Former state Rep. Tom Grady did not make a list of finalists for the presidency of Florida Gulf Coast University, as a search committee Thursday opted for four veteran academics.
Grady, a Naples Republican, served one term in the Florida House and is a member of the State Board of Education.
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He was among nine candidates interviewed by the search committee over the last two days at Florida Gulf Coast's Fort Myers campus.
The four finalists include Michael Martin, former president of New Mexico State University and a former chancellor of Louisiana State University; Susan Martin, former president of Eastern Michigan University and former interim president of San Jose State University; Mark McLellan, vice president for research and dean of graduate studies at Utah State University; and Mark Rudin, vice president for research and economic development at Boise State University.
The four finalists will return to the Florida Gulf Coast campus next Wednesday and Thursday and participate in a series of forums to meet students, faculty, administrators and community leaders.
On Feb. 28, the finalists will be interviewed by the Florida Gulf Coast Board of Trustees, with the board scheduled to select the new president to replace Wilson Bradshaw, who is retiring in June.
Daniel Heimmermann, provost of the University of Texas of the Permian Basin, was previously selected as a finalist in November. But he withdrew his application this month.