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Hopkins-Powell suggested, but Cox wants to take 'pulse' ASHLAND -- Southern Oregon University President Stephen Reno has recommended Provost Sara Hopkins-Powell to serve as interim president while a search is conducted to find his permanent replacement. Reno announced Wednesday he has accepted a position as chancellor of the University System of New Hampshire beginning Aug. 1. The State Board of Higher Education makes the choice of interim president upon the recommendation of Chancellor Joe Cox. Cox said Wednesday he will travel to Ashland early next month to talk to faculty, staff and the community before he recommended Hopkins-Powell to the board. "We have real talent at Southern," said Cox, mentioning Hopkins-Powell as well as Ron Bolstad, vice president for administration and finance, and Ivan Gorne, vice president for student affairs. "I do feel the need to come down and take the pulse" of the campus before making an appointment. As provost and vice president for academic affairs, Hopkins-Powell is second in charge, dean of the faculty and overseer of all academic and support programs. She was hired by Reno in 1993 as assistant to the provost when he held that post. She was subsequently promoted to associate provost and accepted her current position in 1996. Prior to 1993, she developed outreach programs for rural health care providers at the University of California Davis Medical School and Medical Center. She holds a doctorate in higher education and public policy from UC Berkeley. Hopkins-Powell said she was uncomfortable having her name made public before the campus has had a chance to give its input on the appointment. "I want to make sure people don't feel this is a ready-made decision," she said. "I put my name forward because I really believe in this campus and if I can be of service during this interim period, I am willing to do that to make sure the initiatives we are involved in can move forward." "Sara is first-class," said Reno. "She has demonstrated excellent academic leadership and developed a very good relationship with the campus community and the larger community." Reno intends to resign June 30. Cox said Reno would see the university through the next few critical budget-planning months and would be available for consultation in July when the biennial 2001-2003 budget is presented to the board. The national search for his successor is likely to begin in earnest this fall and take most of the academic year, said Cox. During his visit to the SOU campus, Cox said, he would also be talking to potential members of the search committee. "We've gotten (the search process) pretty well honed," said Cox. "We've replaced seven presidents since I became chancellor ... most recently Eastern Oregon University." Cox said he was disinclined to begin the search process right away because most academics have already secured a position for next fall. Today's Edition : News | Sports | Business | Weather | Tempo | Classifieds Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 2000, Medford, Oregon USA