A wider membership allows for the inclusion of a variety of specialists that a bring a deep knowledge on a given issue to a university’s operation. Because of the Corporation’s limited size, individuals selected for the board have historically been generalists with a broad spectrum of skills.

Now, the generalist may be giving way to the expert.

The Corporation’s wish list includes 10 or 12 important skills, and it is currently looking “for people that fill two or three of them,” said Reischauer. He declined to specify what areas of specialization they hope to fill.

Lee said that a background in international work, science and technology, or experience running a large institution would all be valuable skills that a new Corporation member might bring to the table.

According to Chait, subjects that historically have lacked representation include engineering, medicine, stem cell research, and knowledge of international corporations.

“These are areas that are not only explosive in terms of knowledge but are also game-changers,” said Chait.

Eve J. Higginbotham, a member of the Board of Overseers, said she would like to see expertise in the sciences on the Corporation. Higginbotham also said she supports increasing diversity among the Corporation’s membership.

Currently, five of the Corporation’s seven members are white, one is black, and one is Asian. Three of the members are women.

Upping the Corporation’s membership also raises the possibility that accountability will be diluted among its members.

But over the course of its history, Harvard has become sprawling and decentralized, requiring a larger team of leaders.

“Harvard is a big enough place,” said Rosovsky. “Even if you divide responsibility by 13, you’ll still have a lot of responsibility.”

Given the size of the University, a larger membership may be a step in the right direction toward better integrating the Corporation into Harvard’s affairs.

“I think the reforms will help the Corporation to be a more responsive and agile governing body,” Higginbotham said. “That sounds like a paradox—that if it’s bigger it won’t be as agile, but I don’t think that will be the case.”

With the new set of reforms, members of the Corporation will now be subject to six-year term limits, which promises to increase turnover and will help prevent the Corporation from becoming stagnant.

“The newcomer will ask the innocent or stupid question that brings to light some interesting issues that are going on at the institution,” Lapovsky said.

—Staff writer Zoe A. Y. Weinberg can be reached at zoe.weinberg@college.harvard.edu..