The News-Gazette.com: Ex-UI chancellor now in running for NMSU presidency

Ex-UI chancellor now in running for NMSU presidency

By Tim Mitchell

Wednesday, October 28, 2009 8:08 AM CDT

LAS CRUCES, N.M. – Former University of Illinois Chancellor Richard Herman is one of five finalists to become the next president at New Mexico State University.

Herman is currently special assistant to the president at the UI. He resigned as chancellor last week in the wake of the "Category I" admissions scandal.

Herman confirmed on Tuesday night that he is interested in the position at New Mexico State.

"I think there are a lot of opportunities there," Herman said. "New Mexico State is a land-grant institution, and it has a number of excellent academic programs."

Herman said he plans to travel to the university to meet with school officials "in the near future."

"I'm looking forward to the visit and speaking with the folks there," Herman said.

Herman said he was attracted to the job because of the university's diverse population.

"The university has a significant Hispanic population, and it is one of the fastest-growing populations in the country. I think serving there would be a great opportunity for me."

Impending Interim UI President Stanley Ikenberry did not return calls Tuesday night.

Search committee members at New Mexico State, aided by a search firm, made more than 420 contacts for the president position. The committee reviewed detailed information on about 60 individuals and interviewed 18 candidates before the university's Board of Regents named five finalists on Tuesday.

In addition to Herman, the other finalists are as follows:

– Barbara Couture, D.A., senior vice chancellor for academic affairs and professor of English, University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

– James Oblinger, Ph.D, professor, recently chancellor, North Carolina State University.

– Michael Ortiz, Ph.D, president, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona.

– Lisa Rossbacher, Ph.D, president, Southern Polytechnic State University in Marietta, Ga.

Del Archuleta, chairman of the presidential search committee, said the Regents' goal was to have a new president in place by the start of the spring semester.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.