Former U of I Chancellor Herman Among Finalists for President’s Job in New Mexico

A week after announcing his resignation, former University of Illinois Urbana Chancellor Richard Herman is a finalist for a university president's job in New Mexico.

On Tuesday, a search committee at New Mexico State University listed Herman's name among five finalists. The chair of that committee, Del Archuleta, says Herman was among 18 people who interviewed for the job among 60 applicants. And Archuleta says a search firm helping in the process was well aware of the admissions scandal that prompted Herman to step down at the U of I.

"We think the search consultants really explored that,' says Archuleta. "And then the amount of interviews that we've had to date, reference checks, etc. made it such that at least at this point we've felt that he, with the great career that he's had, should be considered by our university as a possible president." The presidential search committee included former Illinois basketball coach Lou Henson. Archuleta says Herman is a finalist not only because of his record, but like the U of I, New Mexico State University is a land grant university, and believe he'd be able to garner the attention of state lawmakers, and lure in research funds.

Next week, finalists for the President's job will visit the campus in Las Cruces, New Mexico for 3 days of interviews with faculty, the community, and the University's Board of Regents. A decision is expected by November 19th. At the U of I, Herman is now serving in the role of special assistant to interim President Stanley Ikenberry. He's slated to start as a math professor next July, earning $244,000 a year as he takes a 1-year sabbatical before returning to the Urbana campus.