Mary E. Miller GRD ’81, the Sterling Professor of the History of Art and master of Saybrook College, will be named the dean of Yale College today, the News has learned.

A ceremony is scheduled this afternoon in Luce Hall. The new dean will succeed Peter Salovey, who assumed the provostship on Oct. 1.

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In a brief conversation at the Saybrook Master’s House this morning, Miller, 55, would not confirm or deny that she had been selected for the deanship. University President Richard Levin did not immediately return a telephone message.

The selection process has been shrouded in secrecy. Two weeks ago, a search committee presented the president with a list of eight recommended candidates for the deanship, but the list did not become public and professors have said in interviews they had little insight as to which direction Levin might be leaning in his choice. Miller, however, was among several professors most often mentioned by faculty members as likely candidates for the deanship.

Miller joined the Yale faculty in 1981 and has served as director of undergraduate studies and chairwoman of the History of Art Department and also chaired the Latin American studies department. She became master of Saybrook in 1999 and announced last month that this would be her final year in that position.

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—Paul Needham contributed reporting.