West Chester University search down to 3

University administrators from New York, Maine and North Dakota were recommended last night by the West Chester University council of trustees to replace former university president Madeleine Adler.

The names of the three finalists will be forwarded to the chancellor of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education, who is expected to interview the three on Tuesday, according to Bernard Carrozza, who headed the 11-member search panel.

The finalists are: Katherine Conway-Turner, a provost and vice president of the State University of New York at Geneseo; Mark B. Lapping, an interim provost and vice president of the University of Southern Maine in Portland; and Greg Weisenstein, a provost and vice president of the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks.

Adler, the university's first female president, retired in June at 66 after 16 years in the post.

In the meantime, the 13,000-student school has been run by interim president Linda Lamwers, a provost and vice president.

Carrozza said the candidates are expected to have interviews with the Pennsylvania system's board of governors on Wednesday.

The final decision on a replacement is expected to be made before the end of the year, Carrozza said.

"Any one of them will bring to the presidency an impressive level of experience, leadership skills, and appreciation for the mission of this great university," said Carrozza, an alumnus and former chairman of the board of trustees.

The selections concluded a 14-month search conducted by members of the university's faculty, administration, alumni, students and trustees.

The university enrolls 11,484 undergraduates and 2,137 graduates in its five colleges: arts and sciences; business and public affairs; education; health sciences; and visual and performing arts.