The Dean of Harvard College, Harry R. Lewis, announced the appointment of Karen E. Avery to the position of assistant dean of Harvard College. Together with Virginia Mackay-Smith, also assistant dean of Harvard College, Avery will develop and orchestrate new initiatives to celebrate the leadership of women and to enhance the experience of women students at Harvard.

Avery will assume from Dean Mackay-Smith her responsibilities as resource officer on the experience of women undergraduates and on matters of sexual orientation, and will also work with colleagues in the Office of the Dean of Students to improve campus security and to orient and guide student organizations. Avery will supervise the training of advisers on coeducation and sexual orientation, and will counsel students and College staff on responding to sexual assault and harassment.

"I am thrilled that I have been able to persuade Karen Avery to take this important position in the administration of Harvard College," said Lewis. "This is an exciting time for women students, with opportunities to foster recognition of the influence of women and to bring successful women more visibly into this community. Karen's intimate knowledge of Harvard, her enthusiasm and personal warmth, and her strong interest in the experience of women here all made her the compelling choice of the search committee. We are very fortunate to have her in this new role."

Avery is a 1987 graduate of the College with an A.B. in psychology and social relations, and in 1990 earned the M.Ed. degree from the Harvard Graduate School of Education with a concentration in administration, planning, and social policy. She has served as resident assistant dean (senior adviser) of freshmen, fostering the academic progress and personal welfare of about 300 first-year students. Since 1989, Avery has worked with the College Admissions Office, serving currently as senior admissions officer. Before joining the Admissions Office, she worked in the office of the President of Radcliffe College.

Avery said, "I am very pleased and excited about this new position. After so many years at Harvard, it is amazing to know that now I will have the opportunity to help shape the future for women at the College. I am looking forward to taking on my new responsibilities."

Lewis praised Mackay-Smith for the great success of the years she has spent as the primary resource officer on the experience of women undergraduates, and noted the enormous help she has provided to many students. "It is impossible to overestimate the importance of Dean Mackay-Smith's assistance to individual students, and for the staff and students she has helped coordinate and train. I am very happy that these tasks will be assumed by another colleague so capable, and that Dean Mackay-Smith will be staying with the College full-time in other capacities."

In addition to her work with Avery and Lewis on new initiatives to recognize the contributions of women, Mackay-Smith will remain as secretary of the Administrative Board and as hearing officer for students' complaints of sexual harrassment. This expansion of Harvard's commitment of staff and resources to areas of special interest to women occurs at the conclusion of Lewis' first year as Dean of the College. Lewis reported that it was the upshot of extensive conversations within the College administration, with faculty, and with a very thoughtful group of undergraduates he assembled last spring to examine with him the experience of women students. Students were also actively involved as members of the search committee that recommended Avery's appointment; that committee met over the summer and was chaired by Georgene Herschbach, associate dean of Harvard College.

Christine Genaitis '97, who served on the search committee, said, "Karen Avery brings to this position a wealth of knowledge about Harvard, and perhaps more importantly, about its students. I believe that her work as an admissions officer and former freshman senior adviser has helped her to understand the needs and concerns of undergraduates. Consequently, I am confident that she will prove to be an invaluable resource and advocate for both men and women undergraduates at Harvard College."

Avery will assume her role as assistant dean this fall, continuing her responsibilities with College Admissions until the admission of the Class of 2001 has been completed. Her full-time commitment as assistant dean of Harvard College will begin next April.