"The first is: disciple," President Clark said. "Our mission, our very purpose, is to educate, develop and prepare disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ. This purpose is deeply rooted in this university. In a way that I have found remarkable, this is a student-centered university. It is that way by divine appointment. The Lord watches over this university in a direct and powerful way . . .

"The second word is: leader. When I use that word I have in mind leadership with a small L. This is a kind of leadership we need in every part of every kind of organization in society. We want our students to provide the kind of leadership that serves and inspires — first and foremost in their families and in the church, in their communities and in their work."

Earlier this year, the news that the dean of the Harvard Business School was coming to Rexburg, Idaho, to lead BYU-Idaho traveled the nation's academic circles. Summers said the news was "bittersweet" for Harvard "but wonderful news for your university, and for all who care about American higher education and the character of those who lead its institutions."

Clark and Summers are longtime friends, having been graduate students together some 30 years ago.

The new BYU-Idaho president, who is LDS, received his bachelor's, master's and doctorate degrees in economics from Harvard University. He became a member of the faculty at the Harvard Business School in 1978. On June 6, the church announced Clark would be the new president of BYU-Idaho.

He succeeds Robert M. Wilkes, who served as interim president when Elder Bednar was called to the church's Quorum of the Twelve in October 2004.

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