A provost’s view across a decade
He ran the National Institute of Mental Health and then led Harvard’s expansion into interdisciplinary research during a 10-year tenure as provost. During his final days in office, Steven E. Hyman shared his reflections on a decade in Mass Hall with the Gazette. GAZETTE: The provost’s job was a relatively new post when you moved into this office. It was only, what, 10 years old at an institution with more than three centuries of history behind it? How did you go about forming the role? HYMAN: Well, to be really honest, the job, by itself, was not fully attractive. What brought me back to Harvard was Larry Summers’ invitation to come here and help build interdisciplinary science and engineering. We shared a sense that Harvard had, in aggregate, the most remarkable faculty and students in the world, but that we were missing the boat in some really innovative areas because...