"This is really like running a small college," he added.

Though it is obviously too early to evaluate if Clark's approach is successful, he believes that so far his changes have been well received.

"I think there has been a widespread positive response about what I've been doing," he said. "I feel a sense of energy in the community."

The reaction to Thursday's announcement should be a major test of how far the good will goes.

Across the University

HBS has traditionally been very distant from the University, but Clark hopes to "make the river less of a barrier."

"I'd like to strengthen our involvement in intellectual life of the University," he said. "[I want to] be a part of the greatest University in the world, contribute to it and capitalize on it."

Of particular interest to College students, the new dean hinted that there could be a closer relationship between undergraduates and the school in the future.

In the past, students in FAS and other schools of the University complained of the difficulty in cross-registering in HBS classes and using others of the schools resources.

"We need to look at undergraduate education and the trade or professional schools...and see if there is some opportunity for our faculty," Clark said. "Undergraduate education is an issue near and dear to my heart."

Clark also said he saw greater involvement ahead with FAS faculty members in economics, sociology, engineering and computer science.

In addition, the school plans to be involved in University-wide programs like health care and the dean cited the Kennedy School of Government as a specific example of a graduate school with which he believed there would be future work.

Central Administration

Along with increased academic cooperation with students in other parts of the University, Clark said he sees a closer relationship with the school and Harvard's central administration ahead.

The biggest administrative issue facing most deans is the University-wide on-going $2.1 billion capital campaign, which McArthur had always been hesitant about his involvement in.

According to Clark, he sympathizes with both the both the former dean's and the University's perspectives.

"I understand both the University's need for the campaign and the Business School's need to think of this as a yearly thing," he said. "Our involvement with our alumni is not episodic. We keep involvement and contact throughout their entire lives."

Clark added that the biggest challenge now facing the school in terms of alumni connections is finding methods to build bridges with young alumni.

In his first dealings with the central administration Clark said that things were going well.

He said that his two meetings which included the deans had been very useful and that he really "hit it off" with Rudenstine with whom he shared come "deep convictions on the nature of the place.