Until last May, John DiBiaggio sat at a massive wooden desk in an office with high ceilings, plush carpeting, and French doors that opened to his secretary and support staff. More than just a personal workspace, the president's Ballou office housed high-power meetings between senior administration officials.
The move across the quad to Bendetson Hall changed more than DiBiaggio's address. He now works in a small room at a small desk. The walls are bare, the furniture will arrive "shortly," and DiBiaggio is still searching for a secretary. For now, he answers his own phone.
DiBiaggio, Tufts' 11th president, announced last spring that he would continue working for the University College for Citizenship and Public Service (UCCPS) from a downtown Boston office. But because of a cost-cutting effort, he was placed in Bendetson Hall in the former Office of Equal Opportunity.
Vice President of Finance and Treasurer Thomas McGurty is negotiating an early end to the lease for the downtown office DiBiaggio was to share with the Tufts University Development Coorpation (TUDC). "It was an area that we could realize some cost savings," McGurty said.
DiBiaggio said he would have preferred to work downtown to avoid interfering with President Larry Bacow's new administration.
During his nine-year presidency, DiBiaggio occasionally used the office he anticipated occupying this year. But since TUDC no longer uses the space, DiBiaggio would have been the sole occupant.
The Boston office was originally leased ten years ago by then-outgoing president Jean Mayer so he could work with TUDC as University chancellor. Mayer's unexpected death left the office to DiBiaggio to use as a downtown outpost.
The lease was originally set to expire in nine months, when DiBiaggio plans to leave Tufts. Rather than continue the lease for one year to use only one office, officials relocated DiBiaggio to Bendetson.
DiBiaggio's official title is president emeritus, and he will continue to fundraise for the University in a limited capacity and to work with UCCPS, a project he spearheaded.
Dean of the UCCPS Rob Hollister said he is pleased that DiBiaggio is working from the Medford campus. The former president will help the young program more strongly establish itself, he said. "We're delighted that he's close," Hollister said.
"The kinds of things that he will be doing include continuing to contribute to fundraising and external ambassadorship, because he's highly regarded nationally on issues of education for active citizenship," he added.
DiBiaggio will also travel to other universities to discuss the UCCPS model. "[They're] interested in learning more about what they see in what we're doing here, more innovative, more comprehensive approach to citizenship and public service," Hollister said.
DiBiaggio's new office is not housed in the Lincoln-Filene Center, home to UCCPS, because his role still includes the Tufts Tomorrow capital campaign. The Bendetson office suits these responsibilities, especially meeting with potential donors.
"President Bacow strongly felt that he wanted me to be in an attractive and desirable facility," DiBiaggio said. "If you're meeting with major donors or potential donors, you want to do it in a desirable location."
