Kosslyn Made Dean of Division

Stephen M. Kosslyn, the Psychology department chair noted for his research on mental imagery and visual perception, will assume the divisional deanship for the social sciences in July, Faculty of the Arts and Sciences Dean Michael D. Smith announced yesterday.

Kosslyn will take the post—which sits above a broad grouping of departments affiliated with the social sciences—at what Smith’s statement yesterday called a “pivotal moment” for FAS. Earlier this month, Smith announced extensions of the divisional deans’ responsibilities that included budgetary power to authorize searches for new faculty in the departments under in their division.

The deans have traditionally taken a largely advisory role in such searches, advocating for particular departments in need of new hires while leaving the budgetary details and final say on search authorizations to Smith. The changes will push more authority their way.

But Smith and several of Kosslyn’s colleagues and fellow department chairs offered a glowing assessment of the appointee’s ability to meet the new demands of the position yesterday.

“I am confident that Professor Kosslyn has the energy to perform the duties of the position with true distinction, and that he will find a way to balance his new responsibilities with his ongoing plans for teaching and research,” Smith wrote in an e-mail. “He has already demonstrated this skill in his performance as department chair.”

Kosslyn has served as chair since 2005, and from 2006-2007 was the co-coordinator of the Caucus of Chairs, an informal body of department heads that became an influential player in FAS politics during the tenure of former University President Lawrence H. Summers.

In an e-mailed statement yesterday, Economics Department Chair James H. Stock pointed to Kosslyn’s service on the Caucus, saying he was “thrilled” with the appointment.

“I have learned a lot from him working on the Caucus of Chairs, and I know I can always count on him for good advice and sound judgment,” Stock wrote.

Within the Psychology department, colleagues emphasized Kosslyn’s administrative acuity and ability to overcome intellectual divisions—a talent that may be useful as he looks to coordinate the activities of the several departments that fall under the umbrella of the social sciences.

“He’s formalized and made structurally clear a degree of collaborations that cut across natural boundaries within the department,” said psychology professor Susan Carey.

Kosslyn, who did not respond to requests for comment yesterday, joined FAS as an associate professor in 1977, and after brief stints at Brandeis University and Johns Hopkins University in the early eighties, he became part of the Faculty for good in 1983. 

He will be taking over the divisional dean post from Economics professor David M. Cutler ’87, who has occupied the position since its establishment in 2003. According to Smith’s remarks at an April meeting of the Faculty, Cutler’s term in office had been set for five years.

—Staff writer Christian B. Flow can be reached at cflow@fas.harvard.edu.