By Moneth G. Deposa
Variety News Staff

THE two final candidates for the presidency of Northern Marianas College yesterday met with faculty and students who asked them about their plans for NMC.
Former Guam Sen. Carmen Cruz Fernandez and Dr. Cecilia Lizama Salvatore of Emporia State University in Kansas met with nearly 50 individuals during separate meetings held at the NMC Student Center.
Most of the questions were about NMC’s budget problems.
The Democratic whip in the 27th Guam Legislature, Fernandez has a doctorate in business administration with a specialization in human resource management from Nova Southeastern University in Florida.
She is a former vice president for administration and finance at the University of Guam.
Fernandez yesterday said she will access all possible federal grants, diversify NMC projects and programs and support the work of the NMC Foundation.
Her priorities, she said, include NMC’s accreditation status, the development of academic programs, revenue and financial enhancement, strategic planning, public relations, and Web site improvement.
Fernandez said she wants NMC to “stay on the map…with more growth and development — a strong institution that has fully realized its vision.”
She added, “I have no fear in making difficult decisions and every decision I make will be based on full evaluation and assessment. I am not shy about making hard decision.”
She said she knows the board’s expectations.
Salvatore, for her part, cited the need for development.
Asked how she would handle NMC’s financial condition, she said: “I don’t have an immediate plan and I think the best way to answer that question is to look at how it has been addressed in the past.”
She said she will initiate a dialogue with the Legislature and the community.
“We also need to find out what NMC’s priorities are in terms of using its money and its role,” she added.
According to Salvatore, the private sector’s support should be tapped and there should be new programs and activities that can help generate additional funding for the college.
Salvatore said there seems to be a “disconnect” among the college, the government and the community.
“And we need to address that,” she said, adding that NMC should also prove its legitimacy to the administration and the Legislature.
Both candidates expressed a desire to establish a “strong relationship” with public and private schools.
They promised to work with other universities and programs for the benefit of NMC students.
They favor “intensive” recruitment locally and internationally.
The college faculty and students who attended the meetings were encouraged by the NMC board of regents to submit comments regarding the two candidates.
NMC’s presidency has been vacant for over eight months following the retirement of Antonio Deleon Guerrero in August last year.