Chairsell finalist for Utah college post

Jennifer Knight

Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2003 | 9:39 a.m.

Former Nevada State College at Henderson interim president Chris Chairsell is a finalist for president at a community college in Utah, a job that could make her the first woman to head that institution.

Utah's Board of Regents spent several hours Monday deliberating among three top candidates for the position at Salt Lake Community College but did not come to any agreement by the end of the day, Dave Buhler, a spokesman for the Utah regents, said.

The position has striking similarities to institutions in Southern Nevada, namely fast growth and limited funds. And much like the Nevada State College, Salt Lake Community College struggles with problems left behind by its former president.

"There certainly needs to be some gentle care," Chairsell said Monday. "I see this as a college in transition. It's a perfect time for this college. They just have to find the perfect person."

Nevada State College President Kerry Romesburg, who was hired permanently for the interim position Chairsell held, is from Utah and recommended her for the job. Romesburg said she would face a number of challenges if she gets the job.

"Her main challenge would be rebuilding the confidence of the faculty," Romesburg said. "I'll tell you, though, that's one of Chris' strong suits."

Last year Salt Lake Community College President Lynn Cundiff resigned following an audit that showed he "skirted the competitive bid process, spent recklessly on technological improvements, depleted the institution's savings and overbilled the college for the use of a plane for personal reasons," according to a March article in the Salt Lake City Tribune.

Similarly, when Chairsell took over for the state college last year, she replaced embattled former president Richard Moore, who was under scrutiny for spending too much money on consultants and had received a scathing audit the previous year.

Chairsell has been with the university system for 17 years and is currently the university system's associate vice chancellor for academic and student affairs, a position that pays $124,000 a year. The job makes use of Chairsell's expertise on issues concerning community colleges.

Chairsell said she was not looking for a reason to leave Nevada but the opportunity presented itself.

Regent Howard Rosenberg said he wasn't aware that Chairsell was searching for a new position.

"I would hate to lose her, but if an opportunity like that were to present itself I would say go for it," Rosenberg said.

The Utah Board of Regents has not set a follow-up date to decide on the presidency but Buhler said it will likely be sometime next week.

If Chairsell is chosen for the position, Romesburg said, she would become the third woman to become president of a college in Utah and the first female president at that institution.