Iranian Named New Harvard Dean

[Rasputin]

The prestigious University of Harvard has appointed an Iranian professor, Mohsen Mostafavi, as Dean of its Graduate School of Design.

Harvard University President Drew G. Faust announced that Mohsen Mostafavi would be heading the Graduate School of Design in January 2008.

Faust said Mostafavi's intellectual vitality could serve the Design School well.

Mostafavi is currently Dean of the College of Architecture, Art, and Planning at Cornell University, home to some 100 faculty members and almost 800 students.

Before he assumed the Cornell position in July 1, 2004, he served for nine years as Chairman of the Architectural Association School of Architecture, one of the leading European schools of design, in London.

The Architect's Newspaper has some interesting commentary on the appointment of Mohsen Mostafavi as dean of Harvard's Graduate School of Design program.

Mostafavi, who taught at Harvard in the 90's and also taught at London's Architectural Association School of Architecture (AA) and Cornell, succeeds Alan Altshuler after a long struggle to find a replacement.

Many at the school believe Altshuler left because he supported former president Larry Summers, the guy who said that "issues of intrinsic aptitude" might explain the underrepresentation of women in science and engineering.

Altshuler's controversial status, as well as the delicate politics of choosing a successor, caused the search process to drag on for months. The short list reportedly included U.S. academic luminaries Tom Hahrahan of Pratt, Mark Robbins of Syracuse, and, most notably, GSD architecture dean Toshiko Mori, who sources say lobbied hard for the position.

Supposedly Mostafavi brings his own brand of controversy to the position--while at Cornell and the AA, a number of faculty members left after disputes with him.

Cornell announced recently that the dean of the College of Architecture, Art and Planning will leave the University after fall semester. Mohsen Mostafavi will become the dean of the Graduate School of Design at Harvard University beginning in January 2008.

"The past few years have been an extremely productive period for the College of Architecture, Art and Planning," Mostafavi stated in a release. "It's been a wonderful opportunity for me personally to be able to work with such incredible students, faculty and staff. Both the leadership of the University as well as its dedicated alumni have played a major role in our success. I will miss the generous atmosphere and the enormous welcome that the Cornell community has extended to me."

Mostafavi has been dean of the AAP school since 2004, overseeing the founding of the AAP New York City Center, new fund-raising initiatives and faculty appointments, as well as continued planning for Paul Milstein Hall – a proposed building to be placed between Rand Hall and the Foundry.

"Under Dean Mostafavi's leadership, AAP has achieved a new level of quality," Provost Biddy Martin stated in a release. "Mohsen's creativity and initiative have enhanced the college's national and international reputation, expanding its programs into New York City, building more international partnerships and bringing the most innovative artists, planners and architects to campus, not only to lecture but also to teach.

Mohsen has provided intellectual leadership across the campus and has been a force in our university-wide efforts to enhance the visibility of the arts and humanities.”

Mostafavi, who formerly served as an associate professor of architecture at Harvard, will replace Alan Altshuler.

The University said they are discussing plans for the search for Mostafavi's replacement, as well as an interim dean.

[Rasputin]

M . Mostafavi, dean of Cornell's College of Architecture, Art and Planning (AAP) since 2004, will be leaving Cornell to become dean of Harvard University's Graduate School of Design. His appointment begins in January of 2008.


"I congratulate Dean Mohsen Mostafavi on his new appointment, and Harvard for adding this wonderful leader to their distinguished faculty," said Cornell President David J. Skorton. "His contributions to Cornell's College of Architecture, Art and Planning and to the university, as well as the inspiration Mohsen has instilled among many Cornellians, are deeply appreciated. I join all of his colleagues in wishing him well in his new endeavors and look forward to learning of his future successes."

As dean of AAP, Mostafavi's accomplishments include: the appointment of the Rotterdam architectural firm Office for Metropolitan Architecture and its famed architect Rem Koolhaas, the 2000 winner of the Pritzker Prize, for the design of the planned Paul Milstein Hall for the college; fundraising initiatives for professorships, deanship, program support and scholarship; the founding of the AAP New York City Center; increased faculty appointments, including international practitioners and scholars; and a significant enhancement of the college's budget.

"Under Dean Mostafavi's leadership, AAP has achieved a new level of quality," said Cornell Provost Carolyn (Biddy) Martin. "Mohsen's creativity and initiative have enhanced the college's national and international reputation, expanding its programs into New York City, building more international partnerships, and bringing the most innovative artists, planners and architects to campus, not only to lecture but also to teach. Mohsen has provided intellectual leadership across the campus and has been a force in our universitywide efforts to enhance the visibility of the arts and humanities. I have thoroughly enjoyed working with him and will miss his intelligence, his values and his keen aesthetic sense. I wish him all the best in his new position."

Said Mostafavi: "The past few years have been an extremely productive period for the College of Architecture, Art and Planning. It's been a wonderful opportunity for me personally to be able to work with such incredible students, faculty and staff. Both the leadership of the university as well as its dedicated alumni have played a major role in our success. I will miss the generous atmosphere and the enormous welcome that the Cornell community has extended to me."

Mostafavi will remain at Cornell until the end of Cornell's fall 2007 academic semester. Discussions have begun about an interim dean and an international search for Mostafavi's successor.