4 Sul Ross presidential candidates announced

ALPINE - Four Sul Ross State University presidential candidates have been invited for on-campus visits during the week of Aug. 10-14.

Candidates include: Dr. T. Jaime Chahin, Dr. William R. Fannin, Dr. Cheri A. Jimeno and Dr. Ricardo Maestas.

Dr. R. Vic Morgan, the school’s 10th president, has served since 1990. He will retire Aug. 31.

Visitation for interviews and meetings with Sul Ross-Alpine and Rio Grande College students, faculty, staff and community members will begin Tuesday, Aug. 11, at the RGC-Del Rio campus. The candidates will travel to Eagle Pass and Uvalde for similar meetings on Wednesday (Aug. 12) morning and afternoon, respectively.

On-campus meetings will be held in Alpine on Thursday-Friday, Aug. 13-14. The lone finalist for the presidency is expected to be named the following week and recommended for appointment by the Chancellor to the Board of Regents of the Texas State University System. 

A total of 62 candidates applied for the position, according to Dr. Kenneth Craycraft, Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs of the Texas State University System.

“The search committee reviewed an extensive and diverse candidate pool,” Craycraft said. “They are to be commended for their hard work and dedication to this difficult process. Every member approached this with a passion and commitment necessary for the task at hand.”

About the candidates:
• Chahin, Dean of the College of Applied Arts at Texas State University-San Marcos since 1999, received his B.A. (1974) in Political Science and Sociology from Texas A&I University; a Master of Social Work (1975) in Administration and Policy and a Ph.D. (1977) in Education Administration and Supervision from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.  

• Fannin has served as Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs and professor of Management at the University of Texas of the Permian Basin, Odessa, since 1996. The title of Provost was added to his position in 2004. He received a B.A. (1973) in Government and M.B.A. (1976) in Business Administration from the University of Texas at Austin and a Ph. D. (1980) in Business Administration (Management) from Texas A&M University, College Station.

• Jimeno, President of New Mexico State University, Alamogordo, since May 2007, received a B.A. (1972) in Business Administration from the University of Montana, Missoula; an M.A. (1985) in Business Administration from Montana State University, Bozeman; and a Ph.D. (2000) in Education and Business Information Systems from Utah State University, Logan.

• Maestas has served as Vice President for Student and University Relations and Dean of Students at the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, Socorro, since 2005. He is also an associate professor in the Department of Psychology and Education. He received a B.A. (1974) in Psychology and Spanish and Master of Arts in Teaching (1977) from the University of New Mexico, Albuquerque; and a Ph.D. (2000) from the Center for the Study of Higher and Postsecondary Education at the University of Michigan.

Letters of interest and curriculum vitae for each of the candidates may be reviewed at www.sulross.edu/presidential-search.

Fort Davis the place to be for
4th of July

FORT DAVIS - Come one, come all and join Fort Davis in celebrating the Coolest Fourth in Texas!
This year’s Fourth is going to be bigger and better than ever.

Beginning Friday, July 3, enjoy unique food and craft vendors that surround the Jeff Davis County Courthouse for the entire weekend. Vendors from Georgia, California, Louisiana and New Mexico will be represented, along with local and state vendors.

Stay and experience Fort Davis’ biggest-ever fireworks display Friday evening.

On Saturday, the fun begins at 8am and goes non-stop until 1am with vendors, a 5K run, Grand Companions pet contest, the Great Parade, an old-fashioned bank robbery and gunfight at noon and 2pm, elegant Peruvian Paso horse show, terrific barbecue, a flea market, train and pony rides for the kids, an apple pie and empanada contest and more.

Anyone can enter the Great Parade! Come as you are. Bring a friend. Drive a vehicle and advertise your business for free! Floats will be judged and first through third place winners take home a prize.

Saturday night, dance to the great country western band, Gunslinger, featuring local singer Clay McKinney.

The show is behind the Union in Fort Davis from 9pm to 1am. Tickets are $10 and may be purchased at the gate. The show is BYOB, but please, no glass.

Sunday, wind down your weekend by visiting the vendors around the courthouse.

For more information, call 432.426.3015 or visit the Fort Davis Chamber of Commerce in person or online at www.fortdavis.com.