Five finalists are vying to take the reins of Southern Utah University, including current Snow College President Michael Benson.

Benson is among the final candidates hoping to become president of the four-year Cedar City school that has been under interim rule since former President Michael Bennion left in June to serve a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

The Board of Regents hopes to have a decision by Friday after interviewing the final five, which were winnowed down from an initial pool of 67 candidates. All of the finalists but Benson are from out of state.

The five candidates are:

• Michael T. Benson, president of Snow College since 2001. Previously, he was the special assistant to the president of the University of Utah.

• Beverlee J. McClure, cabinet secretary of higher education for New Mexico since 2005. She also served as the president of Clovis Community College in New Mexico from 1999-2005.

• David E. Payne, provost and vice president of academic affairs at Sam Houston State University in Texas since 1997.

• Norval F. Pohl, president of the University of North Texas from 2000 until 2006.

• David L. Soltz, provost and senior vice president for academic affairs at Central Washington University since 2001.