“Finding a president is a big complicated process because everyone in the university constituency cares about that selection, and getting it right is important to everyone,” said John Isaacson, the chair of Isaacson, Miller, a firm that has helped with searches for many top schools. “It’s a process that takes time.”

U.C.L.A. and Yale did not respond to inquiries about their presidential searches.

Some potential presidents are as wary as schools. Dr. Dirks, the former U.C. Berkeley…