Only two weeks after D.E. Lorraine Sterritt's decision to leave Harvard for the University of Pennsylvania, Rory A. W. Browne has been chosen to succeed Sterritt as the Associate Dean of Freshmen.

Browne will leave his position as Harvard's Associate Secretary to the University in the Office of Governing Boards and assume his new role with the Freshman Dean's Office (FDO) on June 30.

Browne realized he wanted to work directly with students partially because of his positive undergraduate experience in his current position.

"One of the greatest pleasures was to be able to organize panels of undergraduates," Browne said of his work for the Governing Boards.

Browne said he wants to help first years who feel "overwhelmed" by Harvard. And while he says the advising system is well-stocked, he sees room for improvement.

"[I want to] try to get more people into the system," he said. "It's better if you can lower the ratio [of advisers to students]."

He also said he wanted to add the personal touch.

"[Advising] is not just a system, not just rules and regulations," he said.