With less than a month before USC President Andrew Sorensen's successor takes his post, the list of candidates has been narrowed down to seven.
Miles Loadholt, chairman of the presidential search committee, said the board met June 26 in Capstone House to interview a few of the seven candidates. A meeting to interview other candidates will take place on Tuesday.
"We interviewed the candidates and then had discussions to evaluate," Loadholt said.
Loadholt said most of the candidates are from outside the university community, but some are internal. Although he would not discuss or name any of the candidates, state law requires the university disclose at least three finalists.
A news release issued Tuesday by Georgia State University said Harris Pastides, vice president for research and health sciences at USC formally withdrew his name as a candidate in the GSU search for a university president. Loadholt would not comment on whether this meant Pastides was a prime candidate for the position as USC's next president, but did say that he "wouldn't think to put him in any better or worse position whatsoever."
Pastides said in an e-mail that he did withdraw from the GSU search and was seeking the presidential position at USC.
"I did indeed withdraw from the GSU search and remain a candidate here, at USC," Pastides said. "This is the job that I aspire to have."
Pastides was one of three final candidates in the GSU search. The other two candidates previously withdrew.
Student Body President Andrew Gaeckle, who is one of six non-voting members on the 13-member committee, said he has been able to ask questions to some of the candidates about their relationships with students at other universities.
"For the most part I would definitely say the candidates that have talked about their relationships with students are great," he said. "I'm confident that they will continue that here."
Both Loadholt and Gaeckle said the committee hopes to wrap the whole process up by the middle of July.
"After the next meeting, I think things will move pretty quickly," Loadholt said. "I wanted it to be a little easier than it was, but things don't always go on schedule. It will hopefully be before mid-July."
Once the committee has narrowed the field to four candidates, the USC Board of Trustees will choose a final three to be publicly announced before they make their final decision, Gaeckle said.
Loadholt said he was happy with the candidates thus far.
"I think they are outstanding," he said. "I'm very encouraged about the interest in this position and I was very pleased and very excited about the quality of the pool. I really am."
The new USC president is expected to take office Aug. 1.
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