Elizabeth Hudson, Aswani Volety, Deborah D. Ricker and Jason W. Osborne have been announced as finalists to become the next Elon University provost, according to the provost search committee

All four candidates will be on campus this month for interviews and opportunities to engage with the community.

Hudson is the dean of the College of Arts, Media and Design and professor of music at Northeastern University. She will be on campus to do a presentation for the Elon community at 4:15 p.m. this Thursday in McKinnon Hall. The committee invites all community members to attend.

Hudson said she "is very happy to be considered." 

Volety is the dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, professor of biology and marine biology and executive director of the Center for Marine Sciences at the University of North Carolina Wilmington. He will be on campus Thursday, May 16. 

Volety could not be reached for comment. 

Ricker is the provost and vice president of academic affairs and professor of biology at Hood College. She will be on campus Monday, May 20. 

Ricker said it was an "honor" to meet the search committee. Ricker called Elon a "wonderful community" with "engaged faculty and students."

Osborne is the associate provost and dean of the graduate school and professor of applied statistics at Clemson University. He will be on campus Wednesday, May 22. 

Osbourne could not be reached for comment. 

Christian Galvano | Elon News Network

Timeline from Steven House's resignation to the release of finalists' names.

The university provost is in charge of all academic programs, including Elon’s six academic schools and the library. 

This candidate announcement comes five months after current provost Steven House announced his resignation from the position. House will step down at the end of the calendar year.    

The provost search committee is comprised of 20 members, including co-chairs Eric Hall, professor of exercise science, and Jean Rattigan-Rohr, professor of education and incoming vice president of the Center for Access and Success.

The committee has met five times since its formation in February. According to the search committee’s explanation on Elon's website, it hopes to make a recommendation on who to select for the next provost before Commencement later this month.