3 Finalists Picked In Search For Framingham State President

FRAMINGHAM, MA — The Framingham State University Board of Trustees has selected three potential candidates to lead the school, and each one will visit campus over the next week to meet with students, staff and community members.

In March, Framingham State President F. Javier Cevallos said he would retire in 2022. That kicked off a nationwide search for a new president led by the Board of Trustees' Presidential Search Committee. The 12-member committee is comprised of students, staff, trustees and alumni.

The three finalists picked this week are:

• Allia Carter, executive vice president and chief operating officer at Virginia Union University in Richmond, Va. She will visit campus Dec. 9 and 10.
• Roxanne Gonzales-Walker, provost and vice president of academic affairs at New Mexico Highlands University in Las Vegas, New Mexico. She will visit campus Dec. 2 and 3.
• Nancy Niemi, provost and vice president for academic affairs at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) in Princess Anne, Md. She will visit campus Dec. 6 and 7.

About 80 people applied for the job, and 12 were selected for final interviews with the Board of Trustees. The firm Witt/Kieffer helped find candidates.

"I am very proud of the work of the search committee and their efforts to develop this
strong slate of finalists,” Board Chair Kevin Foley said in a news release. "We look forward to welcoming each of the candidates to campus to meet with our students, faculty and staff and share their visions for the future of this University."