After nearly three years without a permanent provost, the college has narrowed its search down to two candidates—both of them deans at prominent Midwestern universities.  

Chris K. McCord, dean of the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences at Northern Illinois University, and Stanley T. Wearden, dean of the College of Communication & Information at Kent State University in Ohio, were announced as the finalists in a Jan. 28 college-wide email from the President’s Office. The announcement comes after a nationwide search that began soon after President Kwang-Wu Kim took office last July.

Both candidates will visit the college to address students, faculty and staff in the coming weeks. McCord’s presentation is scheduled for Feb. 4 at 3 p.m. in Film Row Cinema in the Conaway Center, 1104 S. Wabash Ave. Wearden will conduct his presentation on Feb. 11 at 3 p.m. in the 11th Street Campus Building, 72 E. 11th St.

McCord has been dean of the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences at NIU for more than six years. He holds a Ph. D. in Mathematics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and Physics from Bowling Green State University, according to NIU’s website.

Wearden has been dean of the College of Communication & Information at Kent State for more than four years. He holds a Ph. D. in Mass Communication Research from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, according to Kent State’s website.

Dr. Kim has asked both candidates to speak to the topic: “Answers to challenges facing higher education in the 21^st century.”

Attendees of the presentations are encouraged to ask each candidate questions, according to a statement from President Kim. Kim could not be reached for comment as of press time.