Kennedy School Looks for Cohesion

After years of expansion, the Kennedy School of Government this year focused on consolidation. With a new dean at the helm, the school is seeking to create a more cohesive institution.

Littauer Professor of Public Policy Albert Carnesale succeeded Price Professor of Politics Robert D. Putnam as dean of the school in November, after serving one semester as acting dean.

The former academic dean says the goal of his deanship will be to "consolidate" the school's resources and create a more efficient machine.

"We've gotten students more engaged in the activities of our research centers, for example," says Carnesale. "We've gotten staff and the administration more engaged and informed about teaching and research activities in the school."

Many of Carnesale's colleagues describe his deanship as more active and open than his predecessors," saying his efforts have done much to galvanize the community.

"Graham Allison was extremely intelligent and visible. Putnam was put her too brief a time [two years] to leave a specific imprint...[but] he was very concerned about academic standards," says Marvin Kalb, Murrow professor of press and public policy.

"Carnesale comes in a time when the school is searching for a new definition of purpose...He's been here long enough to know where the school has been and where it's going," says Kalb, who is also the director of the Joan Shorenstein Barone Center on the Press, Politics and Public Policy.

Pierce Professor of Technology and Public Policy Harvey Brooks says, "I think he's somewhat better in communicating with the faculty than his predecessors."

In addition to consolidating resources, Carnesale is trying to strengthen the school's ties to the greater Harvard community. He is active in the University's academic planning process and is bolstering the Kennedy School's programs in education, economic policy-making and health policy-making, programs that Harvard's other schools are interested in.

Consolidation

One of Carnesale's achievements has been reorganizing the structures of the faculty and administration, says Francis M. Bator, Ford Foundation professor of international political economy.

According to Bator, Professor of Public Policy David T. Ellwood, who will replace Carnesale as academic dean, "will principally be responsible for the management of personnel issues and staffing."

Two other positions were created through consolidation to assist the dean. "Joe Kalt [Professor of Political Economy] will be responsible for research centers..[and Baker Professor of Public Management Herman B.] Leonard will be responsible for the curriculum," he says.

Another example of Carnesale's attempt to consolidate is appointing junior faculty to new posts created by consolidation, according to Kennedy School spokesperson Steven R. Singer. This will enable more faculty members to be more active in the Kennedy School community, he says.

"I suspect that is also going to be a kind of liberating experience with people not feeling bogged down in bureaucracy," Kalb says.

Even with all the changes this year, old concerns such as faculty diversity remain. Approximately 200 students attended a December really calling for diversity in Kennedy School's faculty hiring. The event, held at the ARCO forum, came a day after Carnesale hosted a "town meeting" to personally address concerns.

And in April, many Kennedy School students joined their Harvard graduate school peers in a one-day "Strike" for diversity.

Carnesale assured students that the situation is improving. According to Executive Dean Richard E. Cavanagh, new junior faculty appointments, which were announced this week, are an example of Carnesale's commitment to providing diversity.

Of the 10 junior faculty members appointed, Cavanagh says, "two are women and two are people of color."

Although steps are being taken to increase diversity, measures to improve the school's financial situation appear to have met with more immediate success. Not only has the school managed to eliminate last year's $300,000 deficit, which has been atrribiuted to the construction of the new Taubman building, but the school approaches Commencement with a $100,000 surplus, according to several faculty members.

The reversal of the deficit was achievedlargely by cutting some administrative costsacross the board and consolidating severalofficers, according to Singer. at the same time,the school managed to actually in crease theamount of financial and it offered to students, hesays.

"It took a substantial amount of time, effortand emotional action to work out. [But] theplanning process was a vehicle for doing a lot ofthings that a new dean would want to do,"Carnesale says.

But Bator cautions against considering theissue solved. "Finances are an ongoing problem forall universities--I don't think we're special inthat respect. [Also], we don't have a large bodyof alumni with big fat pocketbooks. But, on thewhole financially...I think we're in pretty goodshape," he says.

While the Kennedy School is facing internalchanges, the institution is gearing up for apolitically exciting year. The school played hostto a number of past, present and possibly futurepresidential candidates, in cluding U.S. Sen.Edward M. Kennedy '54-'56 (D-Mass), ArkansasGovernor and Democratic presidential candidateBill Clinton and New York Governor Mario Cuomo.

Former Soviet President Mikhail S. Gorbachevalso delivered a speech at the school and answeredquestions from the audience of students.

After the November elections, the school willcontinue its tradition of inviting newCongressional members to a short training sessionon major national issues at the school. Carnesaleexpects a record 125 to 150 participants. "All ofthe media and the world are likely to have theireyes on this class," he says.

In addition, in September the school will againhost a group of Russian admirals and generalsstudying decision-making in a democracy

The reversal of the deficit was achievedlargely by cutting some administrative costsacross the board and consolidating severalofficers, according to Singer. at the same time,the school managed to actually in crease theamount of financial and it offered to students, hesays.

"It took a substantial amount of time, effortand emotional action to work out. [But] theplanning process was a vehicle for doing a lot ofthings that a new dean would want to do,"Carnesale says.

But Bator cautions against considering theissue solved. "Finances are an ongoing problem forall universities--I don't think we're special inthat respect. [Also], we don't have a large bodyof alumni with big fat pocketbooks. But, on thewhole financially...I think we're in pretty goodshape," he says.

While the Kennedy School is facing internalchanges, the institution is gearing up for apolitically exciting year. The school played hostto a number of past, present and possibly futurepresidential candidates, in cluding U.S. Sen.Edward M. Kennedy '54-'56 (D-Mass), ArkansasGovernor and Democratic presidential candidateBill Clinton and New York Governor Mario Cuomo.

Former Soviet President Mikhail S. Gorbachevalso delivered a speech at the school and answeredquestions from the audience of students.

After the November elections, the school willcontinue its tradition of inviting newCongressional members to a short training sessionon major national issues at the school. Carnesaleexpects a record 125 to 150 participants. "All ofthe media and the world are likely to have theireyes on this class," he says.

In addition, in September the school will againhost a group of Russian admirals and generalsstudying decision-making in a democracy