Garber says the Mellon Foundation, where Rudenstine currently works, has been "wonderfully supportive" of research in the humanities.

Harvard Roots

Although Rudenstine did not graduate from the College--once an unofficial prerequisite for the Harvard presidency--he earned a Ph.D at the University in 1964. He then remained in the English Department as an assistant professor for four years.

Lowell Professor of the Humanities William Alfred remembers Rudenstine, a former Rhodes scholar, as a skilled literary critic, commenting, "He had a wonderful, subtle sense of what makes a book really a book."

In 1968, Rudenstine returned to Princeton, where he had graduated summa cum laude in 1956. After four years as a professor of English and dean of students, he became dean of the college in 1972.

Rudenstine continued to teach occasional English courses during his time as an administrator at Princeton. Since going to the Mellon Foundation, he has continued to lead a popular Shakespeare seminar for first-year Princeton students.

Rudenstine's colleagues speak highly of his scholarship and teaching. "He's accessible and friendly, and has an obvious command of the material," says A. Walter Litz, a professor of English at Princeton.

They also praise his skill at administration. While provost, Rudenstine was in charge of academic development and budget recommendations, as well as long-range financial planning.

Wright describes Rudenstine as particularly effective in strengthening the university's academic departments, particularly in the sciences. "[Starting] from nothing really, he built a small but very powerful department of molecular biology," Wright says.

In addition, Rudenstine saw the university through its transition to co-education. "He had a very strong hand in making that a smooth transition," says Litz.

Background

Rudenstine is the author of Sidney's Poetic Development, published in 1967, and an editor of English Poetic Satire: Wyatt to Byron, published in 1972.

Rudestine was born in Ossining, N.Y. He is married to Angelica Zander Rudestine, an art historian and curator who chairs the visiting committee on the Harvard Department of Fine Arts. They have three children.

Rudestine is said to be fond of opera. This article first appeared in The Harvard Crimson several weeks ago.