David Laibson, Rumored Frontrunner for College Dean, Says He Doesn’t Want It

Economics professor David I. Laibson ’88, who many expected to be a leading candidate to become the next dean of Harvard College, has informed Faculty of Arts and Sciences Dean Hopi E. Hoekstra that he does not want the job.

While Laibson was named to the faculty advisory committee for the dean search last month, it is not unusual for Harvard’s search committees to consider their own members. However, Laibson confirmed to The Crimson on Sunday that he had taken his name out of consideration.

“I think there are lots of people who would be terrific college deans! I am a member of the advisory committee to Dean Hoekstra, so I can’t comment about possible candidates,” Laibson wrote in a text message. “You are correct that I have asked not to be considered.”

FAS and College spokespeople did not respond to requests for comment for this article.

Laibson currently co-teaches Economics 10, Harvard’s intro economics course, and is a faculty dean of Lowell House. He cited his teaching responsibilities and commitment to Lowell House as reasons for why decided he did not want to be dean.

“I love my current roles!” Laibson wrote. “Teaching, mentorship, research, and Lowell House are all profoundly meaningful for me.”

Before Laibson decided he wasn’t interested in the job, he and Amanda Claybaugh, the dean of undergraduate education, were rumored among the faculty as two top candidates to succeed Dean Rakesh Khurana.

Claybaugh declined to comment on whether she was interested in the College dean position, referring The Crimson to Hoekstra for questions on the dean search.

Several recent Harvard College deans have been picked from among the more undergraduate-facing professors. Khurana was previously the faculty dean of Cabot House, while Harry R. Lewis ’68, dean from 1995 to 2003, was the longtime professor of Harvard’s intro to theoretical computer science class.

Beyond Claybaugh, other faculty members thought to be possible candidates by their colleagues include Eric Beerbohm, the faculty dean of Quincy House; Anne Harrington ’82, the former faculty dean of Pforzheimer House; and History 10 professor Maya R. Jasanoff ’96.

Jasanoff, however, told The Crimson that she was also not interested in the position.

Khurana announced in late August that he would step down as dean after the 2024-2025 academic year, concluding a 10-year tenure in University Hall.

So far, the search to find Harvard College’s next dean is in its nascent stages. Hoekstra and the faculty advisory committee have held two town halls to date — one last week and the second on Monday in Lowell House.

The advisory committee will hold one more town hall with students on Tuesday in Cabot House.

The FAS is aiming to select the next dean of the College early in the spring semester, according to a faculty member with knowledge of the matter. This would give the incoming dean a runway of several months to ease into the role as Khurana closes out his tenure.

—Staff writer Neil H. Shah can be reached at neil.shah@thecrimson.com. Follow him on X @neilhshah15.