Derek Bok

Date of Birth: March 22, 1930

Zodiac Sign: Aries

Date of Death: (As of the last update in 2023, Derek Bok is still alive.)

Biography

Derek Curtis Bok is a distinguished American lawyer and academic who has made significant contributions to higher education and public policy. Born in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, Bok graduated from Stanford University in 1951 and received his J.D. from Harvard Law School in 1954. He later earned an A.M. in economics from the University of Paris. Bok served as the Dean of Harvard Law School from 1968 to 1971 and then as the President of Harvard University from 1971 to 1991. He returned as interim president from 2006 to 2007. During his tenure at Harvard, Bok was known for his efforts to promote public service and interdisciplinary research. He has written extensively on the state of higher education, the role of universities in society, and the importance of public service. Bok has also been a vocal advocate for educational reforms, emphasizing the need for universities to address social issues and contribute to the public good.

5 Interesting Facts about Derek Bok

1. Derek Bok was the first Harvard president to encourage the university to divest from companies involved in South Africa during apartheid.

2. He co-authored several influential books with his wife, Sissela Bok, on public policy and ethics.

3. Under his leadership, Harvard University significantly increased its endowment and expanded its facilities.

4. Bok has been a member of various educational and public service organizations, including the Spencer Foundation and the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching.

5. He is an advocate for integrating public service into higher education curricula, emphasizing the importance of social responsibility.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Derek Bok

1. “If you think education is expensive, try ignorance.”

2. “Universities are not here to simply transmit knowledge; they must also create it and use it to serve the public.”

3. “The central task of education is to implant a will and facility for learning; it should produce not learned but learning people.”

4. “Higher education needs to be more than a ladder to middle-class jobs; it should provide graduates with a sense of social responsibility.”

5. “The quality of a university is measured more by the kind of student it turns out than the kind it takes in.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

The highest net worth Derek Bok has achieved is not publicly documented, but his contributions to academia and public service are invaluable.

Children

Derek Bok and his wife, Sissela Bok, have three children: Hilary Bok, a professor of philosophy at Johns Hopkins University; and two sons, Jonathan and Daniel Bok, whose professional details are less publicly known.