NIU announced its four finalists for the position of executive vice president and provost Monday afternoon, a list that includes two deans from the University of Utah, a provost at the University of Memphis and a Clemson University dean.

Since November 1999, a 17-member committee co-chaired by NIU President John Peters and Faculty Senate President Dan Griffiths has reviewed applications for the position, billed as the executive manager of NIU. Friday’s edition of the Northern Star reported that the list had been narrowed to 10, and Griffiths said the final four decision was unanimous.

“The committee really came together to choose these names,” Griffiths said. “We did narrow them down quite recently.”

The committee was assisted in its search by Chicago-based recruiting firm Heidrick & Struggles International. The four final candidates are as follows: John M. Dunn, College of Health dean at the University of Utah at Salt Lake City; Patricia Hanna, College of Humanities dean at the University of Utah; J. Ivan Legg, provost at the University of Memphis and William B. Wehrenberg, dean of the College of Agriculture, Forestry and Life Sciences at Clemson University in South Carolina.

Griffiths said the candidates will be brought back to campus for two days sometime before March, meeting with faculty, staff and students. The next provost will replace Lynne Waldeland, interim executive vice president and provost, who assumed the position 18 months ago when former provost J. Carroll Moody retired.

Dunn, 55, earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in physical education here at NIU. He spent 20 years at Oregon State University and said his move to Utah has been challenging.

“I attended NIU many years ago, but I’ve followed what the university has valued, and I admire its progress,” Dunn said. “NIU’s growth and development should be commended.”

His focus in research and projects over the years has centered on children with disabilities. Dunn said search firm representatives told him he was nominated for the NIU provost position and hopes to increase scholarship awareness and degree emphasis if chosen for the job.

“We all know that higher education is important, and we can argue for the reasons why,” Dunn said. “It’s important for us to make it fair for everyone to get a good education. Students want to be strong in the belief that their education will be viable for years to come. They’ll look for enhanced degrees from their home institution.”

Although Dunn was surprised that a fellow administrator was in the running, he believes Patricia Hanna’s position in the final four is an impressive note for the search committee.

“It was a coincidence — that’s the way it worked out,” Griffiths said. “We chose the best, and they happened to be from the same university.”

Hanna, 55, said NIU informed her last week that she had made the final four cut for provost.

“I was incredibly flattered when I heard,” Hanna said. “I have a very favorable impression of NIU. I’ve only been to Sycamore, so I’m looking forward to getting on campus and meeting more students.”

A self-proclaimed “Midwestern girl,” Hanna grew up in Ohio and earned her bachelor’s degree and Ph.D in philosophy at the University of Cincinnati. In her last year as a dean at Utah, she found NIU appealing because of its direction.

“I figured since it was my last year as dean here at Utah, I should figure out what, in fact, I want to do,” Hanna said. “I was trying to figure out my options, and someone recommended that I contact the head of the provost search firm at NIU. It sounded like a very interesting opportunity.”

Wehrenberg, 50, also was born and raised in the Midwest. He attended Valparaiso University, Purdue University and the University of Wisconsin-Madison, focusing on science as his area of study.

He sees the job of provost, a person who will oversee a budget in excess of $150 million, as a position that emphasizes searching for the right people to head the respective departments on campus. He sees a match between his personal beliefs and NIU’s goals, such as with a commitment to commuter students and life-long learning.

“Northern Illinois has positioned itself to be successful in those issues,” Wehrenberg said. “I’m really excited about the position and the possibilities the position will offer.”

J. Ivan Legg, 63, earned his bachelor’s degree at Oberlin College and his Ph.D. in chemistry at the University of Michigan. Legg was unavailable for comment Monday night.

Ultimately, Peters will choose the next provost. He hopes to present the chosen finalist as the new provost at the March 19 Board of Trustees meeting.