3 higher-ed finalists are named

Three finalists have been chosen to replace the state's commissioner of higher education, Cecilia Foxley, who held the position for 10 years.

The commissioner is the CEO of the Utah's system of higher education, acting as a liaison on behalf of the Board of Regents in dealings with the governor, Legislature and business community.

Regents chairman Nolan Karras announced the finalists to the full board Friday. They are:

• Warren H. Fox, scholar in residence, Center for Studies in Higher Education, University of California, Berkeley.

• Richard E. Kendell, Utah's deputy to the governor for higher education, public education and economic development.

• Diane Vines, vice chancellor, external relations and economic development, Oregon University System.

Foxley announced earlier this year she would step down. She currently holds the distinction of being the longest-serving senior state executive officer for higher education in the country.

"I think she just felt like it was time to do something else," said associate commissioner David Buhler. "It's a pretty demanding job.

"She's been a great commissioner. There's no doubt she'll be missed."

A search committee made up of regents and Karras pared down the list from 40 candidates in 19 states.

The full board will meet Sept. 18 to decide on Foxley's replacement.

Fox was the executive director of the California Postsecondary Education Commission from 1991-2002 and before that served nine years as vice chancellor for academic affairs for the University and Community College System of Nevada.

From 1987-97, Kendell served as the superintendent of the Davis School District. He also held the positions of associate superintendent of the Utah State Office of Education and associate dean of the University of Utah graduate school.

"This is what I do. I have been around the key elements for a long time," Kendell said in an interview. "I want to be an advocate for the system of higher ed." In his 30 years of working in education, Kendell has also been a professor and college administrator.

Vines has been president of the Oregon Science and Technology Park since 2002 and she is also an adjunct professor of community health at Portland State University and the School of Nursing for Oregon Health Sciences University.

Karras said Friday there were other candidates who could have been in the running as finalists, but because the process of choosing a replacement is public and names are released, some chose to protect their privacy because of their jobs.

Friday's announcement is only the second time in the regents' 30-year history that the names of finalists for a top post in higher education have been released. The other was for the position of president of Utah College of Applied Technology.

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E-mail: sspeckman@desnews.com