The Wichita State University Presidential Search Committee announced five individuals have been selected as presidential finalists for Wichita State and will visit the WSU campus in the next two weeks. During the visit, candidates will tour the campus and interact with various WSU constituent groups. A portion of each visit will be open to the public.

Here are the five candidates.

Glen Hahn Cope is the provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs and a professor of public policy administration and political science at the University of Missouri in St. Louis. She earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Michigan in economics, a master's degree from Syracuse University in public administration and her Ph.D. from Ohio State University in public administration. Cope will visit WSU Sunday and Monday, April 8-9. The open forum will be held from 4-5 p.m. Monday, April 9, in 209 Hubbard Hall.

Chuck Staben is provost and vice president for academic affairs at the University of South Dakota. He earned his bachelor's degree in biochemistry from the University of Illinois and his Ph.D. from the University of California in biochemistry. Staben will visit WSU Monday and Tuesday, April 9-10. The open forum will be held from 4-5 p.m. Tuesday, April 10, in 209 Hubbard Hall. 

Lisa A. Rossbacher is the president of Southern Polytechnic State University in Marietta, Ga. She earned her bachelor's degree from Dickinson College in geology, a master's degree from State University of New York at Binghamton in geological sciences, a master's degree from Princeton University in geological and geophysical sciences, and her Ph.D. from Princeton University in geological and geophysical sciences. Rossbacher will visit WSU Tuesday and Wednesday, April 10-11. The open forum will be held from 4-5 p.m. Wednesday, April 11, in 211 Hubbard Hall.

Bjong Wolf Yeigh (pronounced be-yong wolf yeah; prefers to go by Wolf) serves as president of the State University of New York Institution of Technology. He earned his bachelor's degree from Dartmouth College in engineering science, a master's degree at Stanford University in mechanical engineering, and his Ph.D. from Princeton University in civil engineering and operations research. Yeigh will visit WSU Sunday and Monday, April 15-16. The open forum will be held from 4-5 p.m. Monday, April 16, in 209 Hubbard Hall.

John William Bardo served as chancellor of Western Carolina University in Cullowhee, N.C., from 1995-2011. He earned a bachelor's degree in economics from the University of Cincinnati, his master's degree from Ohio University in sociology, and his Ph.D. from Ohio State University in sociology. Bardo will visit WSU Monday and Tuesday, April 16-17. The open forum will be held from 4-5 p.m. Tuesday, April 17, in 209 Hubbard Hall.

Candidate information available
Additional information about each candidate and the open forums is available on the WSU Presidential Search website at www.wichita.edu/presidentialsearch.

The WSU and Wichita communities are invited and encouraged to meet the candidates at the open forums, which have been scheduled for each candidate. Feedback from the campus and community will be facilitated via an online survey.

A link to the survey will be located on the WSU Presidential Search website at www.wichita.edu/presidentialsearch. The survey instrument for each candidate will be open from 8 a.m.-10 p.m. the day of their visit.

Donald Beggs

WSU President Donald Beggs announced his resignation effective June 30, 2012, after serving the university for 13 years. In November 2011, the Kansas Board of Regents selected the members of the search committee, composed of 20 individuals representing WSU constituencies such as faculty, students, administration, staff, alumni/foundation, the Wichita community and the Board of Regents.

The Search Committee will submit to the Board of Regents its unranked candidate recommendations at the conclusion of the campus interviews. The board hopes to name the 13th WSU president in May 2012.