E-LINE: Cherry A. Murray named dean at Harvard University
The Harvard Corporation has announced that it has selected Cherry A. Murray, principal associate director for Science and Technology, to be dean of the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences at Harvard University, George Miller announced this morning in an administrative memo. Murray also will become the John A. and Elizabeth S. Armstrong Professor of Engineering and Applied Sciences.
The appointment is effective July 1.
Murray has had oversight of the Laboratory's scientific and technical programs and the quality of science and technology Laboratory-wide since she joined the Lab in 2004. She served as the deputy director for Science and Technology from 2004 to 2007 and then was named as key personnel for the contract proposal, becoming the principal associate director for Science and Technology under the LLNS management in 2007.
Murray has been a dedicated proponent and architect of the Laboratory's strategic science and technology vision, and has successfully championed strong partnerships with government, academia and private industry, Miller said.
"She is an internationally recognized premier scientist and she has made substantial contributions to the Laboratory. She has been a critical force in focusing the Laboratory's science and technology capabilities on the major challenges facing our country in national security, energy and environmental and economic sustainment," Miller added. "I know Cherry will be a tremendous asset to Harvard University. She will be greatly missed here at the Laboratory."
The position of principal associate director for Science and Technology will be posted and a Screening Committee will be appointed.
16 comments:
Cherry A. Murray named dean at Harvard University
The Harvard Corporation has announced that it has selected Cherry A. Murray, principal associate director for Science and Technology, to be dean of the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences at Harvard University, George Miller announced this morning in an administrative memo. Murray also will become the John A. and Elizabeth S. Armstrong Professor of Engineering and Applied Sciences.
The appointment is effective July 1.
March 10, 2009 12:43 PM
Don't really know her or her reputation, but could this be a case of:
Rat deserting the sinking ship?
Opportunistic career climber?
Being forced out by the Bechtelites?
Anyone have the inside scoop?
"The position of principal associate director for Science and Technology will be posted and a Screening Committee will be appointed. "
They'll go through the motions and someone from Bechtel who needs a change of scenery will be plopped into place.
And as for Ms. Murray - Smart girl, she's getting out before the place folds up.
Didn't senior managment who were named in the LLNS proposal have a commitment to serve at least 2 years?
It's like rats deserting a sinking ship.
Letter to LLNL employees from Cherry Murray
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March 11, 2009
Dear LLNL Friends and Colleagues:
After much contemplation, I have accepted an offer from Harvard University to be the Dean of the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS), beginning July 1.
It is important to me to take this opportunity to write and express to you my optimism about LLNL’s future as a result of the major new focus on: energy and environmental security in DOE; a continued need for national security S&T; nuclear/WMD counterterrorism and verification technologies; and a pressing need for the NNSA Labs’ ability to work with industry to further US economic security. There is a new focus and understanding in Washington that federal investment in S&T pays off for the economy. This is really important in the current unprecedented global economic downturn.
I am continually impressed by the Lab’s outstanding employees and your ability to work as teams to perform S&T that could not happen elsewhere. I have learned an enormous amount about national security and the NNSA Labs in my short five years at LLNL. I will continue to be a strong supporter of the NNSA Labs, the missions of national and energy/environmental security, and LLNL in particular.
I have regrets about leaving LLNL and the friends and colleagues I have made here, but I know there is considerable “bench strength” at LLNL and outstanding leadership in S&T. As you know, the Lab has experienced significant challenges and changes as well as adjustment to declining budgets, but I do believe the Laboratory’s vitality and strategic vision for the future is promising. The S&T 100-Day Plan, soon to be rolled out, will set the agenda for growth in some major new initiatives. The Lab has already reprioritized its efforts in many areas including attracting and hiring postdocs and soon will be investing in focused science and engineering fundamentals that will underlie the new initiatives.
My offer at Harvard is an opportunity that comes once in a lifetime and I am excited about the opportunities ahead. SEAS has been a focus of growth for Harvard in the last few years, and is proposed to grow in strength and size. Even though it is a small engineering school, it is rated No. 1 in the strength of its citations per paper. My job will be to build Harvard’s interdisciplinary engineering and applied sciences into a powerhouse that builds collaborations across the sciences and all of the professional schools at Harvard to work on global challenges. I will work with the faculty to form a curriculum for the 21st century “Renaissance Engineer” and to educate the next generation of world leaders to be unafraid of S&T, through general education requirements for all undergraduates.
I will be at the Lab for the next several months, and hope to continue to interact with all of you far into the future.
Sincerely,
Cherry Murray
No doubt she'll continue at the Lab in some sort of capacity so that she can still be paid more than the full time scientists.
Gee folks, someone from LLNL got appointed to a prestigious position at a world-class university. Can't we be happy for her and take a little satisfaction that someone from our laboratory was so honored?
I hope she has a more positive result at Harvard than she did at LLNL. How do you like all the new programs she was able to bring in as the Deputy Director for Programs or as the PAD for S&T?
Ever since the Nuckolls administration, this Labe has had tried unsuccessfully to bring in high-priced outside talent to grow new programs. Hasn't worked.
1. Key personnel did (listed by name in the contract) signed a two year commitment. 2008 award fee was significantly reduced due to the departure of so many of them during the first year of the contract - inspite of their commitments.
2. Cherry has excellent credentials and experience. She will be missed. (Not an "opportunistic career climber" nor is she being forced out by Bechtelites.)
3. Contrary to some postings here, the lab still has a LOT of excellent talent - it should be no surprise the some find opportunities elsewhere.
March 13, 2009 9:23 PM
Who cares? She's just another overpaid double dipper politician no better then those in Washington, DC. Next step is Obama's cabinet where she can really become a burden to our nation and the tax payer wallet.
I wish her the best. UC worked hard at getting her to LLNL. They really wanted someone like her with an outside perspective on research and lab management. It will be telling who gets the job now. Do you go with another outside or promote from within? I'd like to know the composition of the selection committee too. I'm hoping from someone outside of LLNL and DOE/NNSA community.
March 14, 2009 9:12 AM
Yes lets hope its from someone outside but not from Jacobs. I work for one of the goons and all the SOB did was came in and delegated all his work to a technician who now does the managers jobs for 1/4 the pay while the Jacobs employees doesn't do carp but ask stupid questions and try again make people feel stupid when in fact he's the stupid one who hasn't a clue. Don't hire people that have no intention of doing their own work. We need new blood not more overpaid dead weight or managers.
The big question is why did she leave? She probably left for the same reason anyone would leave one job for another: more money, prestige and better work environment, the same reasons everyone left behind would like to leave but can't.
It seemed pretty clear`to me that she was looking to leave for a while. In her last all hands (with Tomas dlR.) she basically announced that she would be on sabbatical while Tomas runs the PAD. I'm guessing that LLNS was hoping that the sabbatical could last through her 2 year commitment, but that didn't quite work out.
One of the bad aspects of her leaving is that now we have TdlR as the PAD.
What does a PAD do anyway?
A great article it is... Very interesting... Thanks for sharing your insight...
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