University People

Jacqueline A. O’Neill

Rose Lincoln / Harvard News Office

President Lawrence H. Summers has appointed Jacqueline A. O’Neill the University Marshal, effective February 1, filling a post left vacant since August 2002, when Richard M. Hunt retired after two decades of service. O’Neill, who was staff director for President Neil L. Rudenstine, has most recently served as communications director for the Allston Initiative. She has also organized such major events as the convocation honoring Nelson Mandela in 1998 and Harvard’s past two presidential inaugurations. As marshal, she coordinates visits to campus by world leaders, acts as Harvard’s chief protocol officer, and coordinates the annual Commencement exercises. The Commencement Office, in Wadsworth House, which had reported to the Harvard Alumni Association since Hunt’s retirement, will once again report to the marshal. The International Office, responsible for foreign students and visiting scholars, has become part of the Office of the General Counsel. O’Neill’s new duties are a half-time responsibility and she will continue to work on external relations for Allston development.

Social Sciences Star

William Julius Wilson

Courtesy William Julius Wilson

The American Academy of Arts and Sciences has conferred its Talcott Parsons Prize, awarded for outstanding contributions to the social sciences, on Geyser University Professor William Julius Wilson. Ford professor of social science emeritus Daniel Bell was so honored in 1992.

Richard P. Melnick	Christine Fairchild
Harvard Business School	Harvard Business School

Business Brass

The Business School’s new chief financial officer and executive director of external relations, both internal promotions, are Richard P. Melnick and Christine Fairchild, respectively. They take over from Donella M. Rapier, previously associate dean, whose former job was reorganized when she became Harvard’s vice president for alumni affairs and development in October.

Polly Price

Personnel Person

Harvard’s top personnel officer, Polly Price, who has been associate vice president for human resources since 1996, will retire on September 1. During her tenure, Price oversaw new agreements with the University’s unions; implemented extensive automated hiring and personnel-management systems; expanded education for workers at all skill levels; created new policies for fair, uniform treatment of part-time workers; and directed compliance with the "Katz committee" recommendations on new compensation and benefits programs for the lowest-paid service employees.