In 1933 Narkompros (the Commissariat of Enlightenment) restored the depart mental structure in Soviet Universities. Moscow State University acquired six departments: mechanics and mathematics, chemistry, physics, biology, soil sci ence, and the workers’ department. Correspondent member of the Academy of Sciences V. V. Golubev (1884—1954) became the dean of the mcchanico-mathematical department. The paper describes Golubev’s activities as a teacher and uni versity administrator in building one of the world’s most prestigious educational institutions in mathematics.