One of Kidd’s first orders of business involves assigning responsibilities to others to make her formidable job more manageable.

Over the summer, she has been relying on the aid of Coordinator of Student Activities Susan T. Cooke to help her communicate with student group leaders.

But she is currently searching for an assistant dean to provide permanent assistance with overseeing extracurricular organizations.

She has already made the first cuts in this selection process.

Gross says he will hire a sizeable staff to work under Kidd and support her job. But as he attempts to reorganize the College administration, it seems likely that Kidd will have to shoulder many responsibilities herself.

“It may be that she looks for increased support in her office,” says Associate Dean of the College Thomas A. Dingman ’67, who will work with Kidd on many student issues as head of residential life. “But I think she’ll have to get used to having more balls in the air at one time.”

As someone who says she recognizes the value of delegating authority, Kidd believes the way Gross has structured her job is not a signal that student life is undervalued.

“I get the message of a very, very intelligent man who is trying very, very hard to focus on those things he can do best,” she says of Gross’ strategic moves. “It would be my guess that the day-to-day life of students will not be changed.”

Kidd Wonder

The question remains whether Kidd’s new, more mangerial role will affect her day-to-day interactions with the student groups she has closely advised in the past.

At PBH, Kidd has been known for her direct, personal style of management: she likes weekly meetings and often stops by peoples’ offices to see how things are going.

“She is accessible regularly for students and staff and responds to e-mails immediately,” says Meg Swift, director of the Public Service Network, an organization in PBH. “She is very hands-on and really enjoys being a part of conversations led by student groups. She has a great deal of respect for students on campus and is always incredibly supportive of their efforts.”

Student groups like Habitat for Humanity, accustomed to regular contact with Kidd, might find that the director-dean, who will have to grapple with matters of greater scope, won’t have time for them.

“I really hope that Kidd stays open,” says Progressive Student Labor Movement member Madeleine S. Elfenbein ’04. “In my experience with her at [the Phillips Brooks House Association] she has been great with that. I just hope that her position doesn’t prevent her from doing what she’s done well in the past.”

Kidd says that PBH-affiliated groups may have less face-time with her, but that she will also get the chance to meet more students than before. “I will be relying even more heavily on the excellent staff at PBH to keep things running smoothly,” Kidd says.