Capdeville a job finalist in Wyoming

The chancellor of Montana State University-Northern is a finalist for president of a college in Wyoming.

Alex Capdeville is one of three finalists for the presidency at Sheridan College in Sheridan.

Capdeville could not be reached for comment this morning.

Wendy Smith, information director at Sheridan College, said the college board of trustees hopes to have the new president hired in time to take the position by July 1.

Sheridan College President Steve Maier has announced he will step down at the end of June.

MSU President Geoff Gamble said today he has no specific plans for replacing Capdeville if he is offered and accepts the position in Sheridan.

"Obviously, I will appoint someone in an interim role and we will do a search," he said.

Gamble said he typically uses a short process of holding interviews with applicants to fill interim positions.

Capdeville and the other candidates at Sheridan - Joyce Helens, executive director of the University of Alaska Statewide System, Corporate Programs, in Anchorage, Alaska, and Luke Robins, vice president for instruction at National Park Community College in Hot Springs, Ark. - are scheduled to visit the college's campuses in Sheridan and Gillette, Wyo., May 2-4.

The candidates will speak at separate forums at the Wyoming campuses, and people will be invited to fill out comment sheets that will be turned in to the college's board of trustees.

Wedum said the candidates also will be interviewed by the college board of trustees in closed sessions during their visits.

Sheridan College is a two-year community college with campuses in Sheridan and Gillette. It also offers instruction at outreach centers in Buffalo, Kaycee and Wright, Wyo.

Capdeville, who received his bachelor's and master's degrees from Northern, took a two-year position as chancellor of Northern in September 2000. He accepted the position on a permanent basis in May, 2001.

Capdeville, who grew up on a ranch near Opheim and is a former Havre High School teacher, was an unsuccessful finalist for the presidency at the North Dakota State College of Science in Wahpeton, N.D., in the spring of 2000, before being offered the interim chancellorship at Northern.

On the Net: Montana State University-Northern: http://www.msun.edu

Sheridan College: http://www.sheridan.edu/