Lazerson to resign his deanship

Interim Provost Marvin Lazerson announced yesterday he will resign as dean of the Graduate School of Education effective June 30, 1994. The move, which he called "a very difficult decision," will not affect Lazerson's current position as interim provost. Lazerson, who came to the University from Harvard University's graduate school of education, has been dean since 1987. Associate Education Professor Nancy Hornberger has been acting dean since May, when Lazerson was appointed to interim provost. Lazerson moved to College Hall when former Provost Michael Aiken became chancellor of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Hornberger will remain acting dean until a new GSE dean can be found. Interim President Claire Fagin said a committee to search nationally for a new dean to replace Lazerson "will have to be set up rather rapidly." In a letter to GSE's student association and faculty, Lazerson thanked the members of the school for being "willing to put up with my unorthodox ways," but said "it was time for me to make a change." But, Lazerson added, despite his announcement he has not necessarily ruled out preserving some kind of role at the education school in the future. "I anticipate returning to the faculty once my term as Interim Provost is complete," Lazerson said in his letter of resignation to Interim President Claire Fagin. Lazerson could not be reached for comment last night. Fagin, in her response to Lazerson's letter, called his resignation "a major loss to the school." "He has just decided to do other things – he's had his deanship and he has been wildly successful," Fagin said. Alex Shuh, the president of GSE's student council, said councilmembers were informed of Lazerson's decision yesterday. Shuh downplayed the immediate impact of the decision, saying since his term as interim provost began, Lazerson has been more removed from the GSE administration. "It would be fortunate if we could get him back as a professor – he seems to enjoy academia more than administration," Shuh said. During Lazerson's reign as education dean, the school has seen money from sponsored research rise from $114,000 to over $7 million in 1992 and the acquisition of several endowed term chairs. GSE second-year student and student council member Ellen Foley said students are "very sorry" he won't be back as dean. "We'll miss his leadership. He made GSE a world-class institution," said Foley. "We're looking forward to getting a dean as active and as involved as Dr. Lazerson," Shuh added. "We have to put our energies into obtaining a new dean as quickly as possible."