Dean Epps Returns From Medical Leave

After a six-week medical leave--two weeks shorter than his doctors predicted--Dean of Students Archie C. Epps III has returned to his job at the College in good spirits and good health.

In the middle of August, Epps went on leave to undergo a kidney transplant but instead faced unplanned cardiac bypass surgery, the veteran administrator said yesterday in an interview from his University Hall office.

"I went in for a kidney transplant, which was to be a gift from my wife--one of her kidneys--but they discovered that I had heart problems and had to fix that first," Epps said.

He will get the kidney transplant within four months, once he has healed completely from his most recent surgery, he said.

This week, he is working half-days from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. He said he will resume working full-time next week.

In addition, Epps said he is planning to spend a night on the town this weekend at the Undergraduate Council's Gala Ball, which he will attend with his wife.

"The first thing is to try to help the council have a good ball this weekend," Epps said, adding that he spoke with the event's organizers yesterday morning to confirm plans.

Such a ball, which will bring faculty and students together, is important to foster a sense of community at Harvard, Epps said.

"We have all these resources and all these bright people. I don't think that we pause enough to thank each other for what we do," Epps said. "This is an occasion that I hope will become part of the Harvard tradition--an event that brings Harvard students and faculty together."

Although Epps has been away from his office, he said he has kept abreast of goings-on at the College.

There is "nothing pressing at the moment" besides the ball, but on his agenda for the end of the month is the usual registration of College student groups, he said.

During his time at home in Belmont, Epps said he rested a lot--"the body demanded lots of sleep"--and read--"mostly [Winston] Churchill."

"He's such an enigmatic figure," said Epps, who read biographies of both the British head of state and his father, Lord Randolph Churchill, during his leave. "It's an avocation of mine. I have lots of books of his."

Assistant Dean of Students Sarah E. Flatley said yesterday she is glad to have Epps back.

"We work well together, I think and it's good to be able to bounce ideas off him," Flatley said, adding that Epps looks "great.

Although Epps has been away from his office, he said he has kept abreast of goings-on at the College.

There is "nothing pressing at the moment" besides the ball, but on his agenda for the end of the month is the usual registration of College student groups, he said.

During his time at home in Belmont, Epps said he rested a lot--"the body demanded lots of sleep"--and read--"mostly [Winston] Churchill."

"He's such an enigmatic figure," said Epps, who read biographies of both the British head of state and his father, Lord Randolph Churchill, during his leave. "It's an avocation of mine. I have lots of books of his."

Assistant Dean of Students Sarah E. Flatley said yesterday she is glad to have Epps back.

"We work well together, I think and it's good to be able to bounce ideas off him," Flatley said, adding that Epps looks "great.