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January 13, 2003 Volume 27, Issue 19 |
The Board of Trustees, State Institutions of Higher Learning announced that the current president of Delta State University is the sole finalist for appointment as commissioner of higher education.
The IHL will consider Dr. David Potter for the position at its Jan. 16 board meeting.
IHL president Bryce Griffis said, "I am delighted to announce that Dr. David Potter is the board Search Committee's sole finalist for the next commissioner of higher education and I expect overwhelming support from the full board for Dr. Potter's appointment."
Search Committee chair Bill Crawford said that once criteria were established and potential candidates were evaluated, Potter "met every one of the criteria we wanted in the next commissioner."
After Potter expressed an interest in the position, Crawford said, "We decided that we should either bring the president forward as our sole candidate, or not bring him forward at all. To do otherwise would risk undermining his presidency."
"We also realize that we know more about Dr. Potter than we would any outside candidate."
Commenting on the IHL's announcement, Potter said, "I am honored that the board Search Committee has placed its confidence in me with this nomination. And, I am excited by the opportunity to work on behalf of all Mississippi higher education. We have many challenges, but also great prospects for the future."
Potter became president of DSU in July 1999. He served for 13 years in various executive positions at George Mason University and with the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia, the agency responsible for the state's public colleges and universities.