“Most people who have already been deans before don’t want to do it again,” said Story Professor of Law Arthur T. Von Mehren. “I would be surprised if Leibman was interested—why would he want to return to the trials and tribulations of deanship?”

In past searches, Harvard’s internal ranks have proved fertile fodder for dean selections.

“History indicates that the President will choose an internal candidate,” Von Mehren said.

Thirteen years ago, Clark was selected after several outside candidates had turned down offers from the University.

Voicing Concerns

Besides names, concerns about process are on both faculty and students’ minds.

In a faculty meeting this fall, professors sparred with Summers over the composition and nature of the advisory committee. Professors said that former President Derek C. Bok had allowed the faculty to elect their own committee, and bristled that Summers was appointing an advisory committee himself.

Students meanwhile worry that their views will go unnoticed.

“We want our voices heard in this search—and Harvard doesn’t have the best record in listening to students,” said Law School Council Vice President Wade Ackerman said.

Ackerman is meeting with Summers staffers to discuss the search, and a number of “town-hall” style meetings are planned for this spring.

“Students aren’t as concerned with proposing specific names as they are with having a voice in the process,” Ackerman said.

The Road Ahead

Facing Clark’s successor are a number of institutional challenges. The new dean will have to be a fundraiser. The Law School is currently in the “quiet phase” of a much needed capital campaign that will publicly kick-off in June.

Money from the campaign will fund the continued expansion of the faculty, physical growth in the North Yard and curricular revitalization.

Meanwhile, the possibility of a new University campus in Allston looms just over the horizon. Though the Law School faculty is vehemently opposed to a move across the river, one scenario being considered envisions a professional school campus with HLS as its anchor.