Grogan Named Public Affairs V.P., Replaces Rowe

In a move which will likely raise eyebrows and a few suspicions in communities fighting Harvard's expansion, the University yesterday appointed an expert in neighborhood relations as its head of public relations.

Paul S. Grogan, a 1978 Graduate School of Education graduate who once served as Boston's head of neighborhood development, will take office in January as the vice president for government, community and public affairs.

The position--essentially Harvard's official face towards Washington, the media and local government--had previously been held by James H. Rowe III '73, a former lobbyist who returned to Washington in June.

Rowe was a Washington insider, a lobbyist hired four years ago to protect Harvard's funding and academic freedoms from Republican budget cutters in 1994.

If there is a similar direction to Grogan's appointment, it is likely this: the new vice president leaves his current job as director of a non-profit organization supporting neighborhood renewal.

His appointment could be a sign Harvard is loading up with neighborhood-relations talent for controversy over campus expansion in Allston and Cambridge (Please see story this page.)

"[Grogan] gives the sense of being an activist," said one Mass. Hall official. "His presence will definitely be felt in the community."

But, though community relations are something of a specialty for Grogan, the position carries responsibilities in Washington, Cambridge and the Massachusetts State House as well.

In addition to facing the heat of angry neighbors, Grogan will oversee Harvard's team of lobbyists, who shuttle betweenWashington and Cambridge and fight in Congress onsuch diverse issues as campus crime reporting,library copyright rules and trademarking of theHarvard name.

In addition, he will be Harvard's top talkinghead, stepping in front of the camera whennational media attention comes to Cambridge.Rowe's trial by fire in this respect was the 1995Dunster murder-suicide.

But Harvard lobbyist Jane Corlette saysGrogan's last 12 years as head of LocalInitiatives Support Corporation (LISC), whichrequired lobbying the federal government andcourting the media--have left him prepared foranything in his job description.

"Of course, [Harvard is] a totally differentorganization with different goals," Corlette said."But the skills are the same."

The search for Rowe's replacement began monthsago and combed through spokespeople at otheruniversities, lobbyists and suggestions fromFaculty and administrators.

Grogan took two recruiting trips to Cambridge,during which he and President Neil L. Rudenstine"really hit it off," according to Grogan.

Rudenstine has been criticized in the past forwhat some say is an inability to bring minoritiesinto top administrative posts.

The president said yesterday that specialefforts had been made to target minorities in thissearch, but in the end Grogan, who is white,emerged as the top choice.

"I'm disappointed in that sense," Rudenstinesaid. "But I've made it a rule to hire the bestpeople I can find."

Grogan and his wife lived in Boston for 11years while he worked for the city in variouspositions.

Currently he works in Manhattan, but hisfamily--a wife and three young sons--lives inrural Connecticut.

He said yesterday he was excited to return toBoston, a city his family considers home.

Besides his work at LISC and the department ofneighborhood development, Grogan also served thecity of Boston as head of an after-schoolenrichment program and chief speechwriter tothen-mayor Kevin White.

--Andrew K. Mandel contributed to thereporting of this story.

In addition, he will be Harvard's top talkinghead, stepping in front of the camera whennational media attention comes to Cambridge.Rowe's trial by fire in this respect was the 1995Dunster murder-suicide.

But Harvard lobbyist Jane Corlette saysGrogan's last 12 years as head of LocalInitiatives Support Corporation (LISC), whichrequired lobbying the federal government andcourting the media--have left him prepared foranything in his job description.

"Of course, [Harvard is] a totally differentorganization with different goals," Corlette said."But the skills are the same."

The search for Rowe's replacement began monthsago and combed through spokespeople at otheruniversities, lobbyists and suggestions fromFaculty and administrators.

Grogan took two recruiting trips to Cambridge,during which he and President Neil L. Rudenstine"really hit it off," according to Grogan.

Rudenstine has been criticized in the past forwhat some say is an inability to bring minoritiesinto top administrative posts.

The president said yesterday that specialefforts had been made to target minorities in thissearch, but in the end Grogan, who is white,emerged as the top choice.

"I'm disappointed in that sense," Rudenstinesaid. "But I've made it a rule to hire the bestpeople I can find."

Grogan and his wife lived in Boston for 11years while he worked for the city in variouspositions.

Currently he works in Manhattan, but hisfamily--a wife and three young sons--lives inrural Connecticut.

He said yesterday he was excited to return toBoston, a city his family considers home.

Besides his work at LISC and the department ofneighborhood development, Grogan also served thecity of Boston as head of an after-schoolenrichment program and chief speechwriter tothen-mayor Kevin White.

--Andrew K. Mandel contributed to thereporting of this story.