Stevens One of Six Candidates to Head U of A

The Associated Press

JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) _ State Senate President Gary Stevens says he’s one of six candidates for the University of Alaska presidency.

Candidate interviews are scheduled for this weekend with the top three or four finalists expected to be announced Sunday. Campus tours will follow. A decision on the next president could come as early as mid-March.

A university spokeswoman says the board has not shared names of the six candidates with her. Stevens, a Republican from Kodiak, only confirmed his candidacy when asked.

Current president Mark Hamilton previously announced plans to retire this year.

Stevens said he worked for 25 years within the university system, primarily teaching history, at its Kodiak campus. He said he wouldn’t anticipate having to resign as Senate president before the session is through, should he win the presidency.