SUNY head among student picks to lead Harvard
ALBANY — The State University of New York’s relatively new leader has been named by a student newspaper as one of the 10 likely candidates to lead Harvard University.
SUNY Chancellor John B. King Jr. graduated from Harvard in 1996. He was the state education commissioner and then the U.S. Department of Education secretary. A year ago, he took the reins at SUNY.
The Harvard Crimson said he would “bring both extensive higher education leadership and political experience to the Harvard presidency.”
The Crimson said it spoke with Harvard alumni, professors, and donors to determine a list of 10 possible candidates for the university’s top job.
SUNY had a quick response when asked about the list.
“Chancellor King is focused on the great work ahead at SUNY and remains committed to fulfilling SUNY’S promise to deliver an excellent, accessible and affordable college education for all students,” an emailed statement read.
Does that mean King would not consider the Harvard job if offered it? SUNY had no response to that follow-up question.
King is already on Harvard’s Board of Overseers, an alumni group that takes part in governing the college. Some members of that group may be named to the presidential search committee.
The last Harvard president lost her job after a disastrous Congressional hearing in which the presidents of Harvard, the University of Pennsylvania and MIT discussed antisemitism at their colleges.
The presidents stumbled on whether students violated the Code of Conduct when they called for “genocide against the Jewish people.” Each president offered a response that included citing students’ Freedom of Speech.
King criticized those statements. He told the Times Union Editorial Board recently that the presidents should have simply said the Code of Conduct does not allow students to threaten each other.
Harvard President Claudine Gay resigned in January amid criticism about how she had handled antisemitism on campus and how she responded at hearing, as well as accusations of plagiarism.