Search narrows for new FSU president

TALLAHASSEE — The search for a new president at Florida State University got rocky Tuesday, when some members of the search committee said they aren't enthusiastic about the pool of applicants and would rather appoint an interim leader while the search is extended.

"There is not one yes vote on this list for me," said Florida State alumnus Ken Van Assenderp, a Tallahassee attorney. "I am not ready to interview anyone yet from this list. We would be better off waiting two years with an interim than being slaves to this search process."

Over the objections of Van Assenderp and some other members, the search committee ultimately chose three candidates from the pool of 26 applicants to invite to campus for interviews over the next three days. They are:

• Kevin Bedell, vice provost for research, Boston College.

• Eric Barron, director, National Center for Atmospheric Research.

• Steven Leath, vice president for research, University of North Carolina.

"It's critical we have the kind of president who can take advantage of the job that has been done in raising the academic status of the university to where it is today," said trustees chairman Jim Smith.

Some search committee members lamented the lack of a sitting president or high-profile provost among the applicants. Search consultant John Hicks said Florida's open records laws make successful university administrators reluctant to apply for a job in which their interest will be so publicly known.

Smith said the president who replaces T.K. Wetherell needs to be an academic who raises FSU's research profile while also raising $1 billion over the next several years.