The College of Charleston Board of Trustees today announced that it would contact five potential finalists for the position of 22nd president of the College of Charleston. The names of the finalists will be announced when the candidates confirm their intent to become finalists.

“The Board of Trustees is very pleased with the quality and the experience of the potential finalists for the position of president of the College of Charleston,” said Greg Padgett, chair of the College’s Board of Trustees and chair of the Presidential Search Committee. “Each candidate would bring a unique set of strengths and capabilities to their leadership of the College, and we look forward to receiving feedback from all of our campus constituencies, and the larger community, on each of the finalists.”

Padgett added: “I want to extend my deepest thanks to the members of the Board for their work on this process, and to the members of the Presidential Search Committee for their dedication and commitment in reviewing the large pool of potential candidates.”

A 15-member Presidential Search Committee was formed in October 2013, after College of Charleston President P. George Benson announced that he will step down as president and return to the faculty as of July 1, 2014. The search committee members included trustees, foundation board members, faculty, staff, alumni, and the president of the undergraduate student government association. The committee was charged with identifying a list of the top presidential applicants and providing that list to the Board of Trustees. The Board then was responsible for selecting finalists for the position.

Throughout this process, the College has been assisted by AGB Search, a leading national search firm.

The Board of Trustees will develop a schedule for the interview process that includes dates at which students, faculty, staff, alumni and community members can meet and talk to the candidates. The names and vitas of each candidate, and the schedule of campus interviews, will be posted to the College of Charleston Presidential Search website as soon as they are available.