Gray, an Overseer during the search for Rudenstine, has also served as the acting president of Yale University, and as the president of the American Council on Education and the Association of American Universities.

In addition to her "wonderful sense of humor," Slichter said Gray has strong connections in the field of academics.

"She just knows everyone in the upper levels of academic world," he said. " She has a tremendous first hand knowledge of people...you can call her a mensch."

Sharon E. Gagnon, president of the Board of Overseers, will have a long commute for committee meetings. A resident of Alaska, Gagnon is the former President of the Board of regents at the University of Alaska--she even has a street in Anchorage named after her.

Gagnon's familiarity with Harvard is well-established. She served as the president of the Harvard Alumni Association before becoming an Overseer in 1995. In addition, Gagnon keeps in contact with Harvard students from Alaska.

Those who have worked with Gagnon praised not only her intelligence but also her ability to work with others.

"She's just extremely diligent, measured and very sensitive to all the complexities," former president of the Board of Overseers Charlotte P. Armstrong '49 said. "She has an excellent sense of how a major university functions."

Though Gagnon lives thousands of miles from Cambridge, Armstrong said she does not believe the distance will be a problem.