Nakamura described the institute’s loss as Harvard’s gain.

“He will want Harvard to be the absolutely best University it can be, and will help the President in pushing an agenda of change,” he said. “He can talk in acronyms, but he can also interpret science and the ideas of academia to the general public.”

Nakamura cited Hyman’s ability to effect change within the often-resistant U.S. government as a particular strength.

“He had the ability to make things happen,” Nakamura said. “I will be forever in his debt for showing me that was possible in the government.”

As the NIMH director, Hyman was responsible for managing the institute’s $1 billion budget and a staff of about 1,500 scientists and other workers, Nakamura said.

In addition, Hyman served a national spokesperson for the institute, explaining NIMH programs to the public and justifying budget expenditures in Congress.

In recent weeks, Hyman stood in the national spotlight, with interviews about post-traumatic stress disorder and bioterrorism in The New York Times and other national media outlets in response to the events of Sept. 11.

He has also served in an advisory role for the Bush administration in recent weeks, as anthrax scares have spread.

University spokesperson Joe Wrinn was unavailable for comment.

—Staff writer David H. Gellis can be reached at gellis@fas.harvard.edu.

—Staff writer Catherine E. Shoichet can be reached at shoichet@fas.harvard.edu.