Usually the chairman and vice chairman do not head a particular presidential search since they try to play roles in all of them.

The board had to put in place governance changes before it could begin a presidential search, Mr. Leventhal said.

His mother is an associate vice chancellor for presidential searches and evaluations at the State University of New York.

A presidential search is usually conducted by a committee of trustees led by the head of the board.

And there was the agonizing presidential search for a general who would fight.

His staunch defense of those policies, combined with his solid management record, made him a serious candidate in presidential searches at Harvard and Princeton.

He is a member of the Boston University Board of Trustees and led its presidential search.

At most other leading private universities, including Princeton and Dartmouth, recent presidential searches have included students and faculty members.

John Longbrake, a university spokesman, said he would not comment on the presidential search.

The presidential search began not long after Dr. Summers resigned last February.