Kilbridge to Resign As Dean of GSD

Maurice D. Kilbridge, dean of the Graduate School of Design (GSD), will resign his post on June 30, 1980, President Bok announced Friday.

Kilbridge, who has been dean of the GSD since 1970, said Saturday he would continue to teach and research at the GSD, where he is a member of the department of City and Regional Planning (CRP).

Kilbridge said he resigned because "it's been long enough for me, it's been long enough for the school and because I have other fish to fry," and not because of criticisms of his performance.

Reginald R. Isaacs, Norton Professor of Regional Planning Emeritus and chairman of the department of CRP from 1953 to 1964, however, charged Friday that Kilbridge resigned because he "lost the confidence and support of the alumni and the Overseers."

Isaacs added that he believes Kilbridge "has changed the CRP from a design school to a third-rate urban economics school."

However, Howard Bloom, assistant professor of city and regional planning, said yesterday he has seen the school "grow in quality, pride, and development of curriculum."

"I've watched the place turn around from a feeling of second-class citizenship in the University to one with a real feeling of pride," Bloom, who was a student at the GSD from 1970 to 1972 and who has been a full member of the faculty since 1976, added.

Bloom, who is also the faculty representative to the GSD alumni association, said, "the alumni have become more and more impressed with our quality in all our departments."

Try Harder

Avis Vidal, assistant professor in the department of city and regional planning, said yesterday that dissatisfaction with Kilbridge "can't be too widespread because I haven't run across that type of criticism" among junior faculty.

Kilbridge said alumni support for the GSD has increased recently and added that annual giving "has built up steadily over the past four or five years."

Bok said he was pleased with Kilbridge's performance as dean, adding that he believes Kilbridge "is leaving the school in much better shape" than he found it in.

Bok said he hopes to choose a new dean by early next fall. "I always begin with the feeling that someone within the school has a distinct advantage because he's familiar with the school and a known entity," Bok said. Some members of the department speculated that Gerald M. McCue, associate dean of the GSD, might get the job.

"However, there is always the possibility that someone from the outside will have the qualities and capabilities to outweigh those advantages," Bok added.