Kuhn is new HMS associate dean

Deborah Kuhn has joined Harvard Medical School (HMS) as the new associate dean for Planning and Facilities. Kuhn, who will direct the HMS Planning Office with overall responsibility for facilities planning for HMS and the School of Dental Medicine, began her new duties on Sept. 9.

As the associate dean for Planning and Facilities, Kuhn will manage space planning and allocation, and capital budget preparation, while supervising the Medical School’s real estate portfolio, including acquisitions, sales, and public and University approvals. In addition, Kuhn will evaluate current and proposed HMS business ventures and cooperative programs to determine whether their mission is consistent with the academic mission of HMS, while monitoring the construction, operation, and maintenance of physical facilities.

The Planning Office will work closely with the newly established Office of the Dean for Research, and with others in the faculty and administration, to improve and coordinate programmatic and facilities planning.

Kuhn, who has worked at Harvard since 1989, has served as deputy director for the Planning Office, where she directed the University-wide capital planning and approvals process; as chief financial officer for Planning and Real Estate, where she managed financial planning and operations; and as director of strategic projects in the Office of the Vice President for Administration, where she was responsible for real estate strategic planning and acquisition operations. She has been centrally involved in the University’s real estate transactions in Allston.

Prior to joining Harvard, Kuhn worked for the commonwealth of Massachusetts as deputy state budget director in the Executive Office for Administration and Finance. She holds a master in public administration from the Kennedy School of Government, and a B.A. in government from Smith College.