The names of three semifinalists for president of Bemidji State University and Northwest Technical College have been submitted to James H. McCormick, chancellor of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system. The semifinalists are Betsy Vogel Boze, Richard Hanson and Linda Krug.

The semifinalists were recommended by a search committee chaired by Roland Barden, retired president of Minnesota State University Moorhead.

Betsy Vogel Boze is a senior fellow at the American Association of State Colleges and Universities. She is on leave from her positions as professor of marketing and campus dean and chief executive officer at Kent State University Stark. She has held those positions since 2005. Previously, she was dean of the business school at the University of Texas at Brownsville and Texas Southmost College, chief academic officer at the University of Texas Telecampus MBA Online, assistant to the president at Tulane University as part of an American Council on Education fellowship and chair of the business administration department at the University of Alaska Anchorage. Boze holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s degree in business administration, both from Southern Methodist University, and a doctorate in business administration from the University of Arkansas.

Richard Hanson has been interim president of North Dakota State University since Dec. 1, 2009. Previously, he served as president of Waldorf College; professor of sociology, vice president for academic affairs and dean of the college, all at Augustana College; associate vice president for academic affairs, associate director of human development in the Extension Service, and director of the Family Studies Institute at North Dakota State University and department chair of home economics at California State University, Chico. He also has held interim positions at North Dakota State University that included vice president for academic affairs and dean of the College of Universities Studies. Hanson earned his bachelor’s degree in sociology and his master’s in child development and family relations, both from North Dakota State University, and a doctorate in applied behavioral science from the University of California-Davis.

Linda Krug is currently on sabbatical after serving 11 years as dean of the College of Liberal Arts at the University of Minnesota, Duluth. Previously, she was interim director of the university’s International Education Office, director of the university’s interdisciplinary studies program and an associate professor, assistant professor and instructor in the university’s Department of Communication. Krug earned her bachelor’s degree in speech communication and master’s degree in rhetoric, both from Miami University in Ohio, and her doctorate in socio-political influence of language from the University of Nebraska.

The new president, who also serves as president of Northwest Technical College, will replace Jon Quistgaard, who is retiring. The chancellor, along with one to three members of the Board of Trustees and others, will conduct interviews with the semifinalists. McCormick will make a recommendation to the Board of Trustees, which is expected to act on the recommendation at a May 19 meeting.

The Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system comprises 32 state universities and community and technical colleges serving the higher education needs of Minnesota. The system serves about 260,000 students per year in credit-based courses and an additional 164,000 students in non-credit courses.

The Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system is an Equal Opportunity employer and educator.