Vartan Gregorian, the President of the Carnegie Corporation of New York and an authority on higher education, recently spoke to The Crimson about a number of issues Harvard will soon have to face.

Gregorian, who was president of Brown University from 1989-1997, is well known as an educator and fundraiser. His popularity with Brown students is legendary.

He is well respected by his colleagues in both education and various philanthropic organizations, including the Annenberg Foundation.

Born in Iran, he attended the College Armenien in Lebanon, where he received a degree in Armenian studies in 1955.

After receiving a scholarship for international study, Gregorian headed to Stanford University. In two years, he completed a bachelor's degree in history and humanities. He also received a doctorate at Stanford.

Gregorian was an administrator at various institutions before becoming provost of the University of Pennsylvania.

In 1988, four years after receiving an honorary degree from Brown University for his work at the New York Public Library, the university's corporation chose him to be Brown's next president.

While at Brown, Gregorian led a capital campaign that nearly doubled the university's endowment. He also taught classes and began the President's Lecture Series, which brought prominent speakers to Brown. Three years ago, he resigned to head the Carnegie Corporation, which provided about $60 million in grants annually to promote education.

Recently, his successor, E. Gordon Gee, stunned the Brown community by resigning after only a brief period at the helm. A week ago, Gregorian told The Crimson his views on these issues.

THC: What do you think of the recent events at Brown? Your successor's resignation?

VG: I was stunned. There is a difference between universities and corporations. In one case you like to do well. In the other you like to do good. THC: What are 10 things Harvard should be worried about?

VG: Harvard is the oldest University in our country. One of the greatest. One of the greatest universities in the world. Harvard has always provided research in different fields... sometimes taking a new path or new direction, new vistas of research in science or social sciences.

Historically, Harvard has also dictated the nation's intellectual agenda.... Harvard under [President Charles W.] Eliot, that was curriculum. Harvard under [President James] Conant dictated what America should do with the postwar era. The G.I. bill. What American's high schools should be.

Harvard is not about wealth. It's about government and leadership. It has enduring importance, because with wealth, with power, with eminence comes responsibility, not just to Harvard alone, but also the nation and the world."

[Gregorian points out that President Franklin D. Roosevelt wrote, "to those whom much is given, much is expected," in his senior essay at Harvard.]