Correction appended.
Little has changed at the Neukom Institute for Computational Science since Richard Granger resigned as its director following the arrest of his wife, colleagues said. Granger no longer performs administrative duties at the Institute, but he continues to conduct research on its behalf, advise graduate students and will likely teach the Introduction to Computational Neuroscience course this Fall term, Granger's colleagues said.
Granger stepped down as director, citing "personal reasons," after his wife, Lean Granger, was arrested on March 27 for allegedly embezzling $300,000 from a church in Southern California where she had served as bookkeeper and treasurer. Richard Granger continues to serve as the director of Dartmouth's Brain Imaging Laboratory and as a psychological and brain sciences professor at the College. He has not indicated that he plans to leave the College, his colleagues said.
Granger was the first director of the Neukom Institute, an interdisciplinary center founded two years ago to connect computational science with disciplines ranging from neuroscience to the humanities. Computational science studies the use of mathematical and computer models to describe the real world, including phenomena such as earthquakes and weather.
Colleagues said they were "shocked" when they heard the news of his wife's arrest, but added that Granger's family situation has not impaired his work ethic.
"It's no easy situation he finds himself in," Lindsay Whaley, interim director of the institute, said. "He seems to be holding up."
Granger's resignation has not hindered the Institute, employees said. He has pushed everyone to continue working, they said.
"The dialogue has not changed -- difficult to say anything has changed even though he's no longer supervisor in Neukom," said computer science graduate student James Hughes Gr '12, for whom Granger serves as a faculty advisor. "Usually, a supervisor tells you what to do, but that was not how Rick operated."
Travis Green '08, for whom Granger acts as a major and senior thesis advisor, said Granger's resignation has had "no affect whatsoever" on his thesis work. Green continues to meet with Granger weekly.
Employees said the institute is continuing to grow and develop without Granger as its head and that they are trying to move past Granger's personal situation.
"We'll continue being supportive of [Granger] -- not that he has asked for help -- and continue on with the mission." Andrew Felch, a professor of computational science at the Institute said.
The Institute will host The Human Algorithm conference on May 9, and summer internships will continue as planned. The Institute has nearly completed hardware development for Brainbot, a robot that is capable of learning and will likely speak at the level of a three-year-old in the next five to 10 years, according to Felch.
The search for Granger's successor has just begun, Whaley said. The search will be either internal or external and will seek candidates who would bring "good ideas and creativity" to advance the institute's mission, he said.
Whaley said Granger would likely not be renamed as director because of the length of time of time necessary to resolve his personal matters, but added that he could see Granger working with the new director as a colleague.
Employees said they hoped the new director would continue to support the goals Granger established for the institute.
"I don't want someone who has a different vision," Hughes said. "I'd like someone who's interested in spreading out the direction of the institute without abandoning the core."
An e-mail to Richard Granger was not returned by press time.
The original version of this article incorrectly stated that Richard Granger was a professor of computer science. Although he has held a position in the computer science department, he is a psychological and brain sciences professor.
