Yale names Salovey as next president

Originally posted November 8, 2012 at 2:46 p.m.

Sometimes the conventional wisdom is right.

Peter Salovey ’86PhD, a psychology professor and longtime Yale administrator—currently as provost—will become the next president of Yale University when Rick Levin ’74PhD steps down after this academic year.

Yale officials announced the decision at the McDougal Center of the Hall of Graduate Studies this afternoon.

A former dean of both Yale College and the graduate school, Salovey became provost, the university’s top academic officer, four years ago. His qualifications are obvious: deep knowledge of how Yale works, scholarly prowess (he’s a pioneer in the field of emotional intelligence), and popularity among students. (Check out his appearance, as himself, in the 2012 Yale College Class Day video, Moon Yale.)

In a 2008 interview about how Yale has launched numerous provosts to the presidency of other universities, Levin called Salovey “someone with exceptional judgment about people and the ability to act decisively, someone who has the respect of the faculty and embodies the values of the institution.”

Salovey’s face used to embody its own institution: a brushy mustache for which he was famous. Who says Yale never changes?

Check back later for more coverage of the announcement.