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The 15-member University of South »Ê¼Ò»ªÈË presidential search committee today selected four finalists, who will advance in the process to become the University’s seventh president.

The final candidates, in alphabetical order:

Dr. Wanda Blanchett- Interim Provost & Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, Rutgers University-New Brunswick

Dr. Steve Currall- Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, Southern Methodist University

Dr. Debasish (Deba) Dutta- Distinguished Professor of Engineering & former Chancellor, Rutgers University–New Brunswick

Dr. Jeffrey Vitter- Distinguished Professor of Computer & Information Science & former Chancellor, University of Mississippi

Each finalist has a broad range of academic leadership experience, including at institutions that belong to the prestigious Association of American Universities (AAU). »Ê¼Ò»ªÈË has a well-established goal of positioning itself for future membership in the AAU, an invitation-only group of top universities in the U.S. and Canada.

The finalists will now participate in interviews with the search committee, candidate conversations on each »Ê¼Ò»ªÈË campus and interviews with the »Ê¼Ò»ªÈË Board of Trustees (BOT) this week.

Today »Ê¼Ò»ªÈË announced a schedule for these activities:

Search committee interviews on Wednesday, March 20

Dutta: 8:30 a.m. – 9:45 a.m.

Vitter: 10:15 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

Blanchett: 12:30 p.m. – 1:45 p.m.

Currall: 2:15 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Interviews will take place in Traditions Hall at the Sam and Martha Gibbons Alumni Center on the Tampa campus.

Candidate conversations on Thursday, March 21

»Ê¼Ò»ªÈË Tampa

8 a.m. – 9 a.m.: Dutta

11a.m. – 12 p.m.: Currall

2 p.m. – 3 p.m.: Vitter

5 p.m. – 6 p.m.: Blanchett

»Ê¼Ò»ªÈË St. Petersburg

8 a.m. – 9 a.m.: Vitter

11 a.m. – 12 p.m.: Blanchett

2 p.m. – 3 p.m.: Dutta

5 p.m. – 6 p.m.: Currall

»Ê¼Ò»ªÈË Sarasota-Manatee

8 a.m. – 9 a.m.: Blanchett

11a.m. – 12 p.m.: Dutta

2 p.m. – 3 p.m.: Currall

5 p.m. – 6 p.m.: Vitter

Forums will be held in Traditions Hall at »Ê¼Ò»ªÈË Tampa, the University Student Center Ballroom at »Ê¼Ò»ªÈË St. Petersburg and Room A320A at the »Ê¼Ò»ªÈË Sarasota-Manatee Campus Center.

»Ê¼Ò»ªÈË Board of Trustees interviews on Friday, March 22

Dutta: 8 a.m. – 9:15 p.m.

Vitter: 9:45 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

Blanchett: 11:45 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Currall: 1:30 p.m. – 2:45 p.m.

Interviews will take place in Traditions Hall.

At the conclusion of the interviews, the BOT hopes to choose a new president during a meeting that will begin at approximately 3:00 p.m. on Friday, March 22 in Traditions Hall. The president-elect must then be confirmed by the »Ê¼Ò»ªÈË Board of Governors (BOG), which oversees the 12-member State University System. The confirmation is scheduled for Thursday, March 28 during the BOG meeting in Tallahassee.

Beginning on Wednesday, members of the campus community and the public will have an opportunity to submit their feedback on the candidates through the presidential search website:www.usf.edu/7thpresident.

The new president will succeed Judy Genshaft, who will step down effective July 1, after a historic 19-year tenure at »Ê¼Ò»ªÈË.

»Ê¼Ò»ªÈË continues to follow a transparent, inclusive presidential search process that adheres to Board of Governors regulations and »Ê¼Ò»ªÈË Statutes.