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Speculation is already running wild as to who will take over the post of university president from the ousted Larry Summers. Some look to presidents of other universities, like Columbia’s Lee Bollinger, the University of Pennsylvania’s Amy Gutman, a Harvard graduate, or Nannerl O. Keohane, a Harvard Corporation member who previously helmed Wellesley College and Duke University.
Others think one of Harvard’s current deans is a more logical choice to bring knowledge and peace to faculty disagreements. “The idea of choosing somebody from within makes sense,” said John Bethell, retired editor of Harvard Magazine. The two candidates mentioned most often are Drew Gilpin-Faust, dean of the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study, and our own Dean Elena Kagan, the first-ever female dean of the law school. Harvard University has never had a woman president.
Then again, some in the press are speculating even more wildly than anyone could imagine. The Boston Herald’s May 4 pick to assume the top job? Former Stanford provost and current Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice.