Over 30 candidates vying to become president of Ivy Tech

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - Former Lt. Gov. Sue Ellspermann will face competition from more than 30 applicants who are vying to become the next president of Ivy Tech Community College.

The college has declined to publicly disclose the candidates' names, The Indianapolis Star (http://indy.st/1Uy6RhT ) reported. But trustee Michael Dora, who's heading up the search committee, said in statement that the "diverse mix of candidates" includes in-state and out-of-state applicants who have a wide variety of backgrounds and leadership experience.

"This position is important to the future of our state, and we believe the quality of the applicants we have received confirms just how critical Ivy Tech is to Indiana," he said.

The search committee plans to select some of those candidates for in-person interviews. It's aiming to name the college's new president in April, with an anticipated summer start date.

Gov. Mike Pence announced in December that Ellspermann planned to apply for the position. Pence has reiterated his support of Ellspermann, who resigned as lieutenant governor in March and was replaced by former Republican Party chairman and U.S. Senate candidate Eric Holcomb, amid growing interest in the job.

Dora told the newspaper in February that former Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard was considering applying, but it han't been confirmed whether he actually did.

Ivy Tech has been searching for a new president since October, a month after current president Tom Snyder announced that he would retire this year.

The deadline to apply for the job was March 15.

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Information from: The Indianapolis Star, http://www.indystar.com