In 1996, Clark told the London Financial Times that Harvard was "an important school. And it's not because of us, it's because of our alumni. We can really make a difference in the world."

Sarofim-Rock Professor of Business Administration Howard H. Stevenson says Clark would support needed innovation if he were the next president.

"He's a guy who's willing to practice and support innovation, not just talk about it," Stevenson says. "He's energetic, a person who I think people trust a lot."

"To succeed, you have to have other people want you to succeed," Stevenson says. "I suspect Kim is a person who would have that."

Stevenson says Clark had three qualities that would serve any university president well.

"He's a fabulous motivator and speaker to audiences," Stevenson says. "The alumni love him. He communicates extremely well in large groups."

"He's a deep thinker. He doesn't consider that there's a simple answer to every problem," Stevenson says. "He's a fast learner, in a practical sense. If he sees a better way to do it, no matter what has worked in the past, he'll try something new."