A world-class surgeon, two corporation chiefs, a French literature specialist and a former New York Times executive were named to the University's Board of Overseers on June 8.

Dr. John C. Baldwin '71, Peter C. B. Bynoe '72, Sharon E. Gagnon, John R. Harrison '55 and Lisa M. Henson '82-'83 will begin six-year terms as overseers this year.

The new members were named at the annual Commencement Day meeting of the Harvard Alumni Association. More than 33,000 alumni, or 18.1 percent of those holding degrees from the University, cast ballots for up to five candidates.

The Board of Overseers, as one of the University's two governing bodies, is responsible for approving the major decisions of its more powerful counterpart, the Corporation.

The 30 overseers meet at least five times per year, advising the University's president and influencing its long-term policies. The overseers also visit faculties, departments and other programs throughout the University, offer their assessment and give advice on how to improve the quality of teaching and research.

The new overseers have not had a chance yet to meet with University President Neil L. Rudenstine or Overseers President Rey. Theodore M. Hesburgh, three of them said in interviews.

A Diverse, Accomplished Group

Henson, the president of Columbia Pictures, topped the overseer balloting with 20,261 votes.

In her ballot statement, she expressed a desire to support the arts at Harvard. She also hopes to use her unusual perspective to "ask questions that aren't asked every day [and] take an interest in areas of the University that aren't interesting to anyone else."

The daughter of Muppets creator Jim Henson, Henson was the first female president of the Lampoon as an undergraduate.

Baldwin, the second leading vote recipient, is chair of the Department of Surgery at the Baylor College of Medicine.

In an interview, Baldwin said he wants to improve Harvard's current practices of integrating international students into University life.

"There may be some element of pockets ofstudents whose ideas and interests may not befully appreciated or experienced by otherstudents," he said. "I ha[ve] the sense of more ofthat sort of separation of groups than I did whenI was an undergraduate."

The University was rocked late last month by amurder-suicide involving an international student.

But the new overseer said he noticed thisproblem long before the tragedy.

Baldwin earned a Harvard A.B. summa cum laudein Anthropology. He won a Rhodes Scholarship,attended Stanford Medical School and has served onthe faculties at Yale and Stanford Universities.