Stephen Jones, Jerry Samples and Edna Szymanski have been named as the three finalists to become the new president of Minnesota State University Moorhead.

Jones is currently chancellor of the University of Alaska-Fairbanks. Samples is vice president for academic affairs at the University of Pittsburgh Johnstown campus. Szymanski is vice president for academic affairs and provost at the University of Maine at Orono.

The finalists were selected from a pool of 40 nominees and applicants. Four were recently interviewed on the Moorhead campus and three were selected as finalists.

A committee consisting of James McCormick, chancellor of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system along with members of the Board of Trustees and others will interview the candidates and make its recommendation to the entire board on April 16.

The successful candidate will replace Roland Barden, who is retiring June 30.

Minnesota State University Moorhead serves about 9,000 students through its graduate and undergraduate programs.