Currier House Master and religious history scholar William A. Graham has been appointed dean of the Harvard Divinity School, following a nearly year-long search, University President Lawrence H. Summers announced Monday.

Graham, the Albertson Professor of Middle Eastern Studies and Professor of the History of Religion, has served as acting dean since his predecessor the Rev. Dr. J. Bryan Hehir left Harvard to head Catholic Charities USA last January.

In an interview yesterday, Graham said that while he was initially hesitant to leave his scholarly work for a full-time administrative post, he looks forward to taking on several serious challenges facing the school.

Immediate priorities, Graham said, include filling several holes in the faculty, increasing financial aid available to students, and conducting a major review of the curriculum—the first such review in 20 years.

So pressing was the need for curricular review, Graham said, that he began the process in May—before he knew that he would be continuing on as permanent dean.

Graham said that among the sweeping changes he might lead is a cut in size of the student body.

“Ideally the size could be a bit smaller...Whether that’s by 20 people or 100 people isn’t clear,” Graham said.

More generally, Graham said that he would look to clarify the school’s mission and place within the wider University.

Divinity School professors said they also hoped Graham would provide stability to a school that has seen three deans in the last four years.

Hehir served since 1998 after replacing Ronald F. Thiemann, who was forced out after pornography was found on his office computer.

In a press release announcing Graham’s appointment, Summers highlighted Graham’s intellect and professional background as his key qualifications for the job.

“Bill Graham is a person of exceptional intellectual breadth and profound integrity,” Summers said. “He brings to this role a deep understanding of Harvard and the place of the Divinity School in its history, as well as active engagement in the broad field of religious studies.”

Graham, 58, has spent his entire professional career at Harvard, specializing in study of the Middle East. He has taught several popular undergraduate Core courses, including Literature and Arts A-80, “To Far Away Places: Literature of Journey and Quest.”

He has held a variety of administrative posts, including chair of the department of Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations, and chair of the Committee on the Study of Religion at Harvard.

A church-going Episcopalian, Graham is the second lay person to lead the non-sectarian, but historically Christian Divinity School in its 186-year history.