Asked if the board will consider local applicants, he replied: “I don’t think we are restricting ourselves to any possibilities.”
Last week, the board disclosed that the top candidate had withdrawn.
The three final candidates recommended by the NMC presidential search committee were Dr. Christa Adams, Dr. Jeff Armstrong and Dr. Sharon Y. Hart.
The board refused to disclose the name of the applicant who withdrew from the search process.
“We are consistent in our position to give utmost privacy to the candidates,” Lizama said.
During the board meeting, on Friday, however, he said it was Adam who informed the board about her intention to withdraw her application.
According to Lizama, “There’s so many uncertainties. They [the remaining applicants] are not here and there are a lot of issues and concerns here.
For example, as much as we want to offer a person a job, the frame of mind that we are operating is not the same frame of mind that the candidate is operating.”
He said the regents would like to know from the candidates how soon and how quick they can move to Saipan and sign the contract.
He said there is no political interference as the board continues to work “within the confines of the selection process.”
“The first step is to select then the second step is to make the offer and if the offer is not agreed upon that would be a problem,” he added.
The board, he said, is “ready to make a firm offer to any of the two remaining candidates.”
Lizama said they have no timeline although the board “likes” to have a new president before NMC submits its supplemental report on accreditation-related issues to the Accreditation Commission for Community and Junior Colleges in June 2011.
This Thursday, the board is scheduled to meet again to address the selection of a new NMC president.
