Assistant Dean of Freshmen Christina F. Griffith has announced she will be leaving the Freshman Dean's Office (FDO) at the end of the academic year.

Griffith, who served two years as assistant dean, said she informed Dean of Freshmen Elizabeth S. Nathans of her decision before the holidays.

"I knew when I took the assistant dean position it would be for two to three years. After five years total working for FDO, I am simply ready to move on," Griffith said. "Like anyone after being in one place after a particular time, I am ready for a new environment."

Griffith could be the first of two key FDO officials to leave. Assistant Dean of Freshman Michael J. Middleton reportedly is considering leaving as well.

Nathans praised Griffith yesterday, but denied that Middleton was leaving.

She said she could not comment further on personnel matters.

"Christina Griffith has served FDO extremely well," Nathans said. "She's a highly-valued staff member."

Several sources close to Griffith and Middleton have said that both expressed concerns about the changes in the administration and the communication in FDO. Many of the changes resulting from a restructuring of the office put more pressure on the assistant deans, according to several sources.

But Griffith said yesterday that her resignation was personal and wasn't related to any problems within the FDO.

"If anything, they [the other staff members] have been instrumental to my learning here," Griffith said. "There is absolutely no correlation between my plans to move on and the people I work with."

Griffith said her plans for the future are "in the air," but do include looking at other job options and graduate programs. Griffith does not plan to remain at Harvard.

In addition to her two years as assistant dean, Griffith worked three years as a proctor, two of which she also spent as a senior advisor. Although she said her experience at the FDO was educational, Griffith added, "I'm ready to take what I've learned and translate it somewhere else."

The search for a replacement has already begun, and a few candidates have submitted letters, according to Griffith.

"Whoever takes this job has to love working with students," Griffith said. "He or she has to be sensitive to what it is like at [age] 18...and also have a respect for the broader University."

Efforts to reach Middleton yesterday were unsuccessful