The selection committee charged with finding St. Mary’s College of Maryland’s new president has narrowed its search down to four candidates. In the coming weeks, the public and media will have the opportunity to meet each of the candidates.

Beginning on Thursday, Sept. 17 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. the public is invited to meet the first candidate – Dr. Katherine Conway-Turner. Conway-Turner is the founder of the consulting firm, Leaders Across Boundaries. Prior to that, she was Provost of St. University of New York. Conway-Turner holds a PH.D in Psychology and taught at Santa Clara as a Psychology professor.

The next candidate, Jim Bacchus, will hold a similar open house meeting on Sept. 21. Bacchus is an attorney for one of the largest law firms in Washington, DC – Greenberg, Traurig, specializing in international law. Prior his tenure there, Bacchus served as judge for the World Trade Organization in Geneva. Before that, he served as a member of Congress from Florida’s fourth district.

The third candidate, Dr. Mary Ann Baenninger will meet with the public on Sept. 23. Baenninger is presently serving as the President of College of St. Benedict in Minnesota where she recently completed an $80 million capital campaign for her college. Dr. Baenninger holds a Ph.D. from Temple University where she was Phi Beta Capa.

The fourth and final candidate, Dr. Joseph Bruno, will meet the media and public on Sept. 29. Dr. Bruno is currently the Provost for Wesleyan University in Middleton, Conn. Bruno graduated from Northwestern University with a Ph.D. in Chemistry and taught and worked in administration for Wesleyan for 25 years.

Each candidate will be on campus for three days, meeting with faculty, staff and students and then the public. Once each candidate has met with SMCM officials the selection committee will make their recommendation to the Board of Trustees by Oct. 3 and the board will select the college’s new president.

The public meetings will be held in St. Mary’s Hall on campus and all are invited to attend.