By Moneth G. Deposa
Variety News Staff

The board of regents of Northern Marianas College yesterday announced the selection of former Guam Sen. Carmen Fernandez as NMC’s new president, a position that has been vacant for over eight months.
After deliberating from 3:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., the board unanimously voted in favor of Dr. Fernandez, a former vice president of the University of Guam.
Board chairwoman Rita Inos said they will invite Fernandez to meet with them to offer and discuss her employment contract further.
It was board member Elaine Hocog-Orilla, chairwoman of the personnel committee, who moved for the election of Fernandez as the new college president,
“Considering all the material presented to the board…including comments from the community and people listed as references, the committee is proud to recommend that the board select Dr. Carmen Fernandez as the next NMC president,” Hocog-Orilla said.
Her motion was seconded and unanimously approved by the regents.
“We’ve done our best under the circumstances…it’s been a long journey to find a qualified candidate and I admire the board for their diligence and dedication to their commitment,” Inos told the media.
The other candidate for the position was Dr. Cecilia Lizama Salvatore of Emporia State University in Emporia, Kansas.