Author of Sarah's Psalm plans to travel and work on second novel

By Anne-Marie Seltzer

Special to the Gazette

Florence Cawthorne Ladd, director of the Mary Ingraham Bunting Institute at Radcliffe College since 1989 and a fellow from 1970 to 1972, will retire from that position next year, according to Radcliffe College President Linda S. Wilson.

"My tour of duty at the Institute has been extremely gratifying. Prior to my joining Radcliffe as director of the Institute, I had the privilege of being a Bunting Fellow and the pleasure of serving on the advisory committees of the Schlesinger Library and the Institute," said Ladd. "I shall miss the intellectual stimulation and collegiality of the Institute and the College; however, it is time to reorient my professional interests. There are writing projects and travel plans that I wish to pursue."

"I accept Florence Ladd's retirement with deep regret," said Wilson. "During her tenure, she has not only strengthened the climate of expectation at the Institute, but also helped to diversify the community of women who are appointed each year. She is an inspiration to the fellows as well as to the entire community, and we will miss her."

This year, Ladd has experienced several professional milestones. On Sept. 30, the Bunting Institute marked the start of its 35th anniversary year with a gala reception in New York City. In August, her first novel, Sarah's Psalm, was published by Scribner. She is working on her second novel.

Ladd came to Radcliffe College in 1989 from Oxfam America, where she worked as associate executive director and liaison to the United Nations. Earlier in her career, she taught psychology at Simmons College, Robert College, and the American College for Girls in Istanbul. She was a lecturer at the Harvard Graduate School of Education from 1965 to 1970 and an associate professor in city planning at the Harvard Graduate School of Design from 1972 to 1977.

Her administrative career began at M.I.T., where she was associate dean for academic administration at the School of Architecture and Planning.

Ladd was then appointed dean of students at Wellesley College, where she also facilitated the establishment of the Stone Center. Upon leaving Wellesley College, she was invited to conduct an evaluation of the South African Education Program by the Institute of International Education, which was chaired by Derek Bok.

A social psychologist, Ladd earned a B.S. from Howard University in 1953 and a Ph.D. in social psychology from the University of Rochester in 1958.

As a Bunting Fellow at Radcliffe College from 1970 to 1972, she conducted research on the impact of housing and neighborhoods on the personal identity of black adolescents.

Cited by Mirabella magazine in 1994 in their selection of "100 Fearless Women," Ladd has also been honored by the Cambridge YWCA and Boston Magazine. She received the Hutchison Medal, the University of Rochester's highest honor, in 1991 for her outstanding achievements and notable service to community, state, or nation.

Her scholarly writings have focused on housing, urban environmental issues, gerontology, peace issues, women in higher education, and opportunities for South Africans and American minority groups in higher education, peace, and international development.