Terry Colvin, a spokesperson for Atkinson, would not rule out Carnesale as a candidate, according to the UCLA Daily Bruin.

Carnesale flew to California to interview for the position last week. Other candidates interviewed include University of Pennsylvania Provost Stanley Chodorow, UCLA Medical School Dean Gerald Levey and UCLA Law School Dean Susan Prager.

At that time, Carnesale and Chodorow were reported to be the top two contenders for the post.

During the fall of 1994, Carnesale was simultaneously Dean of the Kennedy School, University Provost and Acting President. During that time, many professors praised Carnesale for his ability to make positive contributions in several roles, lauding his for his administrative abilities.

Sources at UCLA said that problems with labor unions have plagued the campus in recent months. As provost, Carnesale has helped direct University negotiations with Harvard labor unions such as the Harvard Union of Clerical and Technical Workers (HUCTW). Though HUCTW recently mounted a three-month long picket of Carnesale's Massachusetts Hall office, relations improved when both groups signed a year-long contract extension that contained concessions by both sides.

--Georgia N. Alexakis, Courtney A. Coursey, David A. Fahrenthold, Matthew W. Granade, Ayanna A. Lonian, William P. Moynahan, Valerie J. MacMillan, Andrew K. Mandel, Amber L. Ramage, Joshua H. Simon, Baratunde R. Thurston, Kelly M. Yamanouchi and Elizabeth S. Zuckerman contributed to the reporting of this story.