Shinagel’s legacy honored
As portraits of former deans and presidents looked down from the walls of University Hall, Michael Shinagel, Ph.D. ’64, received confirmation that he had set a record as the longest-serving dean in Harvard’s history. Shinagel was first appointed director of the Division of Continuing Education (DCE) in 1975 before being named dean of the Extension School in 1977, a position he has held until his retirement this year. (Shinagel’s official title is dean of continuing education and University Extension.) “The accomplishment is yours, but the benefit has certainly been ours,” said Faculty of Arts and Sciences Dean Michael D. Smith, adding that Shinagel had “made a singular contribution to our institution” during his time at Harvard. More than a hundred administrators, students, alumni, and staff gathered on May 14 to celebrate Shinagel’s legacy of work at Harvard University. In his almost 40 years of service, he shaped the frontier of continuing and distance...