Harvard University is currently seeking a new president following the resignation of Claudine Gay.
Although no official candidates have been announced, speculation has arisen that former U.S. President Barack Obama may be in the running for the position.
The Daily Mail reported that Harvard's search process "will include broad engagement and consultation with the Harvard community in the time ahead." However, Robert Putnam, Harvard professor emeritus of public policy, expressed skepticism in an interview with the Boston Globe about Obama's potential acceptance of the role, if offered. He did, however, express a desire to see "a person of color, or a woman, or even better, both" succeed Gay.
Before Gay's departure, it was reported that Obama had "privately lobbied on Gay's behalf as she faced pressure to resign in the wake of her disastrous appearance before the congressional hearing on antisemitism." Obama, a Harvard Law School alumnus and former president of the Law Review, graduated in 1991.
Gay's resignation was precipitated by a series of scandals, including plagiarism allegations and criticism for her inadequate response to antisemitism on campus. In her resignation letter, Gay expressed her deep affection for Harvard and the difficulty of her decision. "This is not a decision I came to easily. Indeed, it has been difficult beyond words because I have looked forward to working with so many of you to advance the commitment to academic excellence that has propelled this great university across centuries," she wrote.
She further explained that after discussions with members of the Corporation, she realized that her resignation was in the university's best interest. "It has become clear that it is in the best interests of Harvard for me to resign so that our community can navigate this moment of extraordinary challenge with a focus on the institution rather than any individual," she stated.
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