Computer scientist to head the largest of Harvard schools
Incoming Harvard president Drew G. Faust has tapped a well-liked computer scientist to be dean of Harvard's largest school, the Faculty of Arts and Sciences.
Michael D. Smith, 45, will oversee Harvard College and the PhD programs. At Harvard, where he has taught since 1992, he is considered a devoted teacher and an affable colleague.
However, Smith, associate dean for computer science and engineering, was a surprising choice to many professors because he is not widely known outside those scientific areas.
Many professors believed that Faust, a historian, would choose a scientist to help lead Harvard's major expansion in the sciences, including a new science- focused campus soon to rise on the university's land in Allston.
Faust said she was looking for the best person, not a person from any particular field.
"I chose Mike because he was the person who seemed to have a broad understanding of the challenges we faced," she said. "He is respected by everyone he interacts with, and he is able to get things done, and he is loved by undergraduates."
The Crimson student newspaper reported that she had previously offered the job to another Harvard scientist, Jeremy Bloxham, who turned it down. Faust said she could not comment on any search, but said, "I could not imagine a better person for this job."
Smith, who begins in July, said he was excited to help Faust pursue her priorities and to help design the new undergraduate curriculum currently in development.
"We have such phenomenal students and amazing faculty at Harvard," he said. "We should be pushing it to be a better university than it already is."
Smith studies computer architecture, languages, and operating systems.
He is also involved in a Harvard center that studies effects of technology on society, and he cotaught a new course this year on the tensions between privacy and technology.
He also has won a Harvard teaching prize whose winners are nominated by students.
A swimmer as an undergraduate at Princeton, he chairs the arts and sciences committee on sports.
On his website, Smith wrote, "When away from the office, I can be found swimming, walking my dog, or playing with my kids. As Dr. Seuss says in 'The Cat in the Hat,' 'It is fun to have fun, but you have to know how.' "
He is married to Chris K. Smith, president of Capstone Mortgage Co.. They have two children.
Harry R. Lewis, a computer scientist and former dean of Harvard College, said Smith's appointment was a sign that Faust is off to a great start. He said Smith is "a wonderful person."
Lewis also said Faust's choice is a sign that Harvard is willing to take engineering and computer science as seriously as more esoteric subjects.
"Harvard has taken a long time to feel applied science and technology were quite dignified enough to dirty its hands with," he said. "It's very encouraging."
Bombardieri can be reached at bombardieri@globe.com. 