Jan 22, 2015 3 min read

The search for California University of Pennsylvania’s next president is “starting soon,” nearly three years after its longtime leader was fired.

The Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education’s Board of Governors, which oversees Cal U. and 13 other state schools, announced during its Thursday agenda meeting in Harrisburg that officials are moving forward with the process to find a new president.

“There’s no specific timetable, but it will be starting soon,” state system spokesman Kenn Marshall said.

Cal U’s Council of Trustees will establish a search committee to review and interview potential candidates over the next few months, Marshall said. The Council of Trustees, with help from the search committee, will then recommend two final candidates to the state system’s Board of Governors for a final vote, Marshall said. He expects the new president would be installed in about four to six months.

Geraldine Jones served as the university’s interim president since the state system fired longtime president Angelo Armenti Jr. in May 2012. Jones, who steadied the university’s struggling finances and erased an $11.8 million deficit in her first year as interim president, could not be reached for comment, but in the past indicated her interest in being elevated permanently into the position.

However, rumors persisted in recent months former governor Tom Corbett, who left office Tuesday following his re-election defeat in November, could be considered to take over as Cal’s president.

Corbett’s friend and former campaign director, Mike Barley, acknowledged hearing rumors, but would not say if the former governor, who lives in Shaler, showed any interest in the position.

“Certainly we’ve heard that rumor come around,” Barley said Thursday.

Barley said neither Cal U. nor state system officials contacted Corbett about the position. He added the former governor has no plans to apply for the position, but did not rule out being considered if a search committee tapped him as a potential candidate.

“The governor is still considering options,” Barley said, adding Corbett expects to make a decision on his future in the next few months. “There are a lot of different folks who have come to him in the last few months with opportunities to explore. At this point, he’s still transitioning out of office.”

Marshall said the lengthy time to initiate the search for a permanent replacement occurred because other state schools were performing similar duties at the time. He said there was “no sense of urgency because we’ve been very pleased with” how Jones performed in her interim role.

The search committee will be formed by the Council of Trustees and include faculty, staff, alumni, students and community leaders. Cal U. spokeswoman Christine Kindl said she had no information about when the process will start or who will be included on the search committee.

“We understood that when the searches at other institutions were wrapping up, we were up next on the list that this would happen soon,” Kindl said. “We await their decision.”