The six fellows are chosen in a rolling selection process, and IOP officials say they are currently busy confirming the acceptances of the four who will join Wagner and Gergen at the Kennedy School. Donovan said they expect to announce the remaining fellows at the end of January.

Wagner refused to speculate on what he would do at the end of the six-month long fellowship, but friends say they wouldn't be surprised to see him spend a number of years teaching before returning to government, maybe on a state or national level.

"He's always had a true interest in academic affairs," says Cownorton.

Those who knew him in his undergraduate days agree. Elliott Perkins, Professor of History Emeritus and the master of Lowell House when Wagner lived there, recalls him as a good student--"and one of the well-behaved young men who didn't come before me for criminal offenses," he adds.

Wagner, what was also on effort of his Crimson, says he is looking forward to returning to his alma mater.

"Some of my classmates are now on the faculty, and some of my former professors are still teaching," he says, adding that "I'm really interested in seeing them, and wandering through the Yard and around the Crimson."

"Some of my classmates are now on the faculty, and some of my former professors are still teaching. I'm really interested in seeing them, and wandering through the Yard and around The Crimson."

"I'm going back at age 39 instead of 17," he adds, "but I bet the place hasn't changed all that much."