Barbara Lewis has been appointed director of total compensation, effective Feb. 1, according to Polly Price, associate vice president for human resources.

Lewis currently serves as executive director for human resource management at Harvard Medical School (HMS). Her new responsibilities will include administration of all benefits programs for University faculty and staff.

"For the past six months, Barbara has served as a special consultant to the Office of Human Resources (OHR) managing the new Benefits Services Group and has proved invaluable in implementing the transition to the new client-centered model of benefits service," said Price. "I am delighted that she will become a permanent part of the OHR leadership team and will be able to devote her full time and attention to this important effort."

Lewis, who began her career at the Medical School in 1979, says that she is excited about the opportunity to help improve the delivery of benefits services to faculty and staff. "With new technology and a more efficient organization, we will be able to provide quicker and easier access to basic information while continuing one-on-one consultations when needed. Change will not happen overnight, but I believe that the end product will be important to those who work for Harvard."

Commenting on Lewis' departure from the Medical School, Karen Davis, associate dean for faculty and staff services, congratulated Lewis on "developing the full-service Office of Human Resources that exists at HMS today. While we will miss Barbara terribly, we will profit greatly from having her across the river in her new role."

In 1988, after managing laboratories for several years, Lewis worked with senior managers at the Medical School to establish and direct a new Department of Human Resources, where she was responsible for providing employment, benefits, compensation, counseling, legal compliance, human resource planning, training and labor relations support. In 1996, her role was expanded to include development of human resource support services for research and teaching faculty.

Lewis is a certified compensation professional who has served as a consultant to various organizations locally and across the country in the design and implementation of compensation programs. She also lectures in the subject areas of change management, career planning, and rewards and recognition.