Phillips Brooks House Association (PBHA), Harvard’s largest public service organization, announced the appointment of Gene A. Corbin as its new executive director Wednesday.

Corbin—a senior research associate at the Kennedy School of Government who was selected by PBHA’s board of trustees last month—said in an interview yesterday that he hopes to increase PBHA’s visibility on campus and bridge the gap between service and academic work.

“There is a lack of recognition, even at Harvard, and especially in the larger community, about the nature of PBHA and all it’s doing,” he said.

As executive director, Corbin will work closely with the student leaders of the more than 70 PBHA programs, supervise its paid staff members, help manage its finances and work as an “ambassador” to Harvard and the communities served by PBHA.

The executive director position is particularly important in an organization with rapid student-leadership turnover, according to PBHA President Ayirini M. Fonseca-Sabune ’04, who chaired the committee charged with finding someone to fill the post.

Corbin’s selection comes at the end of a four-month search which attracted nearly 250 applicants from across the nation.

His breadth of experience in both community service and executive-level management experience made him a exceptionally strong candidate, Fonseca-Sabune said.

Currently studying civic engagement in public school reform, Corbin will come to PBHA with extensive experience working with organizations to promote social changes.

Corbin has led organizations with programs similar to those at PBHA in the past—including a large, community-based agency in Mississippi which provides services for homeless and low-income residents. In addition to working closely with members of the community, as the executive director there, he also managed staff and finances.

Despite his experience, Corbin said that when he begins his new job on June 2, he will not have a rigid formula for change.

Corbin said a major part of his job will be to make community connections and increase financial support for PBHA without diminishing the role of students in fundraising.

“I greatly value the student-led nature of this organization. I think its what makes PBHA unique,” he said. “There is so much incredible energy here because it is a place where students feel real pride and ownership in what they are doing.”

Corbin pointed to PBHA’s numerous after-school programs as ideal examples of student service.

“It’s not a thin notion of volunteerism where students bless the world with their spare time,” he said. “It’s about a deep respect for people and building relationships that empower people and increase the capacities of neighborhoods.”

Fonseca-Sabune noted that Corbin’s job would require “a tremendous amount of energy and dedication” beyond the nine-to-five hours of a daily job.