She said the process of finding a replacement has been lengthy.
“We’ve been very interested in finding someone with a strong Cambridge knowledge base, and [Lucey] is that ideal candidate,” she said.
McCready said the University has asked him to speak with several candidates about the job. He said the search has taken so long because the University has been “picky.”
“They’ve been judicious,” he said. “I think they wanted to make sure that their next choice was a good one and a good fit not just for the current situation but for the situation going into the future.”
Power said she will continue to work on ongoing issues in Cambridge, including negotiations with the Agassiz neighborhood over development of the North Yard.
“I will, I hope, be able to help [Vice President of Government, Community and Public Affairs Alan J. Stone] on more of a University-wide basis to look at opportunities to improve community relations,” she said. “I will no doubt continue to be involved in Cambridge to some degree because there’s so much activity now.”
Lucey, meanwhile, will focus on issues specific to Cambridge.
He said his job will involve “facilitating communications between the University and the different audiences in Cambridge, whether that is neighborhoods that are abutting the University, or city government, or an individual that has an issue with the University.”
McCready said the role can be difficult and called the relations between the University and the city “a rocky road.”
“There’s no magic bullet,” McCready said. “Sometimes it can be a thankless job, but the things that will serve him well are the things that he’s practiced professionally and personally throughout his entire career. Integrity, trust, honesty, those will rule the day.”
Power also said she thinks Lucey is up to the challenge.
“Tom is known as someone who listens and has the ability to bring people together,” she said. “I think he will help improve relations and it will be to the benefit of both the University and the city.”
—Staff writer Jessica R. Rubin-Wills can be reached at rubinwil@fas.harvard.edu.