Pacheco chosen as a finalist for Missouri position

The University of Missouri Board of Curators, which is like the Arizona Board of Regents, is expected to choose between Pacheco and Donald Lindberg, director of the National Library of Medicine in Bethesda, Md., before the end of March.

The Missouri System consists of four campuses located in Columbia, Rolla, Kansas City and St. Louis. The system has a total of 54,000 students.

The board began its search in August for a president to succeed George Russell, who retired last year, according to a news release from the University of Missouri System.

Maurice Manring, a spokesman for the Missouri system, said Pacheco and Lindberg "are obviously extremely qualified."

Pacheco said he decided to leave the UA before he considered another position.

"When I made my (resignation) announcement, what I said was I wanted to explore other possibilities," he said.

Pacheco announced Jan. 8 he would end his six-year term at the University of Arizona after his contract ends Dec. 31.

He said he did not seek out the Missouri system, but he did allow the recruiting firm to include his name in the selection group.

Pacheco said he has been nominated for many other positions but has turned them down.

"I have been highly selective," he said.

Manring said being president of the Missouri system is different than being the president of a single campus.

Pacheco said he felt confident his past experience at different types of institutions would prepare him for the multi-campus Missouri system.

"It represents the whole spectrum of higher education I am interested in being involved in," he said.

Pacheco said salary has not yet been discussed with the Missouri board. Pacheco makes $165,000 a year at the UA.

The last president of the system made $189,000 a year, Manring said.

"All of the interviews have gone quite well," Pacheco said. He added that he has not decided whether he will take the position if it is awarded to him.

"There are still some issues we need to discuss," he said.