School. Members of the committee are:

Alwina Bennett, Assistant Provost for Graduate Student Affairs
Frances Drolette, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Kim Godsoe, Dean, Academic Services
Timothy Hickey, Chair of the Faculty Senate and Professor of Computer Science
Bruce Magid, Dean, International Business School, Martin and Ahuva Gross Chair in Financial Markets and Institutions
Keenyn D. McFarlane, Vice President for Students and Enrollment
Elaine Wong, Senior Associate Dean of Arts and Sciences

The group will seek guidance and suggestions from across the university community, Lawrence said in a campus-wide email announcing formation of the committee. Details of how the group's work will proceed and information about student involvement will be forthcoming, he added.

"This is a natural time to examine the structure of the administration and a normal part of a transition. It will serve the university in the long-term to think now about what works well," Lawrence said.

In his message, Lawrence thanked the committee members for agreeing to serve, and thanked the whole community “for your warm welcome, time and willingness to share your knowledge and your passion.”

“The last few weeks have been a pleasure for me as I’ve traveled around campus, meeting a great many of you and learning about Brandeis,” Lawrence said. “All of this has contributed to a smooth start to the presidential transition, which is now fully underway.

“I owe a special debt to President Reinharz for all his assistance,” Lawrence said. “There is certainly a lot for me to absorb in a fairly short period of time and much to be done, but this period of discovery has left me even more excited for the challenges ahead…I look forward to meeting more students, faculty and staff in the weeks ahead, and wish you the best this semester.”

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