Five selected finalists for ENMU chancellor

Eastern New Mexico University on Sunday will formally announce five finalists for its chancellor/president position.

The finalists are:

• Bruno Hicks, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dalton State College

• James Johnston, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, Midwestern State University

• Gary Ligouri, Founding Dean, College of Health Sciences, University of Rhode Island

• Larry Sanderson, Vice President of Institutional Research and Accreditation, New Mexico Junior College

• James Williams, Senior Vice President for Student Affairs (retired), Emporia State University

The names were provided to The Eastern New Mexico News on Thursday in compliance with the New Mexico Open Meetings Act.

The university is required by state statute to publish the names in a legal notice “at least twenty-one days and not more than thirty days before the described meeting,” according to Wade L. Jackson, an attorney representing the university.

The News received the legal notice on Thursday with instruction to publish on Sunday. University officials have said they will also release finalists’ resumes on the ENMU website on Sunday: my.enmu.edu/web/presidential-search/

University officials had previously declined to release the names of the finalists, which were selected about three weeks ago, according to Phillip Bustos, a regent who also served on the search committee.

Bustos said the university has been trying to comply with state laws regarding release of the finalists’ names and that’s why it has taken so long to provide the information to the public.

“So we had to establish the time line. It’s a massive process,” he said. The search for a new chancellor/president began in February, he said.

There are no laws preventing the university from releasing names of all applicants, but Bustos said earlier this month that some “candidates would not want their names revealed until the finalists are determined.”

Bustos said ENMU paid EFL Associates “about $100,000” to help the university find candidates to succeed Patrice Caldwell who is retiring later this year.

EFL reported it received 96 applicants for the job; EFL then narrowed the list to 36 and forwarded those resumes and cover letters to a local search committee, Bustos said.

The local committee, consisting of two regents and 16 others representing the community, faculty, alumni, ENMU Foundation board and Ruidoso and Roswell campuses, then selected 12 semifinalists before deciding on the five finalists. Bustos said.

Bustos said the local search committee scored 36 candidates, based on six questions. He did not release the questions.

The scores were then tabulated by EFL. After that, EFL led the local committee in a discussion that ultimately led to the five finalists.

All five finalists are expected to participate in public forums Nov. 2-5. More specifics are expected to be released by the university on Sunday.

ENMU’s chancellor oversees campuses in Roswell and Ruidoso in addition to serving as president of the campus at Portales.

The university regents will select the school’s 12th president by Nov. 30, they have said.

Bustos said regents will be looking for “strong leadership skills, individuals that use data to make decisions (and) data-driven management” skills.

“Fit is important. We’re looking for someone who is a good fit for Portales. We are looking for a candidate who will stay,” Bustos said.