Earlier this month, Louise M. Richardson left her Kirkland Street office as an associate professor in the government department, and entered Radcliffe Yard as the executive dean.

She replaces Clayton Spencer, who served as acting dean during the Institute’s first days.

In her position—which began on July 1 although it was only announced last week—Richardson will oversee Radcliffe’s finances, information and technology, human resources, and facilities.

“I felt that this was an extraordinary opportunity to get involved from the beginning in building a new, exciting and very important institution,” she said.

In a press release, Dean of the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study Drew Gilpin Faust said that Richardson’s “stellar reputation as an administrator and an intellectual” made her a good match for Radcliffe.

“Her expertise in both areas will be invaluable as we work together to shape the direction of the Institute and to implement its mission,” she said.

Richardson said that the Institute’s mission statement—which includes both a broader devotion to the pursuit of advanced work across a wide range of academic disciplines and a continuing commitment to the study of women, gender and society—attracted her to the Radcliffe job, along with the chance to work with the “dynamic” Faust.

And though she has spent less than a month in her new office in Radcliffe’s Fay House, Richardson is already looking ahead to the next academic year.