Dean Philippa Bovet Honored by Radcliffe College

By Anne-Marie Seltzer

Special to the Gazette

Radcliffe College marked the impending departure of Philippa Bovet as Dean of the College with a celebration in her honor last week in Agassiz House, Radcliffe Yard. President Linda S. Wilson honored Bovet's 16 years of service to the College and to the University community by bestowing the title of Dean of Radcliffe College Emerita. Bovet will continue her affiliation as a Radcliffe Senior Fellow next year.

"To many in this community, Philippa is the person they know best at Radcliffe College," said Wilson. "She is much loved; her work is respected, admired, and appreciated, and she has set the mark by which our future work will be measured. We have all learned from her."

Added Wilson, "Philippa is an advocate not only for students, but also for women in academia. Respectful of others' opinions, a good listener, unwaveringly fair, she focuses on the whole person, seeing beyond narrow channels and recognizing potential as well as accomplishment."

Bovet came to the College as associate dean in 1980. She focused on strengthening the ties between Radcliffe and its students, and creating and administering a variety of programs, prizes, grants, fellowships, and lectures, including the Rama Mehta Lecture, an annual Radcliffe event.

Since her appointment as Dean in 1985, Bovet has guided the creation of such new initiatives as the Radcliffe Mentor Program, the Radcliffe Research Partnerships, the Harvard-Radcliffe Science Alliance, and the Harvard and Radcliffe Women's Leadership Conference, as well as a variety of traveling fellowships. She has also served on numerous Harvard and Radcliffe committees as a vigorous supporter of the working relationships between the two colleges.

Said Virginia Mackay-Smith '78, assistant dean of Harvard College, who has known Bovet since 1987, "I realized early on what a godsend she was to both Colleges. Philippa was so available, insightful, and thoughtful; she was very knowledgeable about what might go wrong for a student and what one might do to help. I thought, 'Here's someone who really knows how to do this work, and also really cares.' "

Responding to remarks from colleagues and co-workers during the celebration, Bovet said, "I am tremendously moved by all that you have said to me today, and I'm proud of what we have accomplished together. We have made a difference in the lives of students and in each other's lives.

"I'm also deeply grateful for all the friendships here at these two institutions. They are beyond price, and go beyond transitions and change. I am both sad and happy and I thank you all for being here."

Concluded Wilson, "As the College now moves ahead with its reorganization, the reframing of its educational mission, and the accompanying changes in the leadership structure for its educational programs, we will always be deeply grateful to Philippa for the foundation that she has helped to lay, for her finely tuned sense of our ever-evolving undergraduate student body, and for all that she has gently taught us."