Portales, NM – Sept. 27, 2022 – Eastern New Mexico University announced today that they have reduced the field of candidates from the original 96 that applied to a semi-finalist field and will begin interviewing semi-finalist candidates in mid-October.

Over the past few months, ENMU has distributed the leadership profile broadly to a diverse national audience to generate interest in the search. With 96 candidates in the pool, ENMU engaged personally with these candidates to gain some insight into how potential candidates perceived this opportunity. Across the board, candidates expressed admiration for ENMU's academic excellence, and ENMU's deep commitment to student-centered education that leads to student success during and after their time at ENMU.

Earlier this month, the search advisory committee evaluated applicants against this leadership profile and narrowed the initial applicant pool to a smaller group of candidates. These candidates will participate in confidential virtual interviews with the search advisory committee in mid-October.

"We are deeply grateful for the work of the ENMU president search advisory committee and our executive search firm." Said Phillip Bustos, Vice President of the ENMU Board of Regents and head of the search advisory committee.  "While their work must remain confidential at this stage in the search, they have been very engaged in this process. I look forward to the involvement of our local and campus communities when the finalists are announced."

Once the confidential virtual interviews are complete with the search advisory committee, the committee will identify 5 finalist candidates that will be invited to the ENMU campus in November for in-person interviews.

For more information on the ENMU presidential search please visit enmu.edu/PresidentialSearch.