Longtime Dean, Adviser Forced Out

Assistant Dean of the College Deborah Foster, who is also the Head Tutor for Folklore and Mythology, must relinquish her administrative duties at the end of the year, in a move that has incensed several of her colleagues and students, according to professors close to Foster.

In the fall, Foster will no longer play an advising role as Director of Undergraduate Studies for Special Concentrations, according to these professors. In only three weeks, the new associate dean of undergraduate advising, Monique Rinere, arrives to head the recently established Center for Advising, and is expected to take on the task of institutionalizing Harvard’s decentralized advising system.

Foster declined to comment on whether or not she had been fired from her post. She added that Dean of the College Benedict H. Gross ’71 and Deputy Dean of the College Patricia O’Brien have been responsible for determining “the shape of the office of advising” and that she has not been involved in that process.

When asked about whether Foster had been fired from her position as Assistant Dean, Gross answered in an e-mail only that Foster “also has a teaching position in Folklore and Mythology.”

Although Foster is a lecturer in the Folklore and Mythology department, Faculty of Arts and Sciences (FAS) rules dictate that any non-tenured instructor may teach at the College for a maximum of eight years. A loophole to this rule allows for lecturers with certain administrative positions to retain lecturer status indefinitely, according to Professor of Slavic Languages and Literatures Julie Buckler.

Consequently, the removal of Foster’s administrative job is tantamount to a dismissal from the College—unless she can find a new part-time administrative post—because she has taught in FAS for almost two decades.

But professors say Foster is not alone in her fight to remain at the College.

About half a dozen Faculty members joined by a number of other supporters are trying to think of ways to keep Foster teaching at the College, according to Professor of Scandinavian and Folklore Stephen A. Mitchell.

An active supporter, Jones Professor of African-American Music Ingrid Monson said that the group “is researching every possible corner for figuring out how to find a new job for Deborah that utilizes all her many, many skills and qualities.”

Buckler, who is also on the steering committee for Folklore and Mythology, said she is optimistic that some position will be found, but emphasized that Foster’s removal from directing special concentrations is a big loss.

“Deborah Foster is special concentrations,” Buckler said.

“Deborah Foster represents 18 years of institutional experience, outstanding teaching, and brilliant advising. This is not someone that Harvard can afford to lose,” Watts Professor of Music and Professor of African and African American Studies Kay K. Shelemay said.

In addition to advising students in special concentrations and the folklore and mythology department, which graduated a combined 20 students last year, Foster also manages Advanced Standing, the AB/AM programs, independent study opportunities, and the Undergraduate Teacher Education Program, according to the College’s website.

For nearly two decades, Foster has piloted “fragile” but important programs integral to student academic life, said Mitchell.

Foster is also active in many unconventional pursuits on campus, including an African drum ensemble and dance ethnology.

Mitchell, who is also Department Chair of the Committee on Degrees in Folklore and Mythology, said that he was never contacted by University Hall about Foster’s administrative dismissal.

“Poor Deborah herself had to call me [about her release],” Mitchell said.

“It was done in a manner that was less than, I would say, professional,” said Shelemay, who is an affiliated member of the Folklore and Mythology Steering Committee. “I would say that those who had need to know were not properly informed [of Foster’s dismissal] and left it to Dr. Foster to tell people.”

Two of the sophomore Folklore and Mythology concentrators expressed regret yesterday that Foster would not play an advising role in future years.

“I can’t imagine anyone doing a greater job than her,” Jonah L. Kanin ’08 said. “I think it’ll be an incredible loss for everyone if she’s no longer doing what she’s doing.”

O’Brien did not reply to repeated e-mails and phone calls to her home and office yesterday.

Former Dean of the College Harry R. Lewis ’68, who worked closely with Foster during his administration, said that her release is a terrible loss to the College, especially at a time when “we are so committed to improving the advising system, and it raises serious doubts about that.”

Foster will not be the only current administrator in University Hall to cede power to the new associate dean of advising.

With the arrival of Rinere, Assistant Dean of the College Julia G. Fox will ultimately hand over her duties managing the transfer and visiting student programs, Associate Dean of the College Judith H. Kidd wrote in an e-mail. Additionally, Fox will no longer be assuming responsibilities for the Ann Radcliffe Trust, a role that will be under the jurisdiction of the new women’s center director, who is scheduled to be selected this spring.

“She’ll move on to do something else [within the college],” Gross said.

Gross did not respond to the question of whether Fox will remain an assistant dean in repeated e-mails.

—Staff writer Liz C. Goodwin can be reached at goodwin@fas.harvard.edu.

—Staff writer Ying Wang can be reached at yingwang@fas.harvard.edu.