When Ferguson was being wooed to join an American university for the 2000-2001 academic year, Sylla said there were three major contenders: Harvard, NYU and the University of Pennsylvania.

“We acted a little more quickly,” Sylla said. “I knew...that he was talking to Harvard, but I guess he decided to come here. I understand that Harvard kept on talking to him.”

Ferguson described his talks with Harvard as “an evolving process over the past two years” that “has only crystallized recently.”

He said other schools had simultaneously wooed him as Harvard made its appeal, but did not name them.

And though he had nothing but kind words for NYU, calling it “a wonderful introduction to American academic life,” Ferguson said he thought his new academic home would ultimately be a better choice than either NYU or Oxford.

“I have no doubt that Harvard will combine the best of both worlds,” he said.

—Patrick Kuo contributed to the reporting of this story.

—Staff writer Simon W. Vozick-Levinson can be reached at vozick@fas.harvard.edu.