The process of hiring the University of North Carolina Wilmington chancellor continues as the search committee meets Feb. 20-22.

During the previous meeting, the search committee “interviewed candidates selected by the committee in the January 27th meeting,” said Michael Shivar, co-chair of the Board of Trustees.

After the committee conducts the interview process, the committee will continue the discussion with candidates to narrow down the list.

The list of candidates was found and generated by Baker and Associates. Baker and Associates is the search firm who is tasked with finding compatible applicants for the chancellor position at UNCW. As of Jan. 14, the list of applicants was 54 people. The various candidates come from academic, corporate, and government backgrounds.

Once the list of candidates is narrowed down, several of the final candidates will be invited to visit the campus. This will occur sometime after March 1.

“The work of the committee has been very smooth with an excellent exchange of opinions on the candidates,” Shivar said. “This led to us being able to reduce the number of candidates down to a manageable interview process.”

As co-chair on the Board of Trustees, Shivar facilitates discussions with the candidates. In addition he insures UNCW students, faculty, staff and representatives have an opportunity to explore all the candidates and their qualifications. The process has been made easy due to the cooperation and communication among the committee members.

The meeting held Jan. 27 was conducted as a closed session. It allowed the members of the search committee to discuss the “qualifications, competence, performance, condition of appointment of a public officer or employee or prospective public officer or employee; to establish or instruct the staff or agent concerning the negotiations of the amount of compensation or other terms of an employment contract; and to consult with our attorney to protect the attorney-client privilege,” according to UNCW’s meeting minutes.

“We anticipate the new chancellor to be named in April” Shivar said.