As a graduate student in the 1970s, Diana L. Eck cited her desire to pursue doctoral research in India when she turned down a request by then-Master of Lowell House Zeph Stewart to serve as a resident tutor.

More than two decades later, now a professor of comparative religion and Indian studies, Eck will accept the top post at Lowell--that of House Master--University officials announced yesterday.

Eck and her partner Dorothy A. Austin, an associate professor of psychology and religion at Drew University in New Jersey and an ordained Episcopal minister, will serve together as co-masters of Lowell. Their appointment fills the positions that will soon be vacated by Arnold Jr. Professor of Science William H. Bossert '59 and his wife Mary Lee, who have announced plans to retire after serving as Lowell's co-masters for 23 years.

"I think it's a wonderful selection," Bossert said. "Diana has proven a very deep interest in undergraduate education and that is the most important trait for House masters."

According to Eck, she and Austin had long considered becoming masters but never followed through with the process. However, she said when Dean of the College Harry R. Lewis '68 approached her about adding her name to a list of candidates for the post, she agreed.

"I felt like it was an auspicious moment," Eck said. "The more we explored the idea, the more that we discovered it was very appealing."

Eck said she and Austin look forward to being part of the House.

"Both of us are excited and feel this is a very challenging opportunity," she said. "It's going to mean trying ourselves out in a new community and that's always challenging."

Students and faculty alike praise Eck for her academic achievements.

"I think she is a brilliant scholar," said Co-Chair of the Lowell House Committee Lisa M. Mignone '98, who has taken two courses taught by Eck. "She's really an intense intellectual."

Robert J. Kiely, master of Adams House praisedEck, who is currently a member of the Adams SeniorCommon Room, as "a person who very clearly lovesher work."

"I'm so pleased that she will [accept theposition as master]," he said.

Lewis, who was involved in the selectionprocess, said Eck's intellectual pursuits willcontribute to her performance as master.

"There's a natural resonance between herscholarly life and the position she will be takingat the head of this very diverse House," Lewissaid.

Presently, Eck is a member of the department ofSanskrit and Indian studies, a member of theFaculty of Divinity, and the director of thePluralism Project, a research project studyingreligion in the United States. She also chairs theCommittee on the Study of Religion, but hadpreviously announced she will step down from thatpost in June.

The process of selecting a master to fill thevacancy in Lowell started on the House level witha six-member committee, Bossert said. Thecommittee presented Dean Lewis with a list of goodpotential masters, he said.