The New College of Florida (NCF) Presidential Search Committee has invited five candidates to campus for further interviews and meetings with members of the NCF community. The next president will succeed Donal O’Shea, who has led New College since 2012. The five candidates are Jane Fernandes, president and professor of English, Guilford College; Patricia Okker, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and professor of English, University of Missouri; Rhonda Phillips, dean, Honors College, and professor of agricultural economics, Purdue University; Alan Shao, dean, School of Business, interim vice-president for corporate partnerships and professor of marketing, College of Charleston; and Michael Sosulski, provost, Wofford College.

The NCF search committee conducted first-round interviews earlier this month with 12 applicants selected from a national pool of more than 130 candidates. The five finalists, whose cover letters and CVs are posted on the New College Presidential Search website, will visit campus between March 29 and April 9 for in-person and virtual meetings. The board of trustees will convene to select the new president on or before its board meeting on April 20, 2021.