"I feel great...I have planned this for a longtime," McArthur says. "I feel great about theschool, about my friends here...To me it seemedlike a great time to clear out--I mean reallyclear out and not just not do my job."
Although McArthur says he began entertainingthe possibility of retiring this year as early asDecember 1993, he points to two recent events ashaving contributed to his decision to leave assoon as a successor has "settled in."
In a letter to Business School facultydistributed Tuesday, McArthur cites the Januarydeath of former Business School dean George P.Baker and the birth of his granddaughter Katarinaas "important reminders of the chapters in lifethat all of us go through."
"It is time now for another generation to takeon the leadership of the School," he writes.
McArthur says he is certain he will notmaintain a presence at the Business School afterhis retirement.
"New people have to be psychologicallyliberated to do something," McArthur says. "Ifthere was nothing else in the world I might feeldifferent...but all around us there are thingsthat need attention."
Instead, McArthur explains, his role at theBusiness School will be that of "one of the mostenthusiastic fans in the world."
And although some faculty members have namedRobinson Professor of Business AdministrationJames I. Cash and Figgie Professor of BusinessAdministration Kim B. Clarke '74 as possiblecandidates for the next dean, McArthur refuses tospeculate on who his successor might be.
"[There are] several very strong people here atthe school that are outstanding people, butthen...[the search committee] obviously has tolook outside," he says.
Despite his plan to take six months to thinkabout what to do next, McArthur says he doesn'tplan to be idle.
"I don't plan to be resting more. I wish Icould tell you I was," he says. "Ever since I wasa little boy, I've always been doing two or threeor four things at once, and I don't think that'sgoing to change."
Those who know and work with McArthur agree.Timken Professor of Business Administration HugoE. R. Uyterhoeven attributes to the dean a "workethic that would drive most other human beings tothe grave."
McArthur suggests that he would like to getmore involved with public education.
"I see [public education] as a kind of socialcancer," McArthur says. "If I saw a way I couldhelp out I would do it."
McArthur says he also plans to devote more timeto Partners HealthCare.
And until he leaves the Business School,McArthur says, he will continue his work oncurrent projects, including a financial aidprogram for Canadians which aims to equalizeAmerican and Canadian tuition costs.
"I can't walk out in one day--I wish I could.It takes some time...to go through budgets anddeals we have made and the on-going appointmentprocess," McArthur says.
"But it isn't going to be too long, unless thisthing drags on for a year or two--then they'llprobably have to carry me out," he says.