ISU officials welcomed a second candidate for the director of Dining Services position Monday.

A committee has been seeking candidates for the position for eight months.

Stewart Burger, former director of Dining Services, vacated the position to serve as coordinator of special events in the President’s Office.

A search firm was hired to identify candidates, and an internal committee narrowed down the candidates to those who would be invited to campus, said Teresa Branch, associate vice president of Student Affairs.

Requirements for candidates include a minimum of eight years experience in progressive senior-level food service management in a multi-food service operation, Branch said. The committee also prefers experience in all aspects of university food service.

Three candidates were invited to visit campus: Jonathan Lewis, executive director of student auxiliary services at the University of Maine, Orono; Richard Berlin III, director of the office of campus dining at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge; and Ronald Burke, director of housing dining services and food stores at the University of Nebraska, Lincoln.

Burke was scheduled to visit campus Monday, but withdrew himself from consideration. Due to a family medical situation, he said he does not feel this is the time to relocate.

Berlin visited campus Friday, met with university officials and toured the dining facilities of the Memorial Union and the Department of Residence. Lewis will have a similar schedule on campus this week.

Once hired, the new dining service director will be responsible for overseeing the merger of the Memorial Union food service with the Department of Residence Dining Services, which will include developing the organizational structure.

Berlin said he is excited about the position.

“I think it’s an exciting time for Iowa State because they are looking at making some major changes in the dining services,” he said.

Lewis said he is looking forward to his visit this week because Iowa State is “a great land grant institution and a respected university.”

Berlin and Lewis said they were interested in meeting students and learning their opinions of dining services.

A final decision on the position will be made after all the candidates have interviewed and visited campus, Branch said.

“At least one week after the candidates visit campus will be needed to collect feedback and evaluation information regarding the candidates,” she said. “If a clear choice emerges, an offer will be made.”