Regents To Interview For Commissioner Job

The state's top college governance board is interviewing its only finalist to become Louisiana's next higher education commissioner.The Board of Regents conducts the public interview Wednesday morning of Arkansas Department of Higher Education Director Jim Purcell.

If the interview goes well, Purcell is expected to get the job, which will pay $275,000 a year. His salary in Arkansas is $185,000 annually.

Louisiana has been without a higher education commissioner since July.

A consulting firm conducted a behind-the-scenes search for several months to review candidates for the position, before recommending Purcell. Five people were listed by the Regents as having formally applied for the commissioner's job.

Purcell has worked in Louisiana before, at Our Lady of the Lake College in Baton Rouge from 1994 to 1998.