(Source: Harvard University)

So Harvard has its new leader: Drew Gilpin Faust, currently head of the university's Radcliffe Institute. A scholar of Southern U.S. history. An administrative leader who voiced strong opinions during last year's "women in science" debacle featuring Harvard president Larry Summers. The university's first female president and first non-alum since the Pilgrims roamed Massachusetts.

Was she the first choice? We'll likely never know. But we do know that others turned down offers to interview for the job. Why? Wouldn't any academic leader jump at the chance to rule Harvard? Not necessarily.

Today's Chronicle of Higher Education website offers quotes from several academics who were considered, at varying levels, for the position. As the quotes make clear, people have plenty of reasons for saying no.

Here's one:

Lawrence S. Bacow, president, Tufts University
If I had not been at Tufts, I am sure I would have talked to the search committee. Would I have taken the job if offered? Hard to say. One thing that is essential to a successful presidency is fit. One learns a lot through the search process, especially about the board and about governance. You also tend to learn something about yourself: Can you see yourself in the position? Can you get excited about the challenges and the opportunities? Do you like the people? So you cannot take individual preferences completely off the table. Also, I think any potential president of Harvard has to ask what they hope to accomplish in the job. Harvard is a great place and will be regardless of who is president. This is another way of saying that the marginal return to leadership may be greater at other institutions.

You can find the rest here (password protected).