Human Resources Shaken by Change

The same rough winds of change which shook Harvard's central administration this year rocked the office of Human Resources, leaving it temporarily without a leader.

Former Associate Vice President for Human Resources Diane Patrick announced in March that she would leave her position to accompany her husband, Deval L. Patrick '78, who was appointed assistant attorney general for civil rights, to Washington, D.C.

Her departure came during the same spring that Provost Jerry R. Green unexpectedly left his job.

Patrick said she would remain in Cambridge through the first of this month to ensure an easy transition for her replacement, Candace R. Corvey, the former associate dean for finance in the Faculty of Arts and Sciences.

"If and when my husband is confirmed, he will be needed in Washington as soon as possible and he will transfer his personal life to Washington," Patrick said in a March interview. "I will remain to settle things in terms of schooling, housing and other needs to be addressed."

Corvey officially assumed her duties on the first of this month, but Patrick's departure began to affect the department as soon as it was announced.

A Bumpy ride

The office, which has authority over matters of concern for Harvard's employees such as labor relations, training and benefits administration, has seen a rapid succession of six directors in the past six years.

Prior to Patrick's appointment in June 1992, the office was regarded by many as something of an unwanted stepchild in Harvard's central administration. Control of the office passed from the auspices of the vice president for finance to Sally H. Zeckhauser, vice president for administration, in May 1991.

Zeckhauser, who oversaw the hiring of Corvey as Patrick's replacement, lamented the loss of a talented leader who had helped to bring direction to an office which had been traditionally listless.

"What's good news for the country is bad news for Harvard," Zeckhauser said of Deval Patrick's appointment.

Zeckhauser announced a nationwide search and enlisted the aid of Karen Wilcox, a consultant with the Boston firm of Isaacson, Miller & Boulware.

But Zeckhauser announced a University insider to replace Patrick in less than two months, leading some to speculate that the national search was national in name only.

Although Zeckhauser praised Corvey's "sense of humor" and management skills--attributes suggested as requisites for the job in a Gazette advertisement announcing the position--the vice president of administration's memo excuses the new leader's lack of human resources expertise.

"Candace has spent the past few weeks talking with a wide variety of people involved with human resources both centrally and in the schools," Zeckhauser wrote in a memo obtained by The Crimson.

"Throughout this process, Candace impressed everyone...with her impressive grasp of crucial human resources issues, such as benefits and compensation," she wrote.

Troubled Office

Despite Zeckhauser's enthusiastic endorsement, Corvey will face some difficulties as she moves into her new position this month.

Patrick said earlier this spring that the transition of her successor would be eased by the senior staff, but three of her top directors in the office left after her announcement.

Carolyn Chamberlin, the director of communications, took a similar position at Radcliffe on March 14. Marianne L. Howard, former associate director of retirement programs. left for MIT. Howard said her move was unrelated to Patrick's departure.

Director of Benefits Administration Joan Bruce also left the office this spring.

Office infighting also remains a concern in human resources. At an office farewell party for Howard, the staff performed a skit entitled "Dysfunctional Family Feud."

One team in the skit included the president of Harvard, a senior faculty member, the director of human resources and a member of the Harvard resources and a member of the Harvard Union of Clerical and Technical Workers (HUCTW). Only the union member answered questions correctly.