Quincy House Master Michael Shinagel, currently the longest serving House master, announced yesterday that he will step down from his post as master of Quincy House in June.

Shinagel, who serves as chair of the College's informal masters committee, and his wife, co-Master Marjorie North, sent an e-mail to House residents yesterday informing them of their decision after 15 years in Quincy house.

"I've met wonderful people, and the students are great," Shinagel said in an interview. "But being a master is difficult. You serve, and you're happy in serving, but there comes a time when you're ready to pass the keys and the torch to a new generation."

North added it is with "bittersweetness" that they move on.

As chair of the masters for the past two and a half years, Shinagel has confronted several difficult issues, including the fallout from randomization and the debate over universal keycard access.

"[Shinagel] has had the tough job of steering [the masters'] deliberations, and he has done so admirably," Dean of the College Harry R. Lewis '68 wrote in an e-mail. "He has been a strong supporter of many of the changes that have been made in the Houses in recent years."

Shinagel and North will move to a house in Cambridge in June, and both will keep their current academic posts. Shinagel is dean of the Division Continuing Education, and North teaches full time at Northeastern University and at the Harvard Extension School. The masters said they will keep in contact with Quincy House by becoming members of the Senior Common Room.

Shinagel and North said they look forward to having more time for themselves and each other.