Hutchins is now president and CEO of Compotite, and is also president of MBH Farms Inc., in New York's Hudson Valley.

Hutchins also has extensive experience with Harvard's alumni network--in addition to her term as Overseer, she has served on the Harvard Alumni Association's board of directors, and was president of the Harvard-Radcliffe Club of Long Island.

Hutchins, who could not be reached for comment, said in the press release that she was delighted with her new position.

"It is a special privilege to lead the Board at this time of increased intellectual ferment at Harvard. New facilities in both the humanities and the sciences, substantially increased collaboration across schools and departments, and pervasive changes in technology are spurring the imaginations of our faculty and students as never before," she said.

Still, it doesn't appear that the new president will bring anything radically different to the table.

Several board members suggested that the position of president was less a position invested with the authority to set an agenda, and more an office charged with ensuring the board got its tasks done.

"The president is charged with helping to organize the work of the board.... She is the lynchpin in making sure that work goes forward," Kuehl said.