Drew Gilpin Faust is expected to be named Harvard’s 28th president this weekend, according to three sources familiar with the situation.

The Board of Overseers, the alumni governing body that must approve the appointment, has scheduled a special meeting for Sunday, two sources said. The meeting had not been on the board’s regular schedule.

If she is approved at that meeting, Faust, 59, will become the first woman to lead Harvard in the University’s 371-year history.

Faust is set to succeed Lawrence H. Summers, who stepped down one year ago amid tensions with faculty. Derek C. Bok has served as Harvard’s interim president since last summer.

In a statement last night, University spokesman John D. Longbrake declined to comment.

Faust could not be reached yesterday. If she secures the Overseers’ approval, she will take office on July 1.

—Javier C. Hernandez, Daniel J. T. Schuker, and Zachary M. Seward contributed to the reporting of this story.

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