Williams College named Morton Schapiro as its new president last week, but William Chafe, dean of the faculty of arts and sciences at Duke, was among four finalists for the position before removing his name from consideration.
After a campus visit in Williamstown, Mass., Chafe withdrew from the search Jan. 10-just one week before the new president was announced. "It would not be fair to continue if I knew I was not able to say yes," he said.
Although Chafe knew he was a finalist for the position, he said he did not know how many candidates Williams was still considering when he decided to drop out.
Chafe, also vice provost for undergraduate education, said he withdrew because he remains excited by the daily challenges of working within a major research institution.
At Williams, for example, there are only 2,200 students.
"There's a difference in the variety and complexity of the problems and the number of different people at different levels of expertise with whom one must interact on a daily basis," he explained.
As president of the prestigious liberal arts college, Chafe would have faced many of the same issues he currently addresses as Duke's dean and vice provost.
He said he would have worked to increase interdisciplinarity, expand service-based learning programs and diversify the school's faculty.
Chafe's familiarity with these issues undoubtedly made him an intriguing candidate for the post, said President Nan Keohane, who knew he was considering the presidency.
"In many ways, he would have been a good fit with the job, given his interests and accomplishments, so it's not surprising that they would have sought him out," she said. "However, I am delighted that he decided not to pursue it, in the end, and will be staying at Duke."
Raymond Henze, chair and spokesperson for Williams' presidential search committee, said the group was impressed by Chafe. "Duke is a first-rate university, and a primary reason would seem to be the quality of leadership you enjoy from people like Bill Chafe," Henze said.
In addition to his concerns about the smaller scale of administrative life at Williams, Chafe said he was also worried that he would not have enough time for his scholarship. Chafe-who is the Alice Mary Baldwin professor of history, a former department chair and the author of Civilities and Civil Rights-said he eventually hopes to write three or four more books.
In his 29 years of service at the University, Chafe said he has seriously considered departing Duke three times.
"I never go down this road unless I'm serious about leaving," he said.
Although Chafe said he frequently hears of possibilities at other schools, he explained that "Williams is a distinguished institution with a fine reputation and prestige in the academic environment, so this made it very different."
With Duke's recent and sudden rise to national prominence, the University's faculty and administrators receive such golden opportunities more and more often.
"Some people think that one of the measures of success for an administrative leader is to help develop and mentor leaders for other institutions...," Keohane said. "I tend to focus first and foremost on Duke, and on what's best for our university. So I do try to keep our good people here by providing what they need to get their jobs done and enjoy them."
Chafe's decision to remain at Duke has raised some questions about his future aspirations here, and his possible interest in the Duke presidency after Keohane leaves.
"I'm not thinking about it," he said. "The presidency of any college or university is not something I'm pursuing."
As for how long he will stay at Duke, Chafe said it is impossible to tell. "I see myself as committed to remaining in a vigorous and even stronger role at Duke," he said, "but with no time parameters set on that commitment.
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