Illingworth has said that Lewis’ departure has brought him some sadness and that the reorganization of the College has been a source of uncertainty.

Several administrators have also said they’re concerned that Dean of the Faculty William C. Kirby is now working to shift the College’s priorities away from extracurricular activities as he forces out Lewis—a longtime advocate of student life and extracurriculars—and replaces him with someone whose administrative area of expertise had been curricular matters.

In an e-mail, Lewis made a reference to changes at the College.

“Dean Illingworth has a profound respect for and love of Harvard, and believes that what we have received from the past is a valued heritage,” Lewis wrote, “that even as the College must constantly adapt, adjust, and move forward, we have much to learn from those who came before us.”

Illingworth joins Assistant Dean of the College Karen E. Avery ’87 and Registrar of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences Arlene Becella as close colleagues of Lewis who will depart this summer.

“Harry Lewis was the most important reason I took this job,” Illingworth said in 2000 after his first semester in University Hall. “I wanted to work with him, be in on his thinking, his vision of what this College should be.”

—Staff writer Alexander J. Blenkinsopp can be reached at blenkins@fas.harvard.edu.