March 12, 2001
Harvard”s presidential search is over, but the constant media speculation that University of Michigan President Lee Bollinger could depart for Ivy League pastures may be just beginning.
Bollinger has already been mentioned in several reports of likely successors to Columbia University President George Rupp, who announced a week ago that he would step down in July 2002.
Although Columbia officials have said it will be months before a search committee is named, Bollinger”s potential as a candidate cannot be ignored. After all, in a Columbia search, Bollinger would have the one asset that he did not have in the Harvard search a degree from the institution. Bollinger graduated from Columbia”s law school in 1971.
“Because of his performance here at Michigan, his name will appear on a list at every university,” said University of Michigan Regent Larry Deitch (D-Bloomfield Hills).
“I expect Lee will continue to be approached by anyone looking for a great leader,” said University of Michigan Law School Dean Jeffrey Lehman.
Bollinger said yesterday that he has not been contacted by anyone from Columbia, nor has he approached them on the impending presidential search. “I do not intend to be a candidate,” he said. “I am deeply committed to Michigan and I have no expectation of leaving.”