"I don't expect to have a lot of time to spendon my own research or teaching, [but] because theschool activities are from an area I came from, byvirtue of being the dean...I will be more involvedin the academic life of the institution...than onewho is in a faculty whose breadth is as great as afaculty of arts and sciences," Spence said.
In addition to the attraction of a smaller,more intimate atmosphere, some administrators saidthat Spence's departure is closely linked to thesignificant demands of an impending fundraisingdrive.
"Once the campaign starts, somebody is lockedinto the position," Rosse said. "So it's not atall odd to leave now."
"Here is a man of great intellectual [merit],"said David Riesman '31, Ford professor of socialsciences emeritus and long-time Harvard facultywatcher. "Some men of that temper discover totheir astonishment that they like raising money.This doesn't seem to be Mike Spence."
A Dark House Candidate
Spence, who had been the chair of the EconomicsDepartment, was considered a dark horse candidatefor the deanship when he was appointed inFebruary, 1984.
The Princeton graduate and Rhodes scholar is anexpert on industrial organization, imperfectlycompetitive markets and the theory of"signalling"--which shows how consumers often makepurchasing decisions based on superficialcharacteristics.
During his six years as dean, Spence has beenwidely praised for his exhaustive efforts togather information before committing to policydecisions. In addition to his junior faculty plan,Spence has overhauled FAS finances--which weredisorganized when he became dean--and pushed theinternationalization of Harvard.
"He has really come to know the job very well,"said George M. Whitesides, Mallinckrodt professorof chemistry and associate dean of FAS."Particularly in improving the career prospects ofjunior faculty members andrationalizing...financial details of the Faculty."
Aside from his substantial policy projects,Spence has demonstrated a unique ability to managethe complex personal and political aspects of thedeanship, his colleagues said yesterday.
"Most of the people in University Hall had avery high regard for Mike Spence," said AssociateDean for Academic Affairs Phyllis Keller, who hasworked closely with Spence over the last sixyears. "I regret his departure very much."
Taking Abuse
"Part of the job is to take a lot of abuse fromthe Faculty," Whitesides said. "I've beenrepeatedly impressed with his abilities to getinto acrimonious debates and keep his wits withhim and hold no grudges."
And these personal and professional qualitiesmay keep Spence, still relatively young, in therunning for future administrative jobs inacademia.
"I'm sure some people will say that short ofpresident of Harvard, there's nowhere to go butdown after [being] dean of FAS," said DavidPilbeam, associate dean for undergraduateeducation. "There are any number of jobs he couldend up with, including president of a majoruniversity."