Although she wrote in her e-mail that she steps down with “considerable reluctance,” she added that she accepted the deanship in the spring of 2002 “with great trepidation.”

“I never wanted to be a Dean,” she wrote.

Lagemann said she left today’s faculty meeting 25 minutes early to discuss public relations strategy with University Provost Steven E. Hyman. On her way out, Rodman shielded her from a photographer.

In a statement, University President Lawrence H. Summers wrote that the search for Lagemann’s successor would start immediately.

Lagemann said that she plans to work very closely with Summers, Hyman, and other administrators in Mass. Hall to select the new dean. She said that she also plans to involve the GSE Faculty in the search.

Hyman said yesterday it was “premature” to discuss what the search committee will seek in a new dean.

Lagemann said that as dean, her main achievements were to strengthen the school’s curriculum and raise “a lot of money.”

Summers and Lagemann have also stated their desire to use the GSE’s resources to improve American public education.

“Ellen deserves enormous administrative credit for overhauling the school,” Hyman said. “I have nothing but praise for Ellen’s stewardship.”

Summers could not be reached for comment this afternoon.

—Joshua P. Rogers contributed to the reporting of this story.

—Staff writer Evan H. Jacobs can be reached at ehjacobs@fas.harvard.edu.

—Staff writer Sarah E.F. Milov can be reached at milov@fas.harvard.edu.