(Ames, Iowa) – One of the three candidates set to visit Iowa State University next week in a bid for the presidential seat has dropped from the running, the Iowa Board of Regents announced Friday. The Iowa Capital Dispatch says according to a news release from the Regents, one finalist to succeed Iowa State University President Wendy Wintersteen “elected to withdraw from the process,” leaving two candidates.

Four finalists were initially selected by the ISU Presidential Search Committee for further consideration, three of whom accepted invitations to come to Ames for meetings with stakeholders and public forums. The committee started with a nearly 80-person candidate pool before narrowing the field to eight semifinalists, who the group interviewed virtually before making their decision on finalists.

(Photo by Perry Beeman/Iowa Capital Dispatch)

The remaining finalists will hold open forums from 4-5 p.m. Nov. 5 and 6 in the Memorial Union’s Durham Great Hall, with livestreaming available online for those who cannot attend in person. Finalists’ names and curriculum vitae will be released online 24 hours before their campus visit, the release stated.

The board of regents will hear from committee co-chairs Regent JC Risewick and ISU Faculty Senate President Meghan Gillette and interview finalists in closed session during the board’s Nov. 11 meeting. ISU’s new president is set to be announced that evening.

ISU President Wendy Wintersteen announced earlier this year she will retire from the university in January.