Revel steps down as dean

Dean of Students and Ruddock Professor of Biology Jean-Paul Revel will step down from his administrative post in June, Vice President for Student Affairs Margo Marshak wrote in a March 8 e-mail memo.

Making the announcement “with great regret,” Marshak wrote: “Professor Revel has provided able and generous leadership as Dean since September 1996. Over these past years, Professor Revel has made an important difference in the lives of our undergraduates for whom he has such affection and concern. His advice, compassion, and guidance have been invaluable to students and to me personally,” she added. “Since my arrival on campus, I have greatly appreciated and relied on his wisdom, experience, and knowledge of Caltech.”

Revel says, “It’s been a lot of fun to be in the position and interacting with students in a way I never had a chance to as a professor. Then, I had my little bailiwick—teaching, having a few students in my lab. But as dean, I got to know many different students, coming from different houses and with different problems. It has been very interesting and enjoyable.

“I hope I was able to help a few of them. That’s a good feeling to have.” He adds with a chuckle, “I also got to learn more about Caltech—after 30 years, that’s not such a bad thing.” In addition, early on in his term he began writing a weekly column for the California Tech student newspaper that he very much enjoyed, and that became one of the many things students appreciated about him.

Galen Loram ‘05, president of the Associated Students of the California Institute of Technology, recently mourned Revel’s imminent departure in his own Tech column. Lauding the dean’s dedication to what is supposed to be a part-time job, he noted that the search committee for Revel’s replacement had “a big pair of shoes to fill.”

For Revel, however, after serving as dean for almost eight years, “A certain time comes when you decide there are other things you need to do.” In this case, he is excited about returning to his research, which has largely remained on hold while he devoted his time and energy to administrative duties.

A cell biologist, Revel specializes in using the electron microscope and atomic force microscope to view molecular structures. In particular, he would like to return to studying what is known as the “gap junction,” a specialized structure between two cells that lie so close together, they look as though they are touching. The structure is referred to as a gap junction—a term he considers “an oxymoron”—because of the fact that, when two such cells are viewed under an electron microscope, they appear to have a gap between them. However, the structure is actually the means by which small molecules pass from one cell to the other, and it plays a crucial role in such biological functions as keeping the heart synchronized. Revel wants to look at the most primitive multicellular organisms, such as slime mold, to try to capture the earliest appearance of the gap junction in their cells.

Revel earned his BSc from the University of Strasbourg, in his native France, in 1949, and his PhD from Harvard in 1957. He joined Caltech as a professor of biology in 1971, becoming Ruddock Professor seven years later.
A search committee to name Revel’s successor has been convened. Chaired by Professor John Hall, the committee comprises Professors Catherine Jurca, Ken Libbrecht, and David Stevenson; Barbara Green, associate dean; Candace Rypisi, director of the Women’s Center; and undergraduates Elizabeth Felnagle, Michael Priolo, and Katherine Richardson. Students and other Caltech community members may contact any committee member with suggestions regarding the appointment.
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