Lee Elected Fellow of Harvard Corporation

A successor to departing Senior Fellow James R. Houghton

William F. Lee

William F. Lee '72 (J.D.-M.B.A. Cornell '76), co-managing partner of the WilmerHale law firm, has been elected to the seven-member Harvard Corporation, the University's senior governing board. He will fill the position now held by  James R. Houghton '58, M.B.A. '62, senior fellow of the Corporation; Houghton announced last December that he would step down at the end of this academic year, June 30. Lee, who had served as an elected Overseer, was vice chair of the Overseers' executive committee, the second-ranking position, during the 2007-2008 academic year. In that capacity, he served on the search committee that selected Drew Faust as Harvard's twenty-eighth president. Given his recent Overseer experience, he comes to his new responsibilities with relatively fresh exposure to the University's challenges and opportunities, during a period of sustained financial stress caused by the $11-billion depreciation of the endowment during the fiscal year ended June 30, 2009, and other losses related to investments and the funding arranged for construction (now suspended) in Allston.

The Corporation succession has attracted particular interest because, as reported, it comes at a time when the University's senior governing body is analyzing its operations and perhaps considering reforms ("The Corporation Changes," Harvard Magazine, March-April, page 52).

Lee's experience as an Overseer may be pertinent as the Corporation, which is self-appointing, considers how better to work with the larger, junior governing board; how to gather information more widely; and how to communicate with the University's diverse constituencies. "Self Improvement," a comment in the forthcoming May-June issue of Harvard Magazine, outlines some of the governance challenges facing the Corporation and management challenges facing Harvard's leadership; it should reach mailboxes by the final week of April, and should be available online by the middle of the April 19 week (see the John Harvard's Journal section). For an earlier roundtable discussion on University governance, including the views of two former Corporation members, see "Governing Harvard," published in the May-June 2006 issue.

In his law practice, Lee specializes in intellectual property and commercial litigation. He has served on the visiting committees to both Harvard Law School and the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, and was a member of the committee that investigated relations between the Harvard University Police Department and the wider community, following complaints about the department's interactions with members of racial minorities. 

The official news announcement of Lee's appointment appears here.  

You might also like

John Goldberg named Dean of Harvard Law School

A professor at HLS since 2008, he steps up from the interim role.

Nieman Foundation Names Henry Chu as Interim Curator

Veteran LA Times journalist calls attention to press freedom

Harvard Can Continue Hosting International Students, Judge Says

Trump hints at a possible settlement with the University.

Most popular

Two Momentous Faculty Retirements

Arthur Kleinman and Harry Lewis depart the classroom.

House Committee Subpoenas Harvard Over Tuition Costs

The University must turn over all requested materials related to tuition and financial aid by mid-July. 

The Professor Who Quantified Democracy

Erica Chenoweth’s data shows how—and when—authoritarians fall.

Explore More From Current Issue

The Woman Who Rode Horses Into the Water

Scrapbooking a woman who rode horses into the sea

A Look at Harvard’s Distinctive Doctoral Regalia

On regalia, a Jack-of-all-trades retirement, and a Bok’s office bon mot.

Your Guide to Summer 2025 Along Boston Harbor

Enjoying the Boston Harbor’s Renaissance This Summer