The search for a new provost and vice president for academic affairs at the University of Houston-Victoria has resulted in scheduled interviews for three candidates.

The first of these will be held Wednesday, March 1, with Dr. David Stephens. An open forum will be held in the UHV Multi-Purpose Room at 3 p.m., with a reception to follow.

Stephens is professor of management and dean emeritus in the Department of Management and Human Resources at Utah State University. He holds a bachelor’s degree in history from Brigham Young University; an MBA from the University of Pittsburgh; and a doctorate in labor relations and labor economics from the University of Texas at Austin. He has also held teaching positions at Texas A&M University, Florida State University, Texas Tech University, the University of Texas at El Paso, and as Distinguished Visiting Professor of Management at Texas A&M International University.

Dr. Josephine Kahler currently serves as dean of the College of Health and Behavioral Sciences and director of the RN to BSN Nursing Program at Texas A&M University, Texarkana. She received a diploma of nursing from Christchurch (New Zealand) School of Nursing and holds bachelor’s degrees in nursing and psychology from the University of South Dakota; a master’s in nursing from South Dakota State University; and an educational doctorate in adult and higher education from the University of South Dakota. In addition to holding teaching and consulting positions at SDSU and USD, she has also chaired nursing programs at Southern Arkansas University, Frances Marion University, and Medical University of South Carolina.

Dr. John Leipzig recently completed a three-year commitment as chancellor of the St. Thomas campus of the University of the Virgin Islands. He holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in speech communication from Western Michigan University and the University of South Florida, respectively, and a doctorate in rhetoric and communication from Kent State University. Prior to his chancellorship, he served as dean of the College of Liberal Arts at the University of Alaska Fairbanks and held teaching positions at UAF, Lewis-Clark State College, Culver-Stockton College, and in Florida high schools. Additionally, he was an International Visiting Fellow in Communication Studies at Kuring-Gai College of Advanced Education in Sydney, Australia.

The finalist will replace Dr. Don Smith, who will retire in May after having served as provost and vice president of academic affairs since 1995. Additionally, Smith served as interim president from February 2004 until Dr. Tim Hudson assumed the presidency in August 2004.

The provost serves as chief academic officer of the university, and in that capacity, is the president’s primary adviser in matters relating to the planning and development of academic programs.

These three candidates were selected by a search committee composed of UHV administrators, faculty, staff and students. The committee was co-chaired by Dr. Sandy Venneman, chair of the Faculty Council and associate professor of psychology and biology, and Dr. John Stansell, dean of the UHV School of Education and Human Development.

The interview schedules for the second and third candidates will be announced by the UHV President’s Office. For more information, contact Andrea Blumberg at (361) 570-4332, or to view the candidates’ complete curriculum vitae, click here .