Prominent Government Professor Roger B. Porter and his wife, Ann Porter, have been appointed the new Masters of Dunster House.

Porter, who served in the Ford, Reagan and Bush administrations before joining the Kennedy School of Government three years ago as the IBM Professor of Business and Government, teaches the popular course Government 1540, “The American Presidency.” Ann Porter formerly worked in the United States Senate.

Roger Porter will serve as master, and Ann Porter will assume the post of co-master.

Porter said that he and his wife were excited about their new positions.

“Among the special opportunities at Harvard are the Houses, the sense of community that they develop and the interactions that occur among undergraduates, between undergraduates and graduate students and between students and faculty. In many respects, the Houses serve as both an anchor and as a sail in the life of students,” he said.

Carlos E. Diaz, a resident tutor in government at Dunster House as well as the head teaching fellow for “The American Presidency,” had nothing but praise for Porter.

“He has a sincere and unparalleled commitment to making a difference in the House,” Diaz said. He cited Porter as a personal source of inspiration, adding that he hoped that would extend to the residents of Dunster House.

“He seems to be known on campus more than many of our own professors, not just for his superb teaching, but for his loyalty to Harvard athletics,” Dean of the College Harry R. Lewis `68 wrote in an e-mail.