At Princeton, where she has taught since 1976, Gutman is best known for her work with the University Center for Human Values, an interdisciplinary center that brings students, faculty and the public together for discussions of ethical issues. She founded the center in 1990 and has spent almost a decade as its director.

Her scholarship includes two major works co-authored with Harvard faculty: Color Consciouness, which was co-written with Professor of Afro-American Studies and Philosophy K. Anthony Appiah, and Democracy and Disagreement, which was co-written with Associate Provost Dennis F. Thompson.

Gutmann is presently on a year-long sabbatical at Stanford University, where she is working on a book about group identity at the Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences.

She flew to New York specifically for the Jan. 23 interview. After meeting with the search committee, Gutmann looked at apartments in New York City, where her husband, political scientist Michael Doyle, is joining the staff of the United Nations.

She is also a likely contender for the top job at Princeton, which is in the midst of a presidential search as well.

Gutmann yesterday refused to confirm or deny that she met with the committee. Harvard spokesman Joseph Wrinn said last week that the University had no comment on the matter.