The Iowa State Presidential Search committee announced the two finalists for the presidential search, who will be visiting campus next week for open forums and meetings with student representatives.

“I think we are looking forward to very strong candidates coming to campus,” said Labh Hira, dean of business and co-chair of the presidential search committee. “Both are eminently qualified candidates and they are looking forward to being president of Iowa State University.”

After selecting four finalists, Steven Leath, vice president for research and sponsored programs for the University of North Carolina System Chapel Hill, and Kumble Subbaswamy, provost of the University of Kentucky Lexington were left after two of the other candidates withdrew from the search for personal reasons.

The two candidates will be visiting campus on Sept. 21 through the 23, and the 22 through the 24 (Subbaswamy and Leath respectively) to participate in open forums and interact with faculty and students at ISU.

“The students will be represented when those groups of elevated leaders meet with the candidates,” said Roger Underwood, co-chair of the committee. “I think that students will be very involved, as long as they participate in the forum.”

The open forums will be held in 2019 Morrill Hall on Sept. 22 at 3:45 p.m. for Subbaswamy, and Sept. 23 at 3:45 p.m. for Leath. The forums will be an opportunity for students to pose questions to the candidates and interact directly with them.

The candidates will also be meeting with the deans of all of the colleges, the GSB leadership, the graduate student body president and representatives for the current president of ISU as well.

Although the current president, Geogory Geoffroy, will be missed, Underwood was confident with the committee’s decision.

“The committee and I are just excited to bring the candidates to campus. Both candidates have said that they have big shoes to fill,” Underwood said. “We think these candidates are qualified to be the next [president].”

Neither candidates were available for comment.