“The search for the next NMC president is progressing well,” said committee chairman Andrew Orsini in an email interview.
“We anticipate completing the interview phase by the end of this week,” he added.
Earlier this month, the Association of Community College Trustees submitted to the committee the names of seven candidates from a pool of 31 applicants.
The ACCT is a nonprofit educational association that was tapped by the NMC board of regents to assist in the initial stages of the presidential search process.
The organization has been credited for assisting numerous other colleges and universities with their search for president.
Asked about the report that one of the seven candidates backed out after being offered a position in the states, Orsini said: “The committee is committed to being open and transparent with key elements of the search process.”
However, he added, “in order to protect the integrity of the search and the privacy of individual applicants, we are unable to release personal information of applicants at this stage.”
Orsini said the committee expects to complete the interview portion of the search process by Friday.
The names of the final candidates will be transmitted to the board of regents soon afterward.
According to BOR Resolution 2010-03, “the search committee, after interviewing the applicants referred by ACCT, shall recommend to the board of regents at least two but no more than three applicants who best meet the advertised criteria.”
The resolution also stated that “the board of regents, upon receiving the recommendations of the search committee, shall interview all candidates recommended using a standard set of questions prepared by the board of regents in advance.”
All committee members are taking part in the interview stage, he said.
The interview was conducted in the board of regents conference room.
The other members of the committee are David Sablan, president, Century Insurance Company; John Oliver Gonzales, executive director, Joeten-Kiyu Public Library; Jesus Elameto, retiree and former Public School System administrator; Juanita Mendiola, former Tinian Municipal Council chairwoman; Barbara Merfalen, Dean, NMC academic programs and services; and Antonio Tiples, president, Associated Students of Northern Marianas College.
