And then there were three.
The final three candidates vying for the director vacancy in UF's Honors Program will hold open forums this week to discuss the program's future.
The candidates were chosen from a group of about 29 applicants, said Jeanna Mastrodicasa, assistant vice president for student affairs and co-chair of the Director of Honors Program Search Committee.
"I think all of them had good experience and great visions for the future of the Honors Program," Mastrodicasa said of the selections.
The first candidate to give a presentation will be Barbara Zsembik, who has been an associate professor of sociology at UF since 1996, according to her resume.
Zsembik will speak today to faculty and students from 9:15 to 10:15 a.m. in room 282 of the Reitz Union at the first Vision for the University Honors Program forum.
The next candidate to present will be William McKeen, chair of UF's department of journalism. He will speak on Thursday from 9:15 to 10:15 a.m. in 201A Criser Hall.
The third candidate, Kevin Knudson, will speak on Friday from 9:15 to 10:15 a.m. in 201A Criser Hall. Knudson is the associate director of Shackouls Honors College at Mississippi State University.
Honors students are encouraged to attend so they can weigh in on the candidates, Mastrodicasa said.
Although the final hiring decision is up to UF Provost Joe Glover, students' opinions will be considered, she said.
Mastrodicasa said she expects the final decision to be made soon after the presentations.
The position has been vacant since summer 2007, filled in the meantime by interim director John Denny, Mastrodicasa said.
UF began looking for a permanent director this fall, she said.
Jeremy McMullin, the student representative on the search committee, said the main goal is to find a director with "a solid academic background."
McKeen said he hopes to give the program a more personal feel.
"It's part of building the small college experience inside the big university," he said.
Knudson, the only candidate not currently working at UF, said he hopes to extend the honors program from two to four years and tweak admissions criteria.
"Not everyone's going to get a 1400 on the SAT," Knudson said. "That doesn't mean they don't belong in the Honors Program."
Zsembik could not be reached for comment.
