Gerhard Casper was recruited in 1992 from the University of Chicago, where he was Provost.

During his eight years as president of Stanford, Casper's concerns ranged from resolution (of the indirect cost dispute with the federal government) to restoration (of the campus after the 1989 Loma Prieta Earthquake) to preservation (of Stanford's greatest strengths, its faculty and students) to innovation (in curriculum, programs and physical plant).

His Commission on Undergraduate Education was the first comprehensive examination of undergraduate education at Stanford in 25 years.

As a fundraiser, Casper brought in record sums from a variety of sources. At right, he implored members of the class of '99 to contribute to the Senior Gift.