It's Not a Consolidation — It's a Promotion

It appears the FAS Communications Office is being downsized. Dean Michael D. Smith announced in an e-mail Tuesday to faculty and staff that Harvard's central communications bureau would increasingly be taking on the FAS Office's duties. Budget-cutting consolidation, perhaps?

Not according to Smith, who wrote that the move came "in light of" his decision to give the Office's director Bob Mitchell the new title of assistant dean for diversity relations and communications. In which case, it's unclear why getting another person to run the office was off the table, though Smith does drop the term "cost-effective" at the tail end of the note.

Still, FAS Communications Office or not, it would seem the Faculty can still stay on message. Read the full announcement, after the jump.

Dear FAS Faculty and Staff,

I am very pleased to announce that Faculty of Arts and Sciences (FAS) Assistant Dean and Director of Communications Robert P. Mitchell has been named the new FAS Assistant Dean for Diversity Relations and Communications. In his new role, Bob will serve as a liaison and advisor on diversity programs and initiatives.

Harvard University must constantly work to maintain and enhance the diversity of its faculty, staff, and students, while also meeting the often unique needs of every member of our community, regardless of background. As the Co-Chair of the Harvard Association of Black Faculty, Administrators and Fellows, and the FAS Diversity Committee, Bob has helped lead the effort to make Harvard's campus more diverse and welcoming for all members of our community. As the first Assistant Dean for Diversity Relations and Communications, he will continue that work by coordinating and spearheading diversity efforts across the many different areas of the FAS.

Reporting to the FAS Dean for Administration and Finance, Bob will serve as a bridge between our efforts on faculty diversity by the Senior Advisor on Faculty Development and Diversity, staff diversity by the Assistant Dean and Director of Staff Diversity, and student diversity by the deans of the College and Graduate School. He will coordinate and help us to communicate more effectively about the various FAS diversity programs and initiatives underway now and in the future. He will also research and share information regarding benchmarking best practices and inclusion strategies for the entire FAS community.

In light of Bob's decision to take on this exciting new assignment, I have requested that communications resources in the Harvard Public Affairs and Communications office cover the responsibilities associated with the position of FAS Director of Communications, as well as oversee Bob's direct reports. In the coming months we will transition a number of communications functions within the FAS to this central office. The goal is to create a new structure that better serves our communication needs and does so in a more cost-effective manner.

We thank Bob for his years of service as FAS Director of Communications and welcome him to his new role.

Sincerely yours,

Michael D. Smith