Isolating the Magic

By Lewis' reckoning, about half of the professional staff in Byerly Hall are Harvard grads. And they go on to be successful not just in administrative work, but in a wide variety of fields.

"When one has worked here for a while, they may turn into what we call an all-arounder, in the adult sense," she says. "We often admit high-quality all-arounders in our applicant pool, but we have also produced high-quality all-arounders in the admissions office."

The skills gained in Byerly can help in almost any field, administrators say.

"They haven't all gone on to work at Harvard," Illingworth says. "I've seen former colleagues go into business, become doctors, lawyers, schoolteachers--they've had lots of different kinds of careers."

But the jobs aren't easy to get, Lewis says, comparing the odds of being selected for employment with those for admission to the college. Lewis says they will receive as many as 100 plausible applications for a posted position.

Christina Flint was a lucky one who worked in Byerly for six years. Like Avery, Illingworth and Rogers, Flint has moved on within Harvard--though on a less predictable path.

Flint is now coordinator of fellows and patrons at Harvard University Art Museums.