Dean

From Anglo-Norman deen < Old French deien < Latin decÄnus.

Full definition of dean

(plural deans)

A senior official in a college or university, who may be in charge of a division or faculty (for example, the dean of science) or have some other advisory or disciplinary function (for example, the dean of students).
A dignitary or presiding officer in certain church bodies, especially an ecclesiastical dignitary, subordinate to a bishop, in charge of a chapter of canon.
The senior member of some group of people.dean of the diplomatic corps - a country's most senior ambassadordean of the House - the longest-serving member of a legislature

1955, Rex Stout, "The Next Witness", in , October 1994 edition, ISBN 0553249592, page 67:All of the switchboard operators had been parties to it, including Marie Willis. Their dean, Alice Hart, collected...