New V.P. Brings Experience in Community

Harvard is changing the face it presents to the world, but no one is yet certain what the new model will be.

Paul S. Grogan, a graduate of the Harvard School of Education, officially assumes the role of the University's new vice president for government, community and public affairs on Tuesday, but his first few months in office, he says, will be a time for learning, not for doing. He has not developed goals or set agendas for his term, he says.

"I'm going to spend a considerable amount of time getting to know the University and the administration I'm responsible for," Grogan says.

The vice president is Harvard's advocate and representative at the federal state and local levels. He coordinates all lobbying efforts and is responsible for maintaining amicable relations with the community.

He also directs the work of the News Office which handles the media and publishes the University Gazette, a weekly newspaper.

Unlike his predecessor James H. Rowe III '73, who was known for his political clout in Washington, the Williams College graduate is a veteran of local politics and city resource planning. His appointment leads many to speculate that Harvard is shifting its focus away from Washington and toward mending strained relations on the home front.

Acting Vice President Jane H. Corlette says that while Grogan has the experience in local affairs, he will need to learn more about issues facing higher education.

"Paul will have a learning curve, especially about higher education issues," says Corlette, who will be working closely with Grogan as associate vice president for government, community and public affairs. "On the community relations side there will be a learning curve for communityissues but not as much. I think he's prettyfamiliar with what you have to do to get alongwith the community."

Over the last few years, Harvard's growth hasoccasionally riled its neighbors in the Bostonarea. In June 1997, the University announced ithad secretly purchased 52.6 acres in the Allstonarea of Boston over the past eight years withoutdisclosing its identity. The University made thepurchases anonymously because it feared sellerswould hold out for higher prices if they knew theywere dealing with Harvard.

The disclosure angered city officials andresidents alike. At the time of the announcement,Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino condemned Harvard'spurchases as "arrogant."

Last year, the University detailed plans tobuild the Knafel Center for Government andInternational Studies after a $15 million dollargift by Sidney R. Knafel '52, a New York venturecapitalist, in a primarily residential area nearthe Graduate School of Design. The move againangered members of the community and led theUniversity to rethink its plans.

Now, as Harvard nears the end of a capitalcampaign to raise $2.1 billion, each of Harvard's10 schools will have much more to spend on newbuildings and renovations--creating potentiallyexplosive situations as the University expandsinto Cambridge and the surrounding areas.

Grogan, many hope, will have greater sympathyfor the community.

He emphasizes the "symbiotic" relationshipbetween universities and their host towns. Thecity benefits from increased jobs and business, hesays, but because universities don't pay taxesthey can cause difficulties for city managerstrying to balance their budgets.

As tension with the community appears destinedto mount, however, Harvard's work in Washingtonmay become less crucial. The passage lastSeptember of the Higher Education Act, a victoryfor universities and a five-year renewal of highereducation policy, could symbolize the end of anera of lobbying a Republican Congress for moremoney and more freedom.

During his years in office, Rowe, a Washingtonnative who had once been NBC's top lawyer in thecity, set his sights on America's capital, makingHarvard a formidable influence in thecongressional world. Under Rowe's guidance, theUniversity fought for--and often won on--issues asvaried as continuing affirmative action andincreasing federal funding for scientificresearch.

He revolutionized Harvard's lobbying strategy,forming coalitions with other schools to furtherthe interests of higher education.

Now, however, Rowe emphasizes the importance ofthe need to look closer to home. He says communityrelations will be a "big part of the next fewyears."

"Paul will do far better than I was able todo," Rowe says. "He's coming in at just the righttime when we have to be thinking about the future"of planning in Cambridge.

While Washington may indeed consume less ofHarvard's time next year, lobbyists andadministrators warn against predicting the future.

"We may have to go back on the Washington beatsooner rather than later," says President Neil L.Rudenstine. In the last few weeks, theadministration has become concerned that federalbudget cuts may lead to decreases in federalscience funding, Rudenstine adds.

According to Director of Federal Relations NanNixon, Harvard's Washington lobbyist, Congress isalso considering student aid cuts which could bedetrimental to Harvard.

But, with the impeachment hearings and smalleramounts of higher education legislation, Grogansays he expects this part of his job to take upless of his time.

"There's a hope that there's some stability onthe political front," Grogan says.

And, for the most part, Harvard's federallobbyists agree. They have met with their new bossto brief him on the major issues for the year.

"I think the way this job works is that youhave to go where the frets are at the moment,"says Kevin S. Casey, Harvard's state and federallobbyist.

Now, Casey says, the frets are local.

Grogan has the expertise to handle the newdemands.

Since 1986, Grogan has worked as president andCEO of the Local Initiatives Support Corporation(LISC), a non-profit organization that funds innercity and rural revitalization work in the U.S.

Before heading LISC, Grogan held a number ofsenior posts in the Boston city government, wherehe managed housing, social services, job trainingand neighborhood economic development programs. Hewas deputy director and later director of theNeighborhood Development and Employment Agency.

"He's pretty versed in Massachusetts politicsand players," Casey says.

He received a Bicentennial Medal from WilliamsCollege in 1997 for his work for the public good.

Grogan says his knowledge of the mentality ofthe Boston locals will be valuable to Harvard.

"Boston's a tough town, and it's sort of 'whathave you done for me lately?"" Grogan says.

Some of Harvard's administrative officials,however, warn against reading too much intoGrogan's appointment and viewing the new vicepresident as solely focused on the community.

"Just because you're not from Washingtondoesn't mean you're not going to focus a lot onWashington," Nixon says.

She adds that it's just too early in the yearto determine what Grogan's priorities will be.

Nixon says he seemed to be aware of the issuesand "had a good sense of Washington." "He was veryengaged, very interested and wanted to know ourpoints of view," Nixon says.

While Grogan might be a Massachusetts insider,he has a vast store of knowledge about Washington,Casey says.

Casey adds he is confident that Grogan willdevote equal time to all areas.

One of the first items on Grogan's agenda thisspring may be outside of the realm of federal andlocal lobbying, with media relations becoming moreimportant to Harvard.

'The extent of media action has goneexponentially up," Rudenstine says. "We need tosee whether we are fully equipped to deal withthis new media saturation."

Rudenstine says the University wants to refineits current system to enable all schools to speakwith one voice without losing their ownidentities. Harvard needs to make clearerstatements on where it stands, he says.

To all three aspects of his job, Corlette andHarvard's lobbyists say Grogan brings aninquisitive mind and good people skills.

"Nobody I've seen comes to this with all thepieces of the puzzle," Casey says. "He's a quickstudy, has pretty good instincts and a goodperception of how Harvard University is perceivedby external audiences."

Corlette says he "really stood out as a person"among the vice-presidential candidates.

"He's very low-key as a person. He's a goodlistener," Corlette says.

No matter what his credentials, mostadministrators agree that a University outsiderwill bring a fresh perspective.

"It's an opportunity for the University to havesomeone come in from the outside with a freshlook," Grogan says.

But, in the long run, many say a change of vicepresident will not bring dramatic shifts inUniversity policy.

"If it shifts, it will be a matter of degree,"Nixon says.

The vice president, according to Nixon, isessentially a spokesperson for the president andprovost and carries out the policies establishedby the administration.

"We are here to articulate the University'sgoals," Corlette says. "I think of the vicepresident as the University's advocateoutside...its external membrane."Courtesy of the Harvard News OfficeTHE NEGOTIATOR: Administrators hopePAUL S. GROGAN will improve communityrelations.

Over the last few years, Harvard's growth hasoccasionally riled its neighbors in the Bostonarea. In June 1997, the University announced ithad secretly purchased 52.6 acres in the Allstonarea of Boston over the past eight years withoutdisclosing its identity. The University made thepurchases anonymously because it feared sellerswould hold out for higher prices if they knew theywere dealing with Harvard.

The disclosure angered city officials andresidents alike. At the time of the announcement,Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino condemned Harvard'spurchases as "arrogant."

Last year, the University detailed plans tobuild the Knafel Center for Government andInternational Studies after a $15 million dollargift by Sidney R. Knafel '52, a New York venturecapitalist, in a primarily residential area nearthe Graduate School of Design. The move againangered members of the community and led theUniversity to rethink its plans.

Now, as Harvard nears the end of a capitalcampaign to raise $2.1 billion, each of Harvard's10 schools will have much more to spend on newbuildings and renovations--creating potentiallyexplosive situations as the University expandsinto Cambridge and the surrounding areas.

Grogan, many hope, will have greater sympathyfor the community.

He emphasizes the "symbiotic" relationshipbetween universities and their host towns. Thecity benefits from increased jobs and business, hesays, but because universities don't pay taxesthey can cause difficulties for city managerstrying to balance their budgets.

As tension with the community appears destinedto mount, however, Harvard's work in Washingtonmay become less crucial. The passage lastSeptember of the Higher Education Act, a victoryfor universities and a five-year renewal of highereducation policy, could symbolize the end of anera of lobbying a Republican Congress for moremoney and more freedom.

During his years in office, Rowe, a Washingtonnative who had once been NBC's top lawyer in thecity, set his sights on America's capital, makingHarvard a formidable influence in thecongressional world. Under Rowe's guidance, theUniversity fought for--and often won on--issues asvaried as continuing affirmative action andincreasing federal funding for scientificresearch.

He revolutionized Harvard's lobbying strategy,forming coalitions with other schools to furtherthe interests of higher education.

Now, however, Rowe emphasizes the importance ofthe need to look closer to home. He says communityrelations will be a "big part of the next fewyears."

"Paul will do far better than I was able todo," Rowe says. "He's coming in at just the righttime when we have to be thinking about the future"of planning in Cambridge.

While Washington may indeed consume less ofHarvard's time next year, lobbyists andadministrators warn against predicting the future.

"We may have to go back on the Washington beatsooner rather than later," says President Neil L.Rudenstine. In the last few weeks, theadministration has become concerned that federalbudget cuts may lead to decreases in federalscience funding, Rudenstine adds.

According to Director of Federal Relations NanNixon, Harvard's Washington lobbyist, Congress isalso considering student aid cuts which could bedetrimental to Harvard.

But, with the impeachment hearings and smalleramounts of higher education legislation, Grogansays he expects this part of his job to take upless of his time.

"There's a hope that there's some stability onthe political front," Grogan says.

And, for the most part, Harvard's federallobbyists agree. They have met with their new bossto brief him on the major issues for the year.

"I think the way this job works is that youhave to go where the frets are at the moment,"says Kevin S. Casey, Harvard's state and federallobbyist.

Now, Casey says, the frets are local.

Grogan has the expertise to handle the newdemands.

Since 1986, Grogan has worked as president andCEO of the Local Initiatives Support Corporation(LISC), a non-profit organization that funds innercity and rural revitalization work in the U.S.

Before heading LISC, Grogan held a number ofsenior posts in the Boston city government, wherehe managed housing, social services, job trainingand neighborhood economic development programs. Hewas deputy director and later director of theNeighborhood Development and Employment Agency.

"He's pretty versed in Massachusetts politicsand players," Casey says.

He received a Bicentennial Medal from WilliamsCollege in 1997 for his work for the public good.

Grogan says his knowledge of the mentality ofthe Boston locals will be valuable to Harvard.

"Boston's a tough town, and it's sort of 'whathave you done for me lately?"" Grogan says.

Some of Harvard's administrative officials,however, warn against reading too much intoGrogan's appointment and viewing the new vicepresident as solely focused on the community.

"Just because you're not from Washingtondoesn't mean you're not going to focus a lot onWashington," Nixon says.

She adds that it's just too early in the yearto determine what Grogan's priorities will be.

Nixon says he seemed to be aware of the issuesand "had a good sense of Washington." "He was veryengaged, very interested and wanted to know ourpoints of view," Nixon says.

While Grogan might be a Massachusetts insider,he has a vast store of knowledge about Washington,Casey says.

Casey adds he is confident that Grogan willdevote equal time to all areas.

One of the first items on Grogan's agenda thisspring may be outside of the realm of federal andlocal lobbying, with media relations becoming moreimportant to Harvard.

'The extent of media action has goneexponentially up," Rudenstine says. "We need tosee whether we are fully equipped to deal withthis new media saturation."

Rudenstine says the University wants to refineits current system to enable all schools to speakwith one voice without losing their ownidentities. Harvard needs to make clearerstatements on where it stands, he says.

To all three aspects of his job, Corlette andHarvard's lobbyists say Grogan brings aninquisitive mind and good people skills.

"Nobody I've seen comes to this with all thepieces of the puzzle," Casey says. "He's a quickstudy, has pretty good instincts and a goodperception of how Harvard University is perceivedby external audiences."

Corlette says he "really stood out as a person"among the vice-presidential candidates.

"He's very low-key as a person. He's a goodlistener," Corlette says.

No matter what his credentials, mostadministrators agree that a University outsiderwill bring a fresh perspective.

"It's an opportunity for the University to havesomeone come in from the outside with a freshlook," Grogan says.

But, in the long run, many say a change of vicepresident will not bring dramatic shifts inUniversity policy.

"If it shifts, it will be a matter of degree,"Nixon says.

The vice president, according to Nixon, isessentially a spokesperson for the president andprovost and carries out the policies establishedby the administration.

"We are here to articulate the University'sgoals," Corlette says. "I think of the vicepresident as the University's advocateoutside...its external membrane."Courtesy of the Harvard News OfficeTHE NEGOTIATOR: Administrators hopePAUL S. GROGAN will improve communityrelations.