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About
Before becoming dean, Kathleen McCartney served as a member of HGSE's faculty and as academic dean from 2004–2005. Earlier, she was an assistant professor of psychology at the Harvard Faculty of Arts and Sciences from 1982–1987. She became a faculty member at the University of New Hampshire, serving as director of the Child Study and Development Center. She is a leading expert on child development and early education.
McCartney's accomplishments during her tenure as dean focused on affirming HGSE's role at the nexus of practice, policy, and research and building a graduate school of education for the 21st century. In collaboration with a dedicated faculty and administrative team, McCartney developed two new doctoral degree programs, including the Doctorate in Education Leadership (Ed.L.D.), a three-year, practice-oriented degree, and the research-based Ph.D. in Education.
During McCartney's years as dean, HGSE saw a 25% growth in core faculty positions, rising from 59 to 76. The number of tenure track positions increased from 10 to 20 (including creating four new endowed positions). Core faculty members of color more than doubled, rising from 8 to 20. With a focus on global relations, McCartney helped establish a partner network of more than 30 school districts and non-profit organizations. In addition, the school raised more than $162 million, and the funds helped support many of the school's new endeavors. By the end of McCartney’s deanship, doctoral students received guaranteed fellowships, and financial aid for HGSE’s master's students more than doubled.
McCartney also oversaw a renewed commitment to renovating and modernizing HGSE's existing buildings and facilities. HGSE received four LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) awards for these projects, most notably the coveted platinum award for the Larsen classrooms and Gutman Library renovations. The transformation of the first floor of Gutman Library to include a café and vibrant student center gave HGSE a thriving community space and became an intellectual and social center for the school.
In 2013, McCartney resigned to become the 11th president of Smith College in Northampton, Massachusetts.
Stephen Coit graduated from Harvard in 1971 in applied mathematics in computer science and earned an M.B.A. in 1977 from Harvard Business School with high distinction. He spent his early career in high technology as a software developer, marketing executive, entrepreneur, and, finally, as a successful venture capitalist for many years. In 1996, he began a second career as an artist. Though he continues to take courses part-time and has attended a few summer institutes, Coit is mainly self-taught.
When painting portraits, Coit prefers to present his subjects as they see themselves and to communicate whatever message they wish to impart to future generations. "It's not the artist's impressions or intentions that are important," said Coit. "A portrait is all about the person to be honored, not the artist." While Dean McCartney was renowned for her approachability and constant good humor, she and Coit agreed that future audiences should also know her as an effective, dedicated leader, so they decided to portray her with a more thoughtful, serious expression.