The Board of Regents Presidential Search Committee has narrowed the selection of presidential candidates to 11 semi-finalists. 

The Board of Regents’ special meeting to find a new president for Murray State began with a comment from general counsel, Robert Miller. He informed the board that during their search and conversation this meeting, they were to avoid certain topics. 

Miller said they were to steer clear of the race, color, national origin, gender, disability status, age, religion, veteran status or sexual orientation of the applicants.

Then, the board went into closed session for nearly two hours. They considered candidates with Wanda Bigham, a consultant from Academic Search Inc. who, according to a written statement from Faculty Regent Melony Shemberger updating faculty, guided the committee to thoroughly vet the received applications. 

Everything discussed in the closed session is confidential.

When the meeting returned to open session, Chairman Leon Owens said no final action was taken during the closed session other than selection and approval of semi-finalists.

The Board of Regents is expected to return at a later date.