The Kennedy School of Government (KSG) announced yesterday that Marvin L. Kalb will leave his position as director of the Shorenstein Center on the Press, Politics and Public Policy to become executive director of the KSG's Washington, D.C. office as of July 1999.

Kalb, who is also the Murrow Professor of Press and Public Policy, has led the Shorenstein Center since its founding in 1986.

The center explores the intersection of press, politics and public policy, bringing together journalists, scholars and the public through teaching and research.

"I shall have been here as director for 12 years, and I have always believed that one should not overstay one's welcome," Kalb said. "12 years is a long time, and it made sense to me to provide an exciting place for students and faculty who wish to doresearch on press and politics in D.C."

Kennedy School Dean Joseph S. Nye praised Kalb for his groundbreaking work at the KSG.

"Marvin has done an excellent job building up the Shorenstein Center," Nye said. "He said he would stay for a decade and it's been 11 years. But he's going to stay connected. He's talked about bringing some of the work he's done here, research, to a broader audience in Washington."

The Washington outpost opened this past July asa meeting place for professors and studentsworking in the area and as a base for severalexecutive education programs and select researchprojects.

Kalb was one of the office's key facultyorganizers. He spent the summer in the officestudying how journalists are covering the MonicaS. Lewinsky investigation.

"I envisage the Washington Office as a `livinglaboratory' where students can come for a betterunderstanding of the crucially important role ofthe press in governance," Kalb said.

At the center's opening in July, Kalb stressedthat an office in Washington gives the KSG greateraccess to politicians and the media than ispossible in Cambridge.

Along with his KSG experience, Kalb worked for30 years as a chief diplomatic correspondent forCBS News and NBC News. He has also been amoderator on "Meet the Press.