UI’s Zinser Finalist For Job In W. Virginia

The president of the University of Idaho is among six candidates on the short list for West Virginia University president, the university said Wednesday.

The 17-member search committee has until April 28 to give the University System of West Virginia board three to five finalists to replace President Neil Bucklew, who is resigning July 1 after nine years.

The six candidates were chosen from a pool of 137 nominees.

Elisabeth Zinser has headed the 11,800-student Idaho school since 1989 but may be best known for her short stint as president at Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C.

Zinser served for four days in March 1988 before she was forced to resign over protests from students and the deaf community nationwide that she was not hearing impaired. Boycotts closed the school for several days.

Zinser, 55, was vice chancellor for academic affairs at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro from 1983 to 1989. She said the role of land grant universities like WVU is broadening to become involved in industry and other sectors.