Harvard Experiencing High Turnover in Top Administrative Jobs Since Summers’ Arrival 

CAMBRIDGE, Mass.

      More than half of the top administrators at Harvard University have left since Lawrence H. Summers became the school's president.

      Fifteen of the top 24 administrative positions at the Ivy League school have turned over at least once since Summers took the helm at Harvard in July 2001. Summer's management style has been criticized by some faculty, and last March, the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Harvard's largest school, voted no confidence in him.

      The latest to leave is William C. Kirby, who was appointed by Summers and said he will leave this summer after four years as dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences.

      Kirby told The Boston Globe his departure was a mutual decision, and that he and Summers had different approaches. Summers said he was appreciative of Kirby's leadership.

      Andrew Gordon, chairman of the history department and a friend of Kirby's, told the Globe Kirby's departure reflects poorly on Summers' leadership.

      ``He's been unable to sustain a relationship with a dean who has been very loyal to the essence of his agenda, especially when you consider that a number of other deans have departed,'' Gordon said.

      Still, similar institutions have seen high rates of turnover after new presidents are named.

      At Brown University where President Ruth J. Simmons took office the same time as Summers, the percentage of top administrators who have left is almost the same as at Harvard. At Massachusetts Institute of Technology where Susan Hockfield became president 14 months ago, nine of the 23 top administrators either have stepped down, or have announced plans to do so soon.