An ISU administrator is one of four finalists for the presidency at a California university.

Provost Rollin Richmond will find out later this week if he has been chosen by the California State University Board of Trustees as the new president at Humboldt State University in Arcata, Calif.

“I have not been offered this position and should it be offered to me, I would make the decision to go with some difficulty,” Richmond said. “I came here in part because of the land-grant mission of ISU. . I believe now more strongly than when I first came to ISU that what this institution does for the people of Iowa and beyond is more important than most people know.”

If chosen, Richmond will replace Humboldt State President Alistair McCrone.

McCrone has been in office since 1974.

“We’re simply looking for the individual who is best for this particular campus at this time,” said Laurence Gould, chairman of the CSU Board of Trustees.

“We have four great candidates with strong leadership skills and experience who will face the challenges of the future and will obviously bring change to the university after [McCrone] was in office for so long.”

Richmond visited Humboldt State on Feb. 25 and spent the day speaking to faculty, staff, students and community members about the strengths and weaknesses of the university as well as what he can do for Humboldt.

Richmond received much of his schooling in California, including his undergraduate degree in zoology, which he received from the southern most of the 23 California state universities – San Diego State.

Humboldt State, home to 7,500 undergraduate students, is the northern most of the universities.

Richmond said he and his family enjoy living in Ames and would have difficulty leaving, but he said they also enjoy northern California.

“I indicated that I would become part of the search because Humboldt State is in an area of the country that my family and I enjoy,” Richmond said. “My background in biology also suits the mission and direction of Humboldt, thus I believe I could be an effective leader for that campus.”

The Board of Trustees will interview Richmond and the other three candidates Tuesday and Wednesday.

They will also look over applications, nominations and other materials and hope to make the decision Wednesday or Thursday, Gould said.

Richmond said he was nominated for the position by a president of another Cal State whom he knew when he was in New York.

“I have had the opportunity to participate in such searches around the country and have not taken them because I enjoy my position here and believe my leadership and service here benefit the students, faculty and staff of ISU,” Richmond said.

“I enjoy working with and learning from President [Gregory] Geoffroy and would value the opportunity to continue doing so.”