Interim Regional Chancellor Bill Hogarth is not among the top candidates up for the permanent chancellor position.
On Jan. 29, the 18-member Regional Chancellor Search Advisory Committee, headed by Frank Biafora, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, narrowed down the pool of candidates from six to three after two days of interviews.
The committee recommended Ron Brown, senior vice president of Academic Affairs and provost at Wayne State University, Ralph Rogers, vice chancellor for Academic Affairs at Purdue University Calumet, and Sophia Wisniewska, chancellor at Penn State Brandywine.
A private firm will run extensive background checks on the three finalists, who will then face a series of interviews and public presentations at USF St. Petersburg the weeks of Feb. 11 and Feb. 18. USF President Judy Genshaft will ultimately choose the candidate she sees best fit for the position. There is no set deadline for her decision at this time.
The Tampa Bay Times reports that the three finalists are technically recommendations and Genshaft still has the ability to choose another candidate that may have not made the most recent cut — meaning Hogarth could still be offered the position.
The Times also reports that the chosen candidate may not accept the position, referring to Brown, who is up for another job.
Hogarth has not released a statement on the matter at the time of reporting and could not be reached for comment.
