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Currier House Faculty Deans Sylvia I. Barrett and Latanya A. Sweeney, the first LGBTQ couple of color to lead one of Harvard’s 12 upperclassman Houses, will step down at the end of the academic year after 10 years in the position.

Barrett and Sweeney’s departure comes at the end of their second five-year term in the role — the maximum amount of time faculty deans can serve.

“This year is a milestone: it marks Sylvia’s and my tenth — and final — year as your Faculty Deans,” they wrote in a Tuesday email to the House. “Together, we’ve built and nurtured a vibrant community that we are deeply proud of. From the Wall of Women to Currier Coffeehouses and countless other traditions, so much of what makes Currier special today has grown and thrived during these years.”

Barrett and Sweeney moved into Currier in 2016 with their son, Leonard. Sweeney is a professor of government and technology with appointments in the Harvard Kennedy School and Faculty of Arts and Sciences, and Barrett is a business attorney.

The day after Barrett and Sweeney’s announcement, College Dean David J. Deming circulated a form to Currier affiliates where they could nominate potential successors. Deming wrote that his office would partner with Currier Resident Dean Amanda Lobell to begin the search process for Barrett and Sweeney’s replacements in the coming months. Lobell will lead a faculty dean search advisory committee to evaluate candidates.

“For the past ten years, Latanya and Sylvia have been extraordinary leaders and wonderful colleagues, and it is clear how much they care for each of you,” Deming wrote in the Wednesday email to House affiliates. “I am so thankful for their commitment to building a welcoming, vibrant, and inclusive community at Currier and for their stewardship of the House.”

Tom Nelligan ’27, a Currier resident, said whoever is selected to follow Barrett and Sweeney would have “big shoes to fill.”

“Every interaction has been just overwhelmingly positive,” he said. “Every time you hear about them, it’s nothing but good things.”

Nelligan, who spent last year living in Cronkhite — an overflow building for Currier about a ten minute walk from the main House — said he appreciated how often Barrett and Sweeney made the trek to see them and make them feel part of the House.

“I was kind of surprised they showed up,” he added.

Sydney C. Black ’27, another Currier resident, said she had fond memories of Barrett and Sweeney bringing out fun games and activities — like Segways for students to ride on — during open houses.

“They’ll definitely be missed, and I’m excited to see who our next faculty deans will be, and what new traditions they create, as so many are created under our current faculty deans,” Black said.

There is one other ongoing faculty dean search, in Kirkland House, where Peter J. Huybers and Downing Lu are currently serving as interim deans. Next year, Mather House Faculty Deans Lakshminarayanan “Maha” Mahadevan and Amala Mahadevan will begin their tenth and final year in the role.

—Staff writer Samuel A. Church can be reached at samuel.church@thecrimson.com. Follow him on X @samuelachurch.

—Staff writer Cam N. Srivastava can be reached at cam.srivastava@thecrimson.com. Follow him on X @camsrivastava.