The West Liberty University Board of Governors on Tuesday announced four finalists being considered to assume the school's presidency.
The four candidates include Stephen Greiner, president of Hazard Community and Technical College in Kentucky; Keely Camden, dean of West Liberty's College of Education; Cheryl Torsney, a former senior vice provost at the University of Texas, El Paso; and Ron Dempsey, a vice president at Southern Polytechnic State University in Georgia.
Greiner, who has a doctorate in education, oversees a multi-campus college with 4,000 students. He has been a university president for 14 years. He is a Weirton native.
Camden, who has a doctorate ins special education, has been with West Liberty for six years. Prior to that she served various roles as a department chairwoman and education professor at Bethany College, a private school in Brooke County. She is a native of Moundsville.
Torsney, who has a doctorate of English, has served in academic affairs departments for more than a decade, including a six-year stint with West Virginia University. She is a native of Youngstown, Ohio.
Dempsey, who has doctorate in philosophy, has been a college president for 10 years. Prior to that, he served in various administrative roles. He is a native of Rome, Georgia.
Complete resumes for each candidate and visit itineraries can be found at www.west liberty.edu/BOG.
The four will visit campus over the next few weeks to meet with the school board. A selection is expected in October.
The position has been vacant since March when former President Robin Capehart resigned amidst ethics complaints he used school resources to promote his film company. He agreed in June to pay $10,000 in fines.
Following his ousting, a presidential search committee, including board of governors members, faculty and staff, alumni and West Liberty Foundation members, vetted more than 40 applicants. The initial candidate pool was narrowed to 11 before the final paring down to four.
All campus constituents will be able to comment on the selection, after which the committee will make a final recommendation to the board. After the board selects its candidate, the hire must then be approved by the state Higher Education Policy Commission.
The school expects the new president to be in office by the spring semester's start.
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