2:12: F. King Alexander, president of California State University Long Beach, was nominated to be the next LSU President by the University’s Presidential Search Committee at the Board of Supervisors meeting Monday afternoon.

Alexander currently serves as president of California State University Long Beach, and he served as president of Murray State University from 2001 to 2006. He also held positions at the University of Illinois and the University of Wisconsin.

Presidential Search Committee chairman Blake Chatelain said Alexander would visit the Baton Rouge campus next week to meet with faculty and students. Meeting times will be announced soon, Chatelain said.

Thomas Klei, presidential search committee faculty member, said he was pleased with the Committee’s decision because Alexander is “young, energetic and intellectually aware of higher education.”

Alexander is a rising star, Klei said.

Chatelain said Alexander was chosen from a list of 35 candidates that was narrowed down by the Board over the past few months. The Board will consider Alexander at a March 27 special meeting.

“Our goal was to find a candidate that understands the traditions and practices of higher learning, but also embraces the changing market place and is willing to lead our great university through those changes,” Chatelain said in a news release. “We are looking for a proven professional who is a collaborative leader, a great listener and an optimist about the future of LSU. We think we have found that individual.”

The California State University Student Association, which represents 23 student governments and 435,000 students in California, voted King “President of the Year” twice.

“Dr. King Alexander is a young and dynamic leader with valuable experience,” said Charles Reed, chancellor emeritus with California State University, in the release. “He is a winner for LSU and the people of Louisiana.”

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1:57 p.m.: California State University at Long Beach President F. King Alexander has been nominated as the sole finalist for the LSU System president and chancellor position, LSU Presidential Search Committee Chairman Blake Chatelain announced Monday afternoon.

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Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost Stuart Bell has confirmed that the University’s system president and chancellor finalist will be announced this afternoon.

Nola.com reported earlier today that LSU had narrowed its president search from 35 candidates to one finalist.  

Check back later for more updates as the story develops.