McLoughlin, who is also a proctor for first-year students, has worked as a counselor in OCS since 2001.

According to McLoughlin, he will attempt “to find more ways for student groups to collaborate” and to ensure that “the social opportunities at Harvard are diverse.”

The press release stated that McLoughlin will work on allocating student office space and supervise student groups’ finances.

Kidd headed the advisory committee on the selection of the new assistant dean and decided which applicants made the first cut.

According to a source, there were four finalists for the post, including Cooke.

The availability of the new deanship was publicized starting in July.

Before coming to Harvard, McLoughlin worked as a professions adviser at the University of Florida and also held positions at the University of Vermont, Miami University in Ohio, Middlebury College and Trinity College in Vermont.

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