Derek Bok

Derek Bok
Name	Derek Bok
Caption	Bok in 2009
Birth date	22 March 1930
Birth place	Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Alma mater	Stanford University (BA), Harvard University (LLB), George Washington University (MA)
Occupation	Lawyer, academic administrator, author
Spouse	Sissela Bok (m. 1955)
Children	3, including Hilary Bok
Relations	Curtis Bok (father), Catherine Drinker Bowen (aunt), Edward Bok (grandfather)

Derek Bok is an American legal scholar, academic administrator, and author who served as the twenty-fifth President of Harvard University from 1971 to 1991. A prominent figure in higher education in the United States, his tenure was marked by significant expansion of the university's endowment, the diversification of the undergraduate and graduate student bodies, and major investments in the Law School and Kennedy School of Government. Following his presidency, he served as the interim president again in 2006–2007 and has authored influential books on university governance, higher education, and the role of colleges in society.

Early life and education

Born in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, he is the son of Curtis Bok, a Pennsylvania Supreme Court justice, and the grandson of the famed editor Edward Bok. He attended the Stanford undergraduate program, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in government in 1951. He then studied law at Harvard Law School, where he was president of the Harvard Law Review and graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Laws in 1954. Following service in the United States Army, he earned a Master of Arts in Economics from George Washington University in 1958.

Academic career

After completing his education, he joined the faculty of Harvard Law School in 1958, specializing in labor law and antitrust law. He was appointed dean of the law school in 1968, a position he held until his selection as president. As dean, he worked to modernize the curriculum and increase the representation of women and minorities among the law school's professors and students, initiatives that foreshadowed his later work leading the entire university.

Presidency of Harvard University

He assumed the Harvard presidency in 1971, succeeding Nathan M. Pusey. His twenty-year administration oversaw a period of substantial growth and transformation for the Ivy League institution. Key initiatives included a major capital campaign that dramatically increased the Harvard University endowment, the establishment of the John F. Kennedy School of Government as a standalone school, and significant reforms within Harvard College including the creation of a new Core Curriculum. His tenure also navigated periods of student activism, debates over university investments in South Africa under apartheid, and efforts to strengthen medical and scientific research across the university.

Post-presidency and later work

After stepping down in 1991, he remained active at Harvard University as a professor at the Harvard Kennedy School and the Harvard Graduate School of Education. He returned to lead the university as interim president for the 2006–2007 academic year following the resignation of Lawrence Summers. In this role, he helped stabilize the institution and advance initiatives in science and global health. He has also served on numerous boards, including those of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the Harvard Corporation.

Publications and thought

He is a prolific author whose works critically examine the state and purpose of higher education. His influential books include *The Shape of the River: Long-Term Consequences of Considering Race in College and University Admissions* (with William G. Bowen), *Universities in the Marketplace: The Commercialization of Higher Education*, and *Higher Education in America*. His writings often argue for the central role of colleges in fostering civic engagement, ethical reasoning, and preparation for democracy, while warning against the encroachment of commercial values on academic missions.

Personal life

He married the philosopher and ethicist Sissela Bok (née Myrdal), daughter of Gunnar Myrdal and Alva Myrdal, in 1955. They have three children, including the philosopher Hilary Bok. He resides in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and remains an engaged scholar, frequently contributing to public debates on education policy and university leadership.

Category:1930 births Category:American legal scholars Category:Harvard University faculty Category:Presidents of Harvard University Category:Living people