Nichols top interim chancellor candidate

Tuesday, May 2, 2000 | 11:06 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- Jane Nichols, vice chancellor for academic and student affairs since 1997, is emerging as a leading candidate to temporarily take over the top job at the University and Community College System of Nevada.

Jill Derby, chairwoman of the Board of Regents, said Monday that Nichols has been "outstanding" in her job and she "knows the system."

The regents will meet May 9 to select an interim chancellor to succeed Tom Anderes, who is resigning June 30 to take a job at the University of Oregon. Nichols would be the first woman to hold the top job in the system, even on an interim basis.

"Jane is the most likely candidate," said Derby, adding that she has talked with other regents and the conversations have been "very positive" on Nichols.

Before becoming a vice chancellor, Nichols was associate dean of the College of Education at the University of Nevada, Reno, from 1995 to 1997. Before that she was an associate professor in the department of social work and coordinator of core curriculum and university assessment at UNR.

Derby said Nichols has worked closely with Anderes in guiding the university for nearly a year.

Nichols said this morning that she would accept the interim appointment if the board offered her the job.

"My appointment to the interim would assure continuity while they (the regents) finish their search (for a permanent chancellor)."

Nichols also said it was premature to make any decision whether she would apply for the permanent job.

"I'm keeping an open mind," she said.

Derby hopes a permanent chancellor can be named for the system by the fall to succeed Richard Jarvis, who resigned last year. A regents committee was to meet today in Las Vegas to put the finishing touches on a job description for the chancellor.

If the regents approve the job description, then advertisements can be circulated for the post. A national search also is planned for a vice chancellor for finance, the job Anderes held until he took over as interim chancellor last year.

She said Nichols would need to name somebody as interim vice chancellor for academic and student affairs if she is temporarily appointed as interim chancellor.

Derby of Gardnerville filed for re-election to the Board of Regents Monday.

"This is a time of great transition. We need stability and continuity," she said, explaining why she was after a third term to represent parts of Washoe and Lyon counties and all of Carson City and Douglas and Storey counties.