The selection committee charged with picking the first permanent dean for the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study met last evening to whittle down the applicant pool to "the range of a dozen," according to President Neil L. Rudenstine.

Rudenstine has taken command of the selection process and is working with a committee of eight others--four former Radcliffe Trustees, two members of the Harvard Corporation and two individuals associated with the Board of Overseers--to snag a top academic and visionary leader for the dean's post and get her to Cambridge before this fall.

Emphasizing the scope of the selection process, Rudenstine said he had gotten 15 nominations for the post last week alone, bringing the total number of candidates to well over 80.

"We're trying to evaluate and find people that are truly exceptional," he said. "It's not over till it's over."

Rudenstine said last month that he hoped to go into last night's meeting with about 20 candidates.

Selection committee members were close-lipped last night about what specifically went on at the meeting.

"It went very well. But I can't discuss the details," said Nancy-Beth G. Sheerr'71.

Further cuts will be made in upcoming weeks. Rudenstine said last month that he hoped to get the pool of candidates down to five to eight by March.