The Pluralism Project at Harvard UniversityJanuary 19, 2007
Dear Friends of the Pluralism Project,
Beginning February 1, the Pluralism Project will inaugurate a new organizational framework. I regretfully announce that this will mean the departure of Grove Harris, who has served as our Managing Director. Grove joined the Pluralism Project in 1994 to research and draft the Paganism section of our CD-ROM, On Common Ground: World Religions in America. She became Managing Director in 2000 and initiated a period of major expansion of student staff and affiliates, generating a significant body of new research. Her collaborations with our affiliates as well as with teachers, allied organizations, and the media have greatly strengthened the Project. During her tenure, we won the prestigious Webby Award for our website, and she managed our recent website redesign.
Grove's achievements are many, including the development of our targeted e-list, fundraising efforts, and arranging annual conferences. She has represented the Project at conferences in the U.S. and abroad, including the North American Interfaith Network, the 2004 Parliament of the World's Religions in Barcelona, and the Metropolis Conference in Canada. In cooperation with the U.S. State Department visitors program, Grove received delegations from Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines, Indonesia, Ukraine, South Asia, and the Middle East.
Grove has directed our interfaith research since 2003, has been involved in the early development of the civic and international initiatives, and has contributed to the women's initiative. Her research and writing have been published on our website, in journals, and as book chapters.
Finally, Grove has been responsible for Project administrative concerns from financial management to information technology. She leaves behind transparent, well-documented systems of management that will ease our transitional time.
Kathryn Lohre, our Assistant Director, will assume new responsibilities as we prepare for the next semester and the year ahead. Grove will continue as an affiliate of the Project as she pursues her research interests in religious diversity, interfaith activity, and Paganism.
I owe a great debt of gratitude to Grove Harris for her contributions to the Pluralism Project, and wish her all the best in the years to come.
Sincerely,
Diana L. Eck
Director, The Pluralism Project