Barack Obama could be new Harvard president after alleged plagiarist Claudine Gay ousted

Following the resignation of now-former president Claudine Gay, Harvard University has been on the hunt for a new leader.

While no official list of names has been published, rumors have swirled online that Barack Obama could be among those considered for the role.

According to the Daily Mail, Harvard said the search "will include broad engagement and consultation with the Harvard community in the time ahead."

In an interview with the Boston Globe, Harvard professor emeritus of public policy Robert Putnam said that he doubts the former president would accept the role if it was offered to him, though he did add that it would be "highly desirable" to see "a person of color, or a woman, or even better, both" take over for Gay.

Prior to her ouster, it was reported that Obama had "privately lobbied on Gay's behalf as she faced pressure to resign in the wake of her disastrous appearance before the congressional hearing on antisemitism."

The former president graduated from Harvard Law School in 1991, where he served as president of the Law Review.

Gay's resignation came following numerous scandals, including allegations of plagiarism and a failure to adequately condemn antisemitism on campus.

"It is with a heavy heart but a deep love for Harvard that I write to share that I will be stepping down as president," Gay wrote in her resignation letter. "This is not a decision I came to easily. Indeed, it has been difficult beyond words because I have looked forward to working with so many of you to advance the commitment to academic excellence that has propelled this great university across centuries."

"After consultation with members of the Corporation," she added, "it has become clear that it is in the best interests of Harvard for me to resign so that our community can navigate this moment of extraordinary challenge with a focus on the institution rather than any individual."

This is a developing story and will be updated.