Finalist Pulls Out Of UW Job Search For Gerberding’s Replacement Will Continue

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Chancellor Graham Spanier nearly had the job of University of Washington president but the deal fell apart, according to reports published Tuesday.

In stories quoting anonymous sources, the Daily Nebraskan in Lincoln and The Seattle Times reported the sticking point apparently was the lack of guarantees that Spanier’s wife would have a job.

The Times said efforts to hire Spanier ended in the past two weeks.

Spanier issued a statement to both newspapers Monday through a UNL spokeswoman saying he will not be the next president of Washington.

“The only information he wanted me to give to the media is he is not a candidate,” UNL spokeswoman Phyllis Larson said Tuesday. She declined to comment on whether Spanier had been a candidate.

UW spokesman Norm Arkans said the university has not released the names of any candidates for the job. He referred questions to the UW Board of Regents. Mari Clack, board president, did not return three messages Tuesday seeking comment.

NU President Dennis Smith’s name was on a list of people who nominated presidential candidates for the university, the Daily Nebraskan reported. Smith said he did not nominate Spanier for the Washington position and was unaware of such a list.

Spanier, 46, has been head of the 24,695-student UNL since November 1991. He came to Nebraska from Oregon State University, where he had been provost and vice president for academic affairs.

UW has been looking for a successor to President William Gerberding, who will retire in June.