The search for a successor to University of North Carolina Wilmington Chancellor Jose Sartarelli has entered a new phase, according to a university report Monday.
 
On Friday, the UNCW Board of Trustees approved a “confidential unranked list” of chancellor candidates to submit to UNC System President Peter Hans, the announcement stated. The three finalists were recommended to the board by the chancellor search committee following the committee’s meeting Thursday.
 
On Sept. 24, Sartarelli announced plans to retire from his position June 30. The search committee was formed soon afterward and began its work Nov. 1. It was charged by Hans with identifying three unranked candidates for the position to forward to the UNCW Board of Trustees.
 
During Thursday’s final search committee meeting, chairwoman Gidget Kidd – a UNCW trustee and alumna – said in a statement there had been “tremendous” interest in the UNCW chancellor position.

“The candidate pool was extremely strong. We had over 90 applicants for the position,” she said. 

In addition to interviewing candidates, committee members solicited input from the UNCW community using a three-pronged approach, according to the university announcement. They held in-person and virtual listening sessions, conducted an online survey and invited university constituents to submit feedback through a dedicated email account.

"President Hans will carefully consider each candidate and nominate one for election by the UNC Board of Governors," according to UNCW's statement.

Hans has previously said he plans to submit his recommendation to the Board of Governors in April or May.