Yale President Richard C. Levin Delivers Leaders Forum Lecture at SOM

When Richard C. Levin PhD ’74 became Yale’s president fifteen years ago, he was taking over an institution with a rich history and a reputation as one of the nation’s premier universities. But Yale wasn’t without problems. As Levin explained to an SOM audience on September 16 as the first speaker in this year’s Yale School of Management Leaders Forum, the university’s infrastructure had been crumbling for decades, while at the same time New Haven appeared to be in a downturn. Given the climate in the city, he said, “Yale was at a disadvantage compared to its peer institutions because the crime rate was high and the city was emptying out…In 1993, housing prices had declined for four years. The two middle class neighborhoods in New Haven were in danger of going under.”

So the newly appointed president launched a number of initiatives: investing billions of dollars to rebuild decrepit buildings while greatly expanding Yale’s physical plant; working with New Haven to save depressed neighborhoods and revitalize its downtown core; strengthening science research and education; turning Yale into an international university; and taking a leadership role on the environment. The point of all the initiatives, he said, is to make sure Yale flourishes in a new global environment. “In a globally competitive world, higher education is no different than the business strategy you study,” he told the SOM audience. “There’s going to be a global market for faculty; there’s already a global market for students. Yale wants to be at the top of the heap.”

Watch or listen to Richard Levin’s talk. (38:35)
MP3