HGSE Remembers Professor Carol Weiss

Posted January 11, 2013
By News editor

A well respected member of the HGSE community, former professor Carol Weiss, has died. Dean Kathleen McCartney announced Weiss' passing on Wednesday in a letter to HGSE faculty, staff, and students. The full text of Dean McCartney's letter follows:

Dear colleagues,

It is with deep sadness that I write to inform you of the passing of our colleague, Carol Hirschon Weiss. Carol died on Tuesday at the age of 86. She is survived by her husband, Malcolm; by her three children, Janet, Judith, and Daniel; and by four grandchildren.

Carol leaves a lasting legacy in the field of education research and evaluation. She was a tireless advocate of improved “knowledge utilization” in public policymaking. A prolific writer, she published 11 books, including her seminal volumes, Evaluation Research: Methods of Assessing Program Effectiveness (1972) and Evaluation: Methods for Studying Programs and Policies (1998). She also wrote more than 100 articles on education policymaking; the uses of research in policymaking; and the influence of ideology, interests, and information on institutional rules and structures.

Carol earned her Ph.D. in Sociology from Columbia University in 1977, and she joined the Harvard Graduate School of Education faculty the following year. In 1999, she was named the Beatrice B. Whiting Professor of Education at HGSE. Prior to her retirement in 2005, she was recognized for her many contributions with numerous awards and prestigious fellowships at institutions such as the Center for Advanced Study, the Brookings Institution, and the U.S. Department of Education. Throughout her illustrious career Carol was a consummate and influential citizen, serving on myriad expert panels including more than ten National Academies committees.

Carol’s obituary is scheduled to appear in tomorrow’s Boston Globe. HGSE will host a memorial service to celebrate Carol’s life and work; details will be forthcoming. The dean’s office will be pleased to forward any notes of condolence to her family.

Sincerely,

Kathy