Katherine O’Dair, a former administrator at Boston College and MIT, has been named dean of students effective August 15, College dean Rakesh Khurana announced in an email today. She will succeed former dean of student life Stephen Lassonde, who stepped down from the position in January.
O’Dair, who has served as the associate vice president for student affairs at Boston College, and as assistant dean of student life at MIT, will report to Khurana and oversee programs related to the House system and student life outside the classroom, including student organizations. She will run Harvard College’s Office of Student Life, which includes the Office for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion, the Office of BGLTQ Student Life, and other initiatives.
“I am excited to begin the important work of creating a rich campus experience for our students both inside and outside the classroom,” O’Dair wrote in email. “I believe strongly in the mission of Harvard College and in the vision set forth by Dean Rakesh Khurana to provide a campus experience that helps students transform intellectually, socially, and personally. I am looking forward to getting to know the students—their lived experiences, what they value most, and how I—and the Office of Student Life staff—can assist them in deepening their connections with each other and the College community.”
“I am delighted that Katie has agreed to take on this exciting and critical role at Harvard College,” Khurana said in a press release. “With years of student life experience, managing an array of programs at Boston College and MIT, she is ideally suited for this position. I look forward to working with Katie to make our Office of Student Life programs and resources more robust and accessible for every member of the College community.”
Lassonde stepped down from his role as dean of student life suddenly this spring but remained on campus to teach a history seminar. Dean of freshmen Thomas Dingman ’67 served as the interim dean of student life during the semester, in addition to his regular post. It’s unclear why Lassonde left the deanship, but the move came about a month after he had apologized to the Harvard College student body for the distribution of controversial “Holiday Placemats for Social Justice” in dining halls by the Office for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion.
O’Dair arrives during a particularly tumultuous moment for College student life. Last November, a report of the College Working Group on Diversity and Inclusion condemned many features of the House system, including a lack of consistency among Houses in their commitment to diversity and resources for students.