Lisa L. Martin, Harvard’s first diversity dean and chair of the Standing Committee on Women, is leaving the Ivy League and heading to the University of Wisconsin at Madison, but before she heads out the door, she’s airing her grievances -- in true Festivus form.

According to Martin, one reason female and minority recruitment continues to diminish at Harvard is Michael D. Smith, Dean of the Faculty, whom she claims ignored the issue and her advice to remedy it.

The BG News reports:

While Martin was serving officially as an adviser on diversity to the dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, she said that Smith did not appear interested in her advice.

 

In contrast to Deans William C. Kirby and Jeremy R. Knowles, whom she described as "attentive" to her input, she said that Smith was less engaged.

 

"He was so new to the job, he had such a long list of things to do," Martin said. "We talked about things once in a while, but I think it was one of a very large number of things on his plate."

Of course, Smith vehemently denies her allegations of gross indifference.

"We continually look at our processes and actively try to improve them," he said. "This is critical for us as we strive to have the best faculty."

While this response has clearly been screened, processed and packaged by a handler, it still manages to divulge one important detail about this entire he-said-she-said affair: Harvard deans are not above juvenile bickering and finger pointing.