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Interim chief won�t head SOU By Sara Murphy ASHLAND � Sara Hopkins-Powell will not be the next president of Southern Oregon University. Hopkins-Powell, who is currently serving as interim president, announced Friday that she�s withdrawing her application for the permanent post. Finalists in the national search are expected to be announced Feb. 26. Hopkins-Powell was out of town and unavailable for comment after her announcement was released Friday. In a prepared statement, she said she plans to return to her position as provost and vice president for academic affairs once the president�s post is filled. "In examining the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead of us, I believe I can best lead change from my previous role," she wrote. "Direct work with students and faculty is the heart of my vocation." After being appointed interim president in June, Hopkins-Powell waffled over whether to apply for the permanent position, saying she enjoyed her job as provost. She publicly announced her candidacy in November just after the deadline to apply had passed. In her statement Friday, Hopkins-Powell said she looks forward to welcoming the new president and thanked the campus and community for supporting her candidacy. Some members of the campus community were surprised Friday to hear she�d withdrawn her application. "I�m shocked," said student-body President Scott Young, who spent Friday lobbying in Salem. "That�s crazy. I thought she was going to go for it for sure. "I thought she was going to take it to the end." Ron Bolstad, vice president for administration and finance, said he was disappointed but supportive of Hopkins-Powell�s decision. "I respect her decision, but I am personally disappointed that she will not be continuing on to hopefully compete with the finalists," he said. "I have enjoyed working with her and, as she steps back into the provost position, I welcome that opportunity to continue working with her and the rest of the management team here at Southern." Presidential Search Committee Chair Bill Williams said the tight-lipped committee is continuing to evaluate candidates for the position and plans to announce up to five finalists on Feb. 26. During that week, the finalists will visit the SOU campus and meet for interviews with the state Board of Higher Education. SOU Foundation board member John Schweiger said the new president should have something to look forward to � working with Hopkins-Powell, that is. "She�ll be a tremendous asset to whoever is named president," he said. "She�s a great lady. I think the best news is that she�s going to remain with the university in her old post." Hopkins-Powell has worked at SOU since 1993, when she was hired by then-Provost Steve Reno as assistant to the provost. She later was promoted to associate provost. Reno was named the university�s president in 1994 and Hopkins-Powell was promoted to provost in 1996. The state Board of Higher Education voted unanimously in May to appoint Hopkins-Powell as interim president after Reno resigned to be chancellor of the University System of New Hampshire. Reach Ashland bureau reporter Sara Murphy at 482-4655, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.