After spending two days in a closed session to interview presidential candidates, the Murray State Board of Regents Presidential Search Committee has selected four finalists. 

The candidates are:

Christian E. Hardigree, J.D. is the regional chancellor at the University of South Florida St. Petersburg. Hardigree is the founding dean of the School of Hospitality at Metropolitan State University in Denver, Colorado. She also served as the founding director of the Michael A. Leven School of Culinary Sustainability and Hospitality in Kennesaw, Georgia. Hardigree has also served as a senior litigation attorney for Parnell and Associates. 

Ron K. Patterson, Ed.D. is president at the Chadron State College in Chadron, Nebraska. Previously, Patterson was at the University of North Alabama serving in the administration in numerous capacities, including chief enrollment officer and special assistant to the president for diversity and inclusion. 

Diana L. Rogers-Adkinson, Ph.D. is the vice chancellor of Academic and Student Affairs, Chief Academic Officer at the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Prior to joining the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education, she served as the provost and senior vice president of Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania and Bloomsburg University. Rogers-Adkinson also worked as dean of the education college at Southeast Missouri State University for about 10 years.

Chad Tindol, J.D. is the chief administrative officer and an adjunct lecturer at the University of Alabama and the University of Alabama System. He has served as a trial attorney and counsel for public entities, such as the University of Alabama System. 

The Presidential Search Committee will schedule campus visits for each candidate. Open forums will be available for each candidate’s visit to campus so the community has a chance to meet each finalist.